Bursting with amazing flavors, Caprese Panzanella Salad is a perfect light meal or side dish! It comes together in less than 20 minutes with simple, fresh ingredients!
Summer calls for light, refreshing, and vibrant dishes, and Caprese Panzanella salad is the perfect answer. This Italian-inspired salad combines the classic flavors of a Caprese salad with the rustic charm of a traditional panzanella.
With juicy cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, aromatic basil, and crunchy sourdough croutons, this salad is a delightful explosion of taste and texture. Whether you're hosting a garden party, enjoying a picnic, or simply looking for a quick, delicious meal, this panzanella salad is sure to impress.
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We love the summer flavors of caprese with tomato and mozzarella. If you do too, you should definitely try our Shrimp Caprese, and Sangria Salmon Caprese Pasta.
Table of Contents
What does Caprese and Panzanella Mean?
Panzanella salad and caprese salad are both popular Italian dishes, but they are different from each other.
Caprese: The term "Caprese" refers to the island of Capri, located in the Campania region of Italy. It's a simple Italian salad made with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil, often seasoned with olive oil and sometimes balsamic vinegar.
Panzanella: "Panzanella Toscana" is a traditional Tuscan bread salad. The name is derived from two Italian words: "pane" (meaning bread) and "zanella" (an old Italian word for a deep plate). It's a bread salad that traditionally uses stale or toasted bread, soaked in water and mixed with fresh vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions, and dressed with olive oil and vinegar.
I combined the two into the ultimate salad, and it's a match made in heaven!
Why You’ll like this Recipe
- Vibrant Dish: The combination of sweet cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and creamy mozzarella creates a burst of flavors in every bite.
- Easy to Make: Simple ingredients and straightforward steps make this tomato and bread salad a breeze to prepare. It can be customized and served as a main dish, appetizer or side dish!
- Perfect for Summer: It's one of the best summer salads, making it a perfect dish for hot summer days. It's excellent at barbecues, picnics, or any outdoor get-together.
Ingredients
Scroll down for recipe amounts and instructions in the recipe card.
- Sourdough Bread: Provides a hearty, crunchy base for the salad. The bread soaks up the flavors of the dressing while retaining a pleasant texture.
- Olive Oil: Used to toast the bread and as part of the dressing, it adds a rich, fruity flavor that complements the other ingredients.
- Garlic: Adds a subtle kick of flavor when toasted with the bread.
- Balsamic Glaze: Drizzled over the salad, it adds a sweet, tangy richness that ties all the flavors together.
- Sweet Cherry Tomatoes: Juicy and sweet ripe tomatoes are the star of the salad, adding freshness and vibrant color. Cubed heirloom tomatoes are also excellent in this side salad.
- Fresh Mozzarella Cheese: Creamy and mild, it balances the acidity of the tomatoes and the tanginess of the balsamic glaze.
- Fresh Basil Leaves: Adds a fragrant, herbal note that enhances the overall flavor of the salad.
Tools You’ll Need
- Mixing Bowl
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Liquid Measuring Cups
- Tongs
- Cutting Board
- Chef's Knife
- Large Skillet
- Garlic Press
- Serrated Knife
How to Make Caprese Panzanella Salad
- Add olive oil to a large skillet on medium-high heat. Once hot, add bread cubes, and stir to coat well. When the bread starts to become golden brown, after 4-6 minutes, add garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir well. Cook an additional 1-2 minutes. Turn off the heat, and allow the bread cubes to cool completely.
- To a large bowl, add tomatoes, mozzarella, sliced basil, olive oil, salt and black pepper. Stir until combined well.
- Fold the cooled garlic bread cubes into the salad, and transfer to a serving bowl. Garnish with the basil leaves and balsamic glaze drizzle.
Pro Tips and Substitutions
- Toasted Bread Tips: Any crusty Italian stale bread like ciabatta or a French baguette, whole-grain, or multigrain bread can be used in this dish. You can also season the bread with Italian seasoning. Instead of toasting in a skillet, you can also toss bread cubes with olive oil and seasoning, spread on a large baking sheet in a single layer, and bake at 400°F for 10-15 minutes.
- Extra Vegetables: You can add other vegetables to customize the dish including sliced cucumbers, red peppers, red onion, radishes, or even grilled vegetables like zucchini or eggplant. You can also mix in some leafy greens such as arugula, baby spinach, or mixed salad greens.
- Cheese Options: While fresh mozzarella is traditional, you can try different cheeses like crumbled feta cheese, goat cheese, or shaved Parmesan.
- Add Extra Protein: To make the salad more substantial, add protein sources like grilled chicken, steak, shrimp, tofu, chickpeas, or even sliced hard-boiled eggs.
Storage
Panzanella bread salad is best enjoyed fresh because the bread gets soggy when stored for too long. However, if you have leftovers, store the bread pieces separately from the other ingredients and refrigerate in an airtight container.
If the bread becomes slightly stale, you can revive it by briefly toasting it in the oven or in a skillet.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use any type of fresh mozzarella, such as the classic mozzarella di bufala, mozzarella fior di latte (cow's milk mozzarella), or even small mozzarella balls (bocconcini).
It is best to assemble this salad shortly before serving to maintain the freshness of the ingredients. The bread can become too soggy if left in contact with the other ingredients for an extended period. However, you can prepare the individual components in advance.
You can certainly customize it to your taste. Some popular additions include sliced red onions, olives or roasted bell peppers.
You can make a gluten-free variation by using gluten-free bread or substituting the bread with gluten-free croutons or another gluten-free alternative.
Yes! While we typically serve it as an appetizer or side dish, it can also be served as a main course with the compliment of a protein like grilled chicken, shrimp or cooked beans.
More Recipes Like This
- Shrimp Caprese
- Sangria Salmon Caprese Pasta
- Crockpot Tomato Basil Chicken
- Sun-dried Tomato Caper Pasta
Caprese Panzanella Salad
Ingredients
Garlic Bread
- 2 cups sourdough bread cubes
- ¼ cup olive oil
- Salt & Black Pepper to taste
- 2 garlic cloves minced
Salad
- 1 pint sweet cherry tomatoes halved
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella dice-sized cubed
- ⅔ ounce fresh basil divided
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze or balsamic glaze with fig
Instructions
Garlic Bread
- Add olive oil to a large skillet on medium-high heat. Once hot, add bread cubes, and stir to coat well.
- When the bread starts to become golden brown, after 4-6 minutes, add garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir well. Cook an additional 1-2 minutes. Turn off the heat, and allow the bread cubes to cool completely.
Salad
- Reserve a few gathered basil leaves for garnish. Chiffonade (thinly slice) the remaining basil.
- To a large bowl, add tomatoes, mozzarella, sliced basil, olive oil and ