Panzanella Salad (Crispy Bread Salad)
My panzanella salad is fresh and vibrant, with toasted bread, creamy mozzarella pearls, and colorful veggies and tossed in a lemon vinaigrette.
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 594kcal
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread, day old
- 8 ounce mozzarella pearls, drained
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup marinated artichoke hearts, drained
- ½ cup red onion
- ½ cup red bell pepper
- ½ cup yellow bell pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, reserved from vinegarette
Lemon Vinaigrette
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice
- ⅔ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon pepper
- 1 ½ tablespoons honey
- ¾ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°.
- Prepare a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and set aside.
- Cut French bread into 1 - 1 1⁄2-inch cubes.
- Spread cubes on the prepared cookie sheet.
- Drizzle the olive oil over the bread and sprinkle with a pinch of salt.
- Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes until golden and crispy.
- Remove from the oven and set aside.
Lemon Vinegarette
- Add all of the ingredients to a shaker bottle, or whisk together in a bowl until emulsified.
- Set in the fridge until ready to use.
- Make the Panzanella
- Cut onion and bell peppers into thin slices.
- Slice mozzarella in halves.
- Slice tomatoes in half.
- Chop artichoke into bite sized pieces.
- Add all ingredients to a large bowl.
- Top with vinaigrette and toss.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Tips
- Slightly stale bread holds up better to the dressing and gives the salad its signature texture.
- Toasting the bread ensures it stays slightly crisp even after being tossed with the vinaigrette.
- Prep your veggies just before mixing the salad for the freshest flavor.
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice creates a brighter, fresher vinaigrette than bottled juice.
- Panzanella is best enjoyed shortly after assembling, when the bread has absorbed some dressing but hasn't become overly soft.
Nutritional values are approximate.
Please note that these values can change with different brands and any modifications made to the recipe. For the most accurate information, use a nutritional calculator with the exact brands and measurements.
Nutrition
Calories: 594kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 1058mg | Potassium: 334mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1139IU | Vitamin C: 63mg | Calcium: 253mg | Iron: 4mg