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.
PANZANELLA
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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