Ever heard of a bread-based salad? This delicious Panzanella Toscana recipe is exactly that! Loaded with fresh vegetables, toasted bread and drizzled with olive oil and vinegar, this traditional bread salad is the perfect summer dish.

Now, I know what you're thinking. A bread salad sounds too good to be true. I'm here to tell you it is true! Think about how good a homemade crouton Caesar salad is, now make it... better! The day-old bread chunks are the main ingredient, alongside juicy tomatoes, red onion and crispy English cucumbers.

Tomato season is upon us, and what better way to enjoy them than in one of the most delicious salads! I'm a bit of a tomato snob ('tis the season). Good tomatoes are one of my favorite things if you couldn't tell from my list of tomato salads: Simple Italian Tomato Salad, Tomato & Strawberry Salad and Caprese Bruschetta.

What is Panzanella?

Panzanella is a Tuscan salad with bread chunks, onions and tomatoes typically served in the Summer months. It's usually served with other fresh veggies like cucumbers and red onions and dressed in simple olive and vinegar.

It's dated all the way back to the 16th century and was used as a way to avoid wasting any stale bread. It is a celebration of stale bread and the ripest tomatoes! Panzanella means an Italian salad made with not-fresh bread, tomatoes, oil and vinegar.

Why You'll Love this Recipe

15-minute recipe. Takes only 10 minutes to toast the bread and a few minutes to assemble this delicious salad.
Fresh ingredients. There's nothing better than a fresh ingredient salad on a hot summer's day!
Simple ingredients. You most likely already have these ingredients in your house, or garden or they're easy to find at the store.

Panzanella Salad Ingredients

Day-old crusty bread. Leftover bread is ideal as it crisps faster but crusty fresh bread will work as well.
Beefsteak or heirloom tomatoes. You want big, fresh tomatoes in every bite but this recipe will work with grape or cherry tomatoes in a pinch.
English cucumber. English cucumbers have thinner skin and fewer seeds which provide a sweeter flavor.
Red onion. Red onions are an aromatic that adds texture and a mild sharp flavor to round out the sweetness of the tomatoes and cucumbers.
Extra virgin olive oil. Here's where we use our good quality olive oil. EVOO has a rich, fruity, and slightly peppery flavor that enhances the taste of the salad.
Red wine vinegar. Red wine vinegar adds a tangy, slightly fruity acidity that balances the richness of the olive oil and the sweetness of the tomatoes.

See the recipe card below for the remaining ingredients and quantities.

Substitutions & Variations

This recipe calls for very basic ingredients, which means you can tailor it to your personal taste.

Add fresh mozzarella, burrata or feta cheese.
You can add olives, capers, or other vegetables like bell peppers or the best seasonal produce!

Instructions

Diced bread on a sheet pan with olive oil.

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Add the cut bread onto a baking sheet and season with olive oil and salt. Bake for 10 minutes. Add the toasted bread to a bowl and combine with tomatoes, cucumbers and onion.

Bread, cucumbers and tomatoes in a bowl.

Step 2: In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic and salt and pepper. Pour over the salad ingredients and toss to combine. Serve on a platter with torn fresh basil and enjoy!

Sarah's Top Tips

Use stale bread. Start with day-old or slightly stale crusty bread. This helps the bread soak up the dressing without becoming too mushy.
Don't forget to toast the bread! This adds a nice crunch and prevents the bread from getting too soggy.
Always use quality ingredients. This salad doesn't allow for any masking of flavors so the freshest and most high-quality ingredients are a must.
Let it sit. Allow the salad to sit for at least 30 minutes before serving to ensure the flavors meld into the bread.
Add fresh herbs. Fresh basil sprinkled on top when serving adds a burst of freshness.

Serving

Panzanella is very versatile. It can be served alone for an afternoon snack or alongside grilled meats like Mediterranean Chicken or lamb chops. It's best served at room temperature on a warm day!

Storage

If you need to make Panzanella Toscana ahead of time, store all the ingredients separately. Keep the bread, vegetables, and dressing in separate containers and mix them together shortly before serving. This prevents the bread from becoming too soggy.

Once the panzanella is mixed, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days, but the bread will continue to soften as it sits. You can always re-toast the bread for a few minutes or use a new loaf.