Perfect Panzanella Salad
- PREP 35min
- TOTAL 35min
Our secret for the best panzanella salad is to marinate fresh tomatoes with a bit of salt, vinegar, and olive oil until they release their delicious juices, making the most delicious dressing. We then add homemade garlic croutons and fresh herbs to complete the salad. In our panzanella recipe, we use our homemade garlic croutons, which we recommend making with stale bread. Of course, you can substitute stale bread, but the croutons add a delightful garlic and herb flavor.
You Will Need
1 pound (453 grams) ripe tomatoes, 3 medium tomatoes
2 cups (100 grams) garlic croutons, see recipe here, or see tips below for substitution
1/2 cup (55 grams) thinly shaved onion
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar or honey
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
8 twists black pepper
1 cup Italian parsley leaves, from half a bunch of parsley
1 tablespoon fresh dill
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon, optional
Shaved or crumbled cheese like Pecorino, Gruyere, Parmigiano-Reggiano or feta, optional
Directions
Combine the tomatoes, onion, olive oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Gently toss, and then set aside for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours at room temperature.
Toss in the croutons, parsley, dill, and tarragon. Allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
Serve with shaved or crumbled cheese on top. Panzanella is best served the day you make it since the bread will continue to absorb the dressing and will eventually become soggy.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Crouton substitution: Toss 2 cups of stale rustic bread with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Then, bake it in a 350°F (180°C) oven for 15 minutes or until it becomes crisp and firm, but not browned. After that, remove it from the oven and let it cool.
- Panzanella is best served the day you make it since the bread will continue to absorb the dressing and will eventually become soggy.
- Nutrition facts: The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. We have used the USDA database to calculate approximate values.
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