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Panzanella, aka tomato bread salad, is one of my favorite summertime meals. It doesn’t heat up the house and it’s light but satisfying. My version is a bit different than most Italian versions. Americanized would be the best way to put it, lol!
Quick & Easy Dinner Idea
This tomato bread salad is a version of Panzanella from an old Taste of Home magazine. The bread is not toasted or day-old which I like because I hate hard croutons. It can also be vegetarian by leaving out the pepperoni which we do sometimes.
The fresh basil and homemade-ish dressing really make it pop. Perfect Meatless Monday dinner that will satisfy even the biggest carnivores on your house.
I really love making this salad in the summer months when the tomatoes are in season and absolutely divine. Tomato bread salad is a great dinner to make after a trip to the farmers market this summer.
Best Tomato Bread Salad Recipe | Panzanella
This simple and delicious salad recipe is a scrumptious mix of bread, tomatoes and cheese and it's sure to be a hit with your family!
Ingredients
- 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 dry pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 10-15 fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 4 green onions, sliced
- 1 small loaf of hearty Italian bread
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, cubed
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup pepperoni, chopped
- ½ cup Italian Dressing/Vinaigrette
- Salt & Pepper
Instructions
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Toss all ingredients, except the dressing, in a large bowl. (This can be done up to 2 hours before serving.)
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When it's time to serve, add half the dressing and toss. Add more dressing depending on personal preference.
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Serve immediately!
Tomato Bread Salad Dressing Tips
- ♦ A homemade dressing or viniagrette will really elevate your tomato bread salad with minimal effort.
- ♦ I like to use an Italian Dressing Recipe Mix, like the Stonemill one from Aldi pictured below, because it comes together super quick but it also takes less than 5 minutes to make.
- ♦ For panzanella, I like a robust dressing. So I use balsamic vinegar instead or regular vinegar and I replace the water with extra vinegar. That really bumps up the flavor punch and works really well on the tomato bread salad.
- ♦ If you do make your own dressing or vinaigrette, add a small squeeze of mustard (I like Dijon) and your dressing will stay emulsified and not separate in the fridge.
- ♦ A mason jar with a lid is the perfect vessel because you just add your ingredients and shake it up. Plus, it still looks cute on the table.
Dressing I like to make for this salad. This time I used balsamic vinegar because I didn’t have any red wine vinegar on hand. Turned out delicious!
Tomato Bread Salad is Great for a Crowd!
Panzanella is also a great potluck recipe or something you can serve for a crowd. I’ve served this tomato bread salad at many gatherings and I’ve always received rave reviews. The mixture of tomatoes, bread and cheese are such a basic combination, it’s an instant hit.
Plus, this recipe makes a very large bowl full so it would be a great side dish for a crowd. Just bring the dressing with and pour it on right before the food is served. I love serving mine in the largest bowl from this set, it’s the perfect size and it comes with a lid!
Looking for More Salad Ideas?
If you need more salad ideas, you’re in luck because I have a ton of great ideas the whole family will love. Got a spice lover in your house? Try my Buffalo Chicken Salad. It’s delicious and extremely easy to make.
Need something slightly fancier to serve at your next dinner party? Try my Arugula Asparagus Salad with is a copycat from California Pizza Kitchen and quite possibly on of the fanciest things we eat.
Taran is a self-proclaimed undomestic mom. She thrives as a stay-at-home-mom by consistently carving out time for herself and practicing realistic self-care. As a busy mom of 3, she knows that if mama ain’t happy, nobody’s happy! With a focus on how SAHMs can carve out time for themselves everyday, she teaches fellow SAHMs how they can do the same.
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