Best 4 Brunch Panzanella Recipes

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Panzanella is a refreshing Italian salad that is perfect for a summer brunch. It is made with fresh, seasonal vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and basil, and is dressed with a simple vinaigrette. This article features three variations of panzanella: a classic panzanella, a grilled panzanella, and a panzanella with melon and prosciutto.

The classic panzanella is made with stale bread, which is soaked in water and then squeezed dry. The bread is then tossed with the vegetables and dressing. The grilled panzanella is made with grilled bread, which gives it a smoky flavor. The panzanella with melon and prosciutto is a more luxurious version of the salad, with the addition of sweet melon and salty prosciutto.

All three variations of panzanella are easy to make and can be tailored to your own preferences. Whether you prefer a classic, grilled, or more luxurious salad, there is a panzanella recipe in this article that is perfect for you.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

PANZANELLA



Panzanella image

Provided by Ina Garten

Categories     side-dish

Time 55m

Yield 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

3 tablespoons good olive oil
1 small French bread or boule, cut into 1-inch cubes (6 cups)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 large, ripe tomatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 hothouse cucumber, unpeeled, seeded, and sliced 1/2-inch thick
1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 red onion, cut in 1/2 and thinly sliced
20 large basil leaves, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons capers, drained
1 teaspoon finely minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
1/2 cup good olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Heat the oil in a large saute pan. Add the bread and salt; cook over low to medium heat, tossing frequently, for 10 minutes, or until nicely browned. Add more oil as needed.
  • For the vinaigrette, whisk all the ingredients together.
  • In a large bowl, mix the tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, yellow pepper, red onion, basil, and capers. Add the bread cubes and toss with the vinaigrette. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Serve, or allow the salad to sit for about half an hour for the flavors to blend.

PANZANELLA



Panzanella image

Toasted bread and colorful fresh veggies are tossed with a light dressing in this Italian salad. Of course, you can add or take away ingredients to your liking!

Provided by JUNEBUFF1

Categories     Salad

Time 52m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 11

5 cups chopped tomato
1 cup chopped cucumber
½ cup sliced green onions
½ cup chopped sweet yellow pepper
½ cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
4 cups cubed French bread

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, cucumber, green onion, yellow pepper, parsley, and basil.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, salt, ground black pepper, and garlic. Pour lemon juice mixture over the tomato mixture, and toss to coat. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes, or until toasted and dry.
  • Toss bread cubes with tomato mixture, and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 205.7 calories, Carbohydrate 36.8 g, Fat 3.8 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 7.7 g, SaturatedFat 0.7 g, Sodium 350.8 mg, Sugar 5.2 g

CHEF JOHN'S PANZANELLA



Chef John's Panzanella image

The key to this panzanella is frying the bread cubes in loads of olive oil in a skillet, which obviously makes them crispy. But the healthful fat also soaks into the bread cubes and renders them semi-waterproof, or dressing-proof. The same goes for the dusting of Parmesan cheese applied halfway through the crisping process.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Salad

Time 1h

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 cups 1/2-inch stale bread cubes, or more to taste
¼ cup olive oil, or to taste
¼ cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, or to taste
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, or more to taste
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, or more to taste
½ teaspoon minced garlic, or to taste
1 pinch white sugar
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
4 leaves fresh basil, thinly sliced, or more to taste

Steps:

  • Pour bread into a large skillet and drizzle with 1/4 cup olive oil, working in batches if necessary. Cook and stir bread over medium heat, adding more oil as needed, until bread cubes are golden and crispy on the outside, 7 to 12 minutes.
  • Sprinkle Parmigiano-Reggiano over the top of the bread cubes; cook and stir until cheese is melted onto bread, and bread is crispy on the outside but still chewy on the inside, 3 to 4 minutes more. Cool completely.
  • Combine tomatoes, red wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, sugar, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl until well-mixed. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature until flavors combine, about 20 minutes.
  • Toss basil into tomato mixture; add bread cubes and stir. Let salad sit at room temperature 3 to 4 minutes; if the liquid is completely absorbed, add more vinegar and extra virgin olive oil to taste. Season with salt and black pepper.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 745.5 calories, Carbohydrate 68.4 g, Cholesterol 8.8 mg, Fat 45.8 g, Fiber 4.2 g, Protein 17.5 g, SaturatedFat 7.9 g, Sodium 927 mg, Sugar 3.3 g

TUSCAN PANZANELLA



Tuscan Panzanella image

This traditional Tuscan Panzanella summer salad is a mix of bright flavors and textures-tomatoes, bocconcini, red onion, basil, and crusty bread.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Appetizers

Number Of Ingredients 9

9 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 pound crusty Italian country bread, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
3 garlic cloves, 1 halved and 2 minced
1 pound cherry tomatoes (3 cups), halved
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
1 cup bocconcini (mini mozzarella balls), halved
10 to 15 basil leaves, thinly sliced, plus whole leaves for garnish
2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Steps:

  • Preheat grill to medium-high. (Alternatively, heat a grill pan over mediumhigh heat until hot.) Using 3 tablespoons of oil, brush bread slices on both sides.
  • Grill bread slices, turning once, until toasted on both sides, about 5 minutes total. Rub both sides with halved garlic. Tear into bite-size pieces.
  • Toss bread, tomatoes, onion, bocconcini, and sliced basil in a serving bowl.
  • Whisk together vinegar and minced garlic in a small bowl. Whisking constantly, pour in remaining 6 tablespoons oil in a slow, steady stream, and whisk until emulsified. Pour over salad. Season with salt and pepper. Let stand at room temperature, tossing occasionally, 1 hour. Garnish with whole basil leaves.

Tips:

  • Use fresh, ripe ingredients. This will ensure that your panzanella is flavorful and delicious.
  • Don't overcrowd the pan. Cook the bread cubes in batches if necessary, so that they can crisp up evenly.
  • Add the dressing just before serving. This will prevent the bread cubes from getting soggy.
  • Be creative with your ingredients. You can use any type of bread, vegetables, and herbs that you like.
  • Panzanella is a great make-ahead dish. You can make the bread cubes and dressing ahead of time, and then assemble the salad just before serving.

Conclusion:

Panzanella is a refreshing and flavorful salad that is perfect for summer. It is easy to make and can be customized to your own liking. So next time you are looking for a light and healthy meal, give panzanella a try. You won't be disappointed!

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