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Sourdough Panzanella Salad

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By: MadelinePosted: 06/27/2021Updated: 06/05/2023

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Make a Sourdough Panzanella Salad for a delicious summer side dish. Serve this twist on a classic Tuscan bread salad with your grilling favorites.

Above view of sourdough panzanella recipe in a serving bowl
Contents hide
Try sourdough panzanella salad for a refreshing and hearty summer side dish
What is panzanella?
Kitchen Tools
Ingredients
Substitutes for sourdough bread
How to make Sourdough Panzanella Salad
Can I make this panzanella recipe ahead of time?
Check out these other summer salad recipes
Sourdough Panzanella Salad

Try sourdough panzanella salad for a refreshing and hearty summer side dish

Any summer salad made with cherry tomatoes and fresh basil is good for me! Add cubed sourdough bread to that salad and I am definitely excited.

This panzanella recipe is made by mixing toasted cubed sourdough bread with tomatoes, fresh basil and red onion. The bread and veggies are then soaked in a seasoned vinaigrette.

What is panzanella?

Panzanella is a salad made by soaking stale bread in an olive oil and vinegar dressing and tossing with tomatoes and vinegar. The dish originated in Tuscany, but has been changed as it has spread all over the world.

This version of panzanella salad is made with sourdough bread that is toasted to mimic stale bread. The sourdough cubes are then tossed with a seasoned vinaigrette, cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, and fresh basil.

Above view of ingredients for sourdough panzanella recipe for

Kitchen Tools

  • Mixing bowls
  • Measuring spoons and measuring cups
  • Parchment paper and baking sheets
  • Sharp knife and cutting board
  • Spatula or wooden mixing spoon
Step by step images of toasting bread cubes

Ingredients

  • Sourdough bread
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt
  • Red onion
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Fresh basil
  • Red wine vinegar
  • Dried oregano
  • Crushed red pepper

Substitutes for sourdough bread

I love the flavor of sourdough bread in this panzanella salad, but I understand that it is not everyones first choice. You can use any type of bread that has a thick outer crust including baguettes. I do not recommend using sandwich bread for this recipe.

Above view of toasted sourdough bread in a mixing bowl with red onion, cherry tomatoes and fresh basil

How to make Sourdough Panzanella Salad

Step 1: Toast sourdough bread in oven

To begin, preheat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut the sourdough bread into cubes and lay on the parchment lined baking sheet. 

Then, pour 2 tbsp of olive oil over the bread and use your hands to toss and make sure the bread is evenly coated. Sprinkle 1 tsp salt over the bread.

Next, place in the oven to bake for 16-20 minutes. Remove when the bread is golden brown.

Step 2: Prepare other ingredients and vinaigrette

While the bread cubes toast, cut the red onion into thin slices. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half and slice the basil into ribbons.

Then, whisk together red wine vinegar, the other 2 tbsp olive oil, dried oregano and crushed red pepper in a small bowl and set to the side.

Step 3: Toss bread salad ingredients together

Finally, add the toasted bread cubes to a large mixing bowl along with the red onion, tomatoes and basil. Pour the vinaigrette over top and toss until all of the bread and veggies are evenly coated.

I prefer to make this panzanella salad a day in advance so that it has time to sit in the fridge and all of the flavors come together.

Above view of sourdough panzanella salad in a mixing bowl

Can I make this panzanella recipe ahead of time?

Yes! As this bread salad sits in the fridge, the flavors will intensify and blend together.

I like to prepare it 24 hours prior to serving for the best taste and texture. You can add fresh basil just before serving.

Check out these other summer salad recipes

  • Grilled Shrimp and Corn Salad
  • Peanut Broccoli Pasta Salad
  • Honey Mustard Three Bean Salad
  • Easy Italian Chopped Salad

You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!

Image for pinning Sourdough Panzanella Salad recipe on pinterest
Above view of sourdough panzanella recipe in a serving bowl
Recipe

Sourdough Panzanella Salad

★★★★★ 5 from 6 reviews

Make a sourdough panzanella salad recipe to serve at your next backyard barbecue!

Recipe By: Madeline
Prep: 10 minutesCook: 30 minutesTotal: 40 minutes
Print Pin it Rate recipe Save recipe
Servings: 6 servings 1x

Ingredients

  • 12oz sourdough bread (about 1/2 a large loaf)
  • 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil – separated
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 a red onion
  • 12oz cherry tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup packed fresh basil leaves
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp dreid oregano
  • 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
  • Flakey sea salt for topping

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut the sourdough bread into cubes and lay on the parchment lined baking sheet. 
  2. Pour 2 tbsp of olive oil over the bread and use your hands to toss and make sure the bread is evenly coated. Sprinkle 1 tsp salt over the bread. Place in the oven to bake for 16-20 minutes. Remove when the bread is golden brown.
  3. While the bread cubes toast, cut the red onion into thin slices. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half and slice the basil into ribbons. Whisk together red wine vinegar, the other 2 tbsp olive oil, dried oregano and crushed red pepper in a small bowl and set to the side.
  4. Add the toasted bread cubes to a large mixing bowl along with the red onion, tomatoes and basil. Pour the vinaigrette over top and toss until all of the bread and veggies are evenly coated.

*** I prefer to make this panzanella salad a day in advance so that it has time to sit in the fridge and all of the flavors come together.

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
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About Madeline

Hi, I'm Madeline! I am so excited to share my healthy and approachable recipes with you. Here you will find simple, comforting recipes that the whole family will enjoy. Turn on your favorite playlist or podcast and let's get cooking!

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  1. Elaine says

    Posted on 9/5 at 4:58 pm

    Out of this world salad! We first made it for a July 4th cookout and loved it so much that we had to repeat for Labor Day. We found that we enjoyed it even more the next day after the flavors had a chance to meld in the fridge overnight, so this round I made it the day before. Perfect side for any cookout main!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Madeline says

      Posted on 9/8 at 8:38 am

      wonderful! thank you!!!

      Reply
  2. Paige says

    Posted on 7/18 at 4:31 pm

    Looks amazing!!! Do you add the bread cubes when you refrigerate over night or before serving?

    Reply
    • Madeline says

      Posted on 7/18 at 8:50 pm

      Add them before refrigerating!! They soak up the flavor of the dressing and the tomatoes and taste so so good

      Reply
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Hi, I'm Madeline - food blogger and recipe developer based just outside Philadelphia. Join me for simple, comforting recipes designed for the whole family. Turn on your favorite playlist or podcast, and let's get to cooking!

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