A simple rustic summer dish, this tasty Panzanella is perfect as a light lunch or picnics.
Panzanella is not only a popular summer dish in Florence, but throughout central Italy. Over the next couple of days (in mid-August), Lamoli, and Onelli small towns in Italy, will celebrate the Sagra della panzanella! In Monterotondo, Lazio it is held on the first Sunday of July.
What is Panzanella?
Panzanella is a simple tomato and bread salad. The simplicity of this dish is typical of Tuscan style cooking. It was usual in country-style cooking, to moisten old, dry bread and mix with seasonal vegetables.
Ingredients
This easy summer salad, requires no cooking and is made from the simplest of ingredients:
- stale bread
- fresh tomatoes
- cucumber
- red onions
- basil
- dressing.
Select a good bread
Stale Tuscan bread is ideal for this dish as it holds its shape well and doesn’t become soggy and mushy when wet. However, outside of Italy it is almost impossible to find, unless you make your own.
I use slices of Poilane country loaf and moisten the bread very slightly.
How to make Panzanella
- First, remove any sharp flavour from the onions by soaking them in water and vinegar, so they become milder.
- Then salt the tomatoes and leave to rest for a while so the liquid drains out and the tomato juices combine with the flavours of the dressing.
- Mix everything together and chill for an hour so, till the flavours come together.
- Remove and bring to room temperature before serving.
Panzanella can be enjoyed as a main or side dish.
More salad recipes
Roasted Beets with Carrot, Stilton & Sultanas
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Panzanella
Ingredients
- 2 slices of stale Tuscan bread eg. a dry country loaf
- 4 large tomatoes cut into cubes
- 1/2 cucumber thinly sliced
- 1 small red onion finely sliced
- 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 10-15 basil leaves
- 10 capers
- 4-6 tablespoons olive oil as required
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Soak the sliced onion in a bowl with water mixed with 1 tablespoon vinegar, and set aside for 1 hour.
- Salt the tomatoes and set aside for 30 minutes.
- Cut the bread slices into small cubes, arrange flat in a dish, and moisten with water. Set aside till softened (around 10 minutes).
To assemble
- In a serving dish, add the bread and pour in the tomatoes with their liquid.
- Drain the onions and add to the dish, along with cucumbers and capers.
- Tear the basil leaves and sprinkle on top. Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar, and season with salt and pepper, then combine well.
- Chill in the fridge for an hour, and bring to room temperature before serving.
Recipe Notes
- Store in the fridge and consume within 2 days.
- To this classic panzanella recipe, you could add celery, tuna, anchovies, lettuce, and hard boiled eggs.
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Thanks Nicole!
Looks really nice. cant wait to try Panzanella out. Thanks for the recipe.
Thank you, I hope you enjoy it!
This looks so delicious and asst to make! Saving this to try!
xx Lauren
Thanks Lauren, lovely fresh flavours for summer, enjoy!