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Panzanella Salad

Panzanella Salad

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Prep Time 15 minutes
CHILL 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 8.5 ounces stale tuscan bread
  • 2/3 cup water 
  • 3 tbsp vinegar
  • 10.5 ounces tomatoes 
  • 1 cucumber
  • 6 leaves basil
  • 2 pinches salt
  • 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • freshly ground pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Start by cutting the stale bread into slices. Then reduce it into cubes using your hands or a knife. Put the bread in a bowl and wet it with about 2/3 cup (160 ml) of water and 3 tbsp of vinegar.* Mix well with a spoon or with your hands to make the bread absorb the water, and let it rest for about 30 minutes.
  • In the meantime, prepare the vegetables: wash the tomatoes and cut them into cubes. Peel the cucumber and cut it into pieces.
  • Cut the onion into very thin slices. Take the bread back and, if it is very wet, squeeze it a little with your hands. Transfer it to a large salad bowl
  • Add the tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, two pinches of salt, and a grind of pepper. Complete with 4 abundant spoons of extra virgin olive oil. Mix carefully, then add the basil leaves, broken up with your hands.
  • Stir again with a spoon, so that the ingredients blend perfectly. Cover the salad bowl and let the Tuscan panzanella rest in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before serving, so that the bread is properly flavored.

Notes

*The amount of water and vinegar needed for the bread depends on two factors: 1) how dry the bread is: the drier it is, the more water will be needed 2) personal tastes: some prefer a crunchier panzanella, others a softer one; for a more delicate flavour, you can also reduce the amount of vinegar. Remember that the bread salad must rest for a few hours after it has been seasoned, and that tomatoes and cucumbers will release water and soften the bread further as it sits. 
Keyword Panzanella Salad, salad
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