What is Panzanella?
Panzanella is a bread salad that’s believed to have originated in Tuscany, Italy. And it may have been invented by peasants as a way to use up stale bread. The earliest written recipes date back to the 14th and 16th centuries. And while these early versions were heavier on the onions, tomatoes became a more central ingredient by the 1900s. This version strays a bit from the traditional and draws inspiration from another Italian favorite: caprese salad! You can find a more traditional recipe for panzanella here.
How to Make Tomato Panzanella Salad
You can’t have panzanella without the bread! Well, you can (nobody’s stopping you), but you really must try it, friends. We’re in the bread on salad fan club and want you to join. It’s a great way to use up day-old bread and helps make this salad totally entrée worthy. Chunks of torn bread are tossed with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper and baked into golden brown croutons. While they’re baking, tomatoes marinate in salt to release some of their juices and infuse with flavor. Some of the reserved tomato juice goes in the dressing, along with balsamic, olive oil, salt, and pepper for caprese salad vibes. Then the tomatoes are mixed with the dressing, sliced fresh basil leaves, and microgreens for an explosion of summer flavors. And lastly, it’s topped with (optional but super delicious) vegan cashew ricotta (or another nut cheese like almond or macadamia). We hope you LOVE this panzanella salad! It’s:SummeryFreshBalsamic-infusedQuick & easyShareable& SO delicious! It’s the perfect lighter entrée or side salad for summer and beyond! Pair it with your grilling favorites or with other Italian-inspired recipes. It would be especially nice with our Avocado Pesto Pasta Salad, Creamy Vegan White Pasta with Summer Vegetables, Gluten-Free Vegan Sausage Pizza, or Easy Vegan Zucchini Boats.
More Summer Salad Recipes
Vegan Caesar Salad with BBQ Sweet Potato Croutons Roasted Broccoli Pasta Salad with Hemp Pesto Vibrant Mango Salad with Peanut Dressing Vegan Nicoise Salad (30 minutes!)
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
