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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Classic Tuscan-Style Panzanella Salad

    April 1, 2022 • Updated: April 1, 2022 • by Renée • This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe

    This classic Italian bread salad with tomato and roasted summer vegetables is bursting with fresh garden flavors. Makes a light, easy summer meal.

    Large panzanella salad in family-sized serve bowl.
    Jump to:
    • What's the Story Behind this Recipe?
    • What Goes into this Recipe
    • How to Make this Recipe
    • FAQs & Expert Tips
    • Related Recipes
    • Classic Tuscan-Style Panzanella Salad

    What's the Story Behind this Recipe?

    Panzanella (or panmolle) is a Tuscan chopped salad made primarily of stale bread, onions, and tomatoes, most often dressed with oil & vinegar. It dates back to the peasant habit of soaking Tuscan stale bread and mixing it with garden vegetables. The name "panzanella" appears to be derived from the combination of pane (bread) and zanella (soup bowl). 

    Panzanella ingredients on a cutting board, not yet cut or prepared: baguette, cherry tomatoes, summer squash, eggplant, onion, cucumber, romaine, feta, etc.

    Two of my favorite things - bread and fresh  veggies - right there in one fast, easy to fix meal! I'm totally in! 

    What Goes into this Recipe

    This panzanella salad recipe is perfect for late summer when gardens are bursting. The recipe itself is quite flexible: you can vary the veggies to suit your tastes or your garden's bounty. For the salad pictured here, I used squash, eggplants, tomatoes, and herbs fresh from our (tiny backyard) garden! 

    Panzanella ingredients on a cutting board, cut and prepared: baguette, cherry tomatoes, summer squash, eggplant, onion, cucumber, romaine, feta, etc.

    Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

    • Bread: You can use any hearty, substantial bread for this recipe; however, it is traditionally made with Tuscan bread. (We usually use a good sourdough baguette.)

    • Vegetables: This panzanella recipe was created for maximum flexibility: I don't think we've ever made it exactly the same twice. Use any fresh garden vegetables that you like. (Tip: Grilled corn is a great addition!)

    How to Make this Recipe

    Toast Bread Cubes

    Preheat oven broiler to 400°F | 205°C. Line a baking sheet with parchment or a Silpat mat.

    Drizzle 2 tablespoons olive oil over bread cubes and toss to coat. Sprinkle lightly with salt.

    Place bread cubes on prepared baking sheet under broiler, about 8-inches from the heat. Leave the oven door cracked open, and keep an eye on them.

    When you begin to see the bread cube tips turning golden, take them out. This should take about 3 minutes or less.

    Bread cubes on baking tray lined with parchement, toasted.

    Using a spatula or tongs, toss the cubes again and put them back into the oven. Continue to toast until they are gently toasted thorough: about another 3 minutes.

    When bread cubes are toasted, remove from baking sheet and set aside.

    Roast Vegetables

    Preheat oven to 400°F | 205°C.

    In a large bowl, combine sliced onion, eggplants, squash and half of the sliced tomatoes.

    Reserve the other half of the tomatoes for later. Set aside.

    Drizzle 2 tablespoons each olive oil and balsamic vinegar over vegetables. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to coat.

    vegetables tossed

    Pour vegetables onto baking sheet and shake the sheet gently to distribute them evenly.

    Vegetables on baking tray, prepared for roasting.

    Bake in preheated oven (400°F | 205°C) for 25-30 minutes, until eggplants are completely cooked.

    Make Dressing

    Spoon out ½ cup of the tomatoes from the roasted vegetables on the baking sheet. Allow the rest of the roasted veggies to cool slightly while you proceed.

    In a blender cup, combine the ½ cup of roasted tomatoes, chopped garlic, 2 tablespoons each balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Pulse a few times to combine.

    Toss Salad

    In a large bowl, combine chopped romaine, toasted bread cubes, remaining fresh tomato halves, cucumber, roasted vegetables, feta, fresh herbs, and balsamic tomato dressing. Toss gently to coat.

    Allow to chill for up to 2 hours before serving.

    Toss once more before serving and garnish with additional crumbled feta.

    FAQs & Expert Tips

    Did you know that real Tuscan Bread is saltless? Tuscan bread is a staple in Tuscan cuisine, traditionally employed in such dishes as ribollita, pappa al pomodoro, and of course, panzanella. 

    What can you serve with panzanella?

