How to make grilled Panzanella salad, one of the most delicious classic Italian bread salads, a Tuscan peasant dish worthy of royalty, traditionally made with day old bread.
Because bread and tomatoes you guys!
It really can’t get any better than a bowl of this summer bruschetta panzanella salad and a pitcher of strawberry lemonade under the shade of the grapevine, outside my kitchen door.
Two of my favorite things making the most beautiful mess of all. Grilled crusty bread, fragrant heirloom tomatoes, lots of garlic, olive oil and basil.
Basically if my classic homemade bruschetta would marry my rustic cucumber tomato salad but leave the cucumbers behind.
I know, crazy talk, but that is pretty much what is happening in that bowl of panzanella!
I grill thick slices of crusty Italian ciabatta bread, rub them well with garlic cloves and tear it into pieces, or you can use a knife to cut it if you like.
Then you toss everything to coat with juicy tomatoes, capers and red onion, in a classic Italian olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing.
Then you let it sit on the kitchen counter for 20 minutes before diving into it. Just enough time for the bread to soak up that dressing and turn into magic. Trust me, it is worth the wait!
This is what rustic living is all about. Wholesome, fresh, nutritious meals, loaded with fragrance, texture and soul.
Because I had the time to heat up my grill, I decided to give it a Bruschetta salad spin, not only for the beautiful texture it adds, but also so I can get my garlic fix ha! Garlic does make the work go around, its true kids, just ask google 😉
Note worthy:
- make sure to taste as you go and adjust seasonings in your salad dressing. You might like it more acidic, so add more red wine vinegar, or less, the key is to taste and adjust 11 times 😉
- keep an eye on the bruschetta while grilling. It only takes a minute to burn.
- In case you did burn the bread, not to panic. Take a serrated bread knife and scrape off the burnt layer of the bread.
How to make grilled panzanella salad, one of the most delicious Italian bread salads, a Tuscan peasant dish worthy of royalty!
- 1/2 ciabatta bread
- 2 lb heirloom tomatoes
- 1/2 red onion thinly sliced
- 2 clove large garlic
- 1 c basil leaves
- 1/3 c extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar + more to taste
- 2 tbsp capers
- Sea salt to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
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Slice the ciabatta bread into thick slices.
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On a hot cast iron grill or grill pan char the bread quickly until nice grill marks for on each side. Take good care not to burn it.
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Rub each side of each slice of the bruschetta ( grilled bread) with the garlic to your liking. Set aside and drizzle all over with some olive oil. Sprinkle with sea salt and allow to cool. Once cooled off and easy to handle, tear the bruschetta into small pieces and place into a bowl. You can use a serrated knife to cut it up if you prefer.
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Slice the heirloom tomatoes and red onion and add them to the bowl with the bruschetta pieces.
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In a small bowl whisk together the olive oil and red wine vinegar until combined. Season to taste with the sea salt and pour over the bruschetta panzanella salad.
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Sprinkle the salad with the capers and toss to coat well. Adjust seasonings again to your taste and add the basil leaves on top.
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Allow your panzanella salad to rest at room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving with freshly cracked black pepper on top.
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Jessica @ Sprinkle Some Sugar
June 22, 2016 at 7:17 amI loooooove bruschetta so I know I would LOVE this!
Krista
June 22, 2016 at 1:12 pmI want to have this for lunch and dinner!
Florentina
June 22, 2016 at 5:16 pmYes, i love how you think! You and me both!
Des @ Life's Ambrosia
June 22, 2016 at 1:17 pmThere is so much goodness going on in this salad! And I am a sucker for anything with capers!
Michelle De La Cerda
June 22, 2016 at 3:42 pmAmazing salad I am a big fan of all these flavors. Bruschetta is one of my favorites. Considered pinned!
Florentina
June 22, 2016 at 5:16 pmThanks Michelle 🙂
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet
June 22, 2016 at 4:25 pmI love panzanella and yours looks absolutely wonderful!
Florentina
June 22, 2016 at 5:15 pmthank you Kimberly, hope you make it, panzanella keeps me going in the summer months.
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy
June 23, 2016 at 4:04 amWell this certainly sounds delicious to me, but anything with bread is delicious!! Sounds like a great summer salad, I could eat it as a main. Perfect with a nice glass of wine too!!
Florentina
June 23, 2016 at 7:36 pmOh yes Gloria, don’t forget the chilled wine 😉
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry
June 23, 2016 at 5:42 amI could tuck into a bowl of this right now. An excellent, healthy way of using day old bread too.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
June 23, 2016 at 5:44 amI have heard so much about this salad, but I still haven’t tried it. I love tomato and bread though.
Florentina
June 23, 2016 at 7:35 pmOh you have got to try the panzanella salad then. Come back so we can talk about it 😉 ~ Florentina
Michelle | A Latte Food
June 23, 2016 at 9:54 amOh my goodness, this looks amazing! I love a Panzanella Salad (because bread is life )!
Florentina
June 23, 2016 at 7:34 pmI love that, Bread is Life indeed, I could never give up a good freshly baked crusty piece of bread.
Igor @ Cooking The Globe
June 24, 2016 at 12:25 pmPanzanella salad is one of the best ever. Seriously. I tried for the first time few years ago and since then I can’t get enough!
Brandy Myers
June 24, 2016 at 4:11 pmI mega adore a good panzanella salad and yours look fantastic! Just the right amount of bread to tomato ratio with the zing of the red wine vinegar.