Italian Bread Salad

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Servings: 4 Difficulty: Intermediate
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A refreshing summer salad featuring soaked stale bread, ripe tomatoes, and a tangy olive oil dressing
Italian Bread Salad recipe image
Italian Bread Salad recipe image
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Italian Bread Salad

Author: chefs-mate Cuisine: Courses:
Difficulty: Intermediate
Servings: 4 Calories: 222.8

Description

This classic Italian bread salad, known as Panzanella, transforms stale bread into a vibrant and satisfying dish. The secret lies in soaking day-old bread in ice water, then squeezing it dry to allow it to absorb the flavors of the dressing without becoming mushy. Juicy plum tomatoes, sharp red onion, and peppery fresh basil combine with briny black olives for a burst of summer flavor. The dressing, made with red wine vinegar, minced garlic, and extra virgin olive oil, ties everything together with a tangy richness. Perfect as a light lunch or a side dish for grilled meats, this salad is best served at room temperature, allowing the bread to fully embrace the juices from the tomatoes and dressing.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Tear the Italian bread slices (with crusts removed) into large, bite-sized pieces.
  2. Place the bread pieces in a large bowl and cover completely with 4 cups of ice water.
  3. Let the bread soak for 6 to 8 minutes, gently turning the pieces over twice to ensure even soaking.
  4. Drain the water and squeeze the bread firmly to remove excess moisture.
  5. Break the squeezed bread into 1-inch pieces and transfer to a clean large mixing bowl.
  6. Add the chopped tomatoes, diced red onion, torn basil leaves, and black olives to the bowl with the bread.
  7. In a small bowl, whisk together the red wine vinegar, minced garlic, and olive oil until well combined.
  8. Pour the dressing evenly over the bread and vegetable mixture.
  9. Gently toss all ingredients together until the bread and vegetables are evenly coated with the dressing.
  10. Season generously with salt and several grinds of fresh black pepper.
  11. Mix well one last time and serve immediately, garnished with additional fresh basil leaves if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 4

Amount Per Serving
Calories 222.8kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 14.2g22%
Saturated Fat 4.7g24%
Cholesterol 35.2mg12%
Sodium 525.8mg22%
Total Carbohydrate 2.2g1%
Dietary Fiber 0.0g0%
Sugars 0.4g
Protein 18.8g38%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Keywords: panzanella, bread salad, italian salad, summer salad, vegan salad, tomato salad, stale bread, olive oil dressing, basil, red onion, black olives, red wine vinegar, garlic, easy salad, no cook
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