Preppy Kitchen Recipes Salads Panzanella Salad

Panzanella Salad

Name: Panzanella
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: loaf of brioche; 1/2 red onion; 2 cucumbers; 3-4 heirloom tomatoes; 1/4 lb feta cheese (113g); 2 tbsp olive oil (30mL); 1/2 cup white wine vinegar (118mL); oregano (to top); salt and pepper (to taste); 1/2 cup olive oil (118mL); 2 tbsp white wine vinegar (30mL); 1/2 lemon (juiced); 2 tsp fresh oregano (crushed); 1 tsp fresh thyme (crushed); 1 shallot (minced); salt and pepper (to taste)

By John Kanell Updated Aug 3, 2020
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This delicious panzanella salad has tons of flavor and crunch from homemade croutons, feta, cucumbers fresh basil and a zingy dressing that’s super easy to make!

A photo of a panzanella salad on a serving plate.

This salad is hearty enough to be a main course but ever so light and refreshing! Crunchy cucumbers, pickled onions, and lots of fresh tomatoes paired with super-crispy homemade brioche croutons make for an amazing dish.

how to Make Panzanella Salad

A photo showing steps on how to make a panzanella salad.

For the Salad; cut the crusts off of the brioche loaf. Cut into cubes and put on a baking pan. Drizzle the olive oil and add salt and pepper. Bake for about 10 minutes at 350F. Toss croutons half way through baking.
Chop up half of the red onion and transfer it to a bowl. Pour in the white wine vinegar to allow the onions to marinate.
With the cucumbers, start off by cutting them in half and deseeding them with a teaspoon. Now slice them depending on personal preference.
Chop the tomatoes into cubes. You can choose to cut them into large or small cubes, whichever you desire.
For the Dressing; add all of the ingredients into a jar and shake it up. Make sure to crush up the oregano and thyme and mince the shallot.
For the Assembly; In a large bowl with the cucumbers, tomatoes and marinated onions, crumble up and add the feta cheese. Add the croutons, pour on the dressing and give the salad a toss. You can top with some more fresh oregano if you’d like, or basil.

A Few Tips for Panzanella

ANY bread will work for this salad and if your wondering, a stale french bread is probably the most popular as it holds its structure and absorbs all that dressing.
You can add butter lettuce, rocket or almost any mixed green to this salad.
If making ahead just mix all the main ingredients except the dressing and croutons then add those at the last moment and toss.

frequently asked questions

What Kind of Bread is Used for Panzanella?

The bread usually used for panzanella is stale dried bread, which is then rehydrated with that delicious dressing. My version uses brioche bread for a more light and crispy melt in your mouth experience.

How do you Make Panzanella Croutons?

Cut the crusts off of the brioche loaf. Cut into cubes and put on a baking pan. Drizzle the olive oil and add salt and pepper. Bake for about 10 minutes at 350F. Toss croutons half way through baking. You could also do this on the stovetop. Just toss frequently over medium high heat.

If you’ve tried this salad then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!