    Panzanella is a delicious, light meal all on its own. If you want a more substantial meal, it pairs well with just about any simple, grilled meat. Grilled chicken, steak, and seafood are all good choices.

    How long does panzanella last?

    Unfortunately, panzanella doesn't usually keep well, and should be eaten the day it is prepared.

    If you don't mind the "old salad" texture, any leftovers will be good for a day or two if properly refrigerated.

    Mediterranean Panzanella {Italian Bread Salad with Tomato & Eggplant}

    Related Recipes

    • Caribbean Mango Salad
    • Honey Citrus Pasta Salad with Turkey
    • Spicy Thai Shrimp Salad (Applebee's Copycat Recipe)
    • Fresh Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

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    Large panzanella salad in family-sized serve bowl.

    Classic Tuscan-Style Panzanella Salad

    This classic Italian bread salad with tomato & eggplant is bursting with fresh garden flavors. Makes a light, easy summer meal.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Course: Main Dish, Salad
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Prep Time:30 minutes
    Cook Time:30 minutes
    Total Time:1 hour
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 424kcal
    Author: Renee

    Equipment

    • 1 Heavy Baking Sheet
    • 1 Blender

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Metric
    • 1 pound baguette (or other hearty, rustic bread) cut into bite-sized cubes
    • 1½ pounds cherry tomatoes sliced in half (or regular-sized, cut into 1-inch pieces)
    • 1 small summer squash (zucchini or other) cut into ½-inch pieces
    • 1 medium sweet onion cut in half and sliced stem to root
    • ½ pound eggplant (mini, or full sized) quarter minis; peel and cut full-size into 1-inch pieces
    • 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil divided
    • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar divided
    • 2 cloves garlic roughly chopped
    • 1 medium cucumber (optional) peeled, seeded, and cubed
    • 6 cups coarsely chopped Romaine lettuce 2 small heads or 1 large
    • 2 ounces feta cheese crumbled
    • ½ cup packed fresh basil leaves (or a mixture of fresh basil and fresh mint leaves) roughly chopped

    Instructions

    Toast Bread Cubes

    • Preheat broiler to 400°F | 205°C. Line a baking sheet with parchment or a Silpat mat.
    • Drizzle 2 tablespoons olive oil over bread cubes and toss to coat. Sprinkle lightly with salt.
      Place bread cubes on prepared baking sheet under broiler, about 8-inches from the heat. (Not the closest rack to the element.) Leave the door open and keep an eye on them.
      When you begin to see the bread cube tips turning golden, take them out. This should take about 3 minutes or less.
      Using a spatula or tongs, toss the cubes again and put them back into the oven. Continue to toast until they are gently toasted thorough: about another 3 minutes.
      When bread cubes are toasted, remove from baking sheet and set aside.
      Preheat oven to 400°F | 205°C.

    Roast Vegetables

    • In a large bowl, combine sliced onion, eggplants, squash and half of the sliced tomatoes. (Reserve the other half of the tomatoes for later.)
      Drizzle 2 tablespoons each olive oil and balsamic vinegar over vegetables. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to coat.
    • Pour vegetables onto baking sheet and shake the sheet gently to distribute them evenly.
    • Bake in preheated oven [400°F | 205°C] for 25-30 minutes, until eggplants are completely cooked.

    Make Dressing

    • Spoon out ½ cup of the tomatoes from the roasted vegetables on the baking sheet. Allow the rest of the roasted veggies to cool slightly while you proceed.
    • In a blender cup, combine the ½ cup of roasted tomatoes, chopped garlic, 2 tablespoons each balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
      Pulse a few times to combine.

    Toss & Serve

    • In a large bowl, combine chopped romaine, toasted bread cubes, remaining tomato halves, cucumber, roasted vegetables, feta, fresh herbs, and balsamic tomato dressing.
      Toss gently to coat.
      Allow to chill for up to 2 hours before serving. Toss once more before serving and garnish with additional crumbled feta.

    Notes

    The recipe is quite flexible: you can vary the veggies to suit your tastes or your garden's bounty. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 424kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 594mg | Potassium: 668mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 4842IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 159mg | Iron: 4mg
    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details.

    Post Originally published July 17, 2013. Previously Updated August 8, 2020.

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    About Renée

    Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michelle says

      August 04, 2013 at 2:11 pm

      This looks wonderful! I'll have to try this sometime 🙂

      Reply
    2. Shana Norris says

      July 20, 2013 at 12:04 pm

      This looks so very yummy. Pinning it now to my "Yum: Salads" board!

      Reply

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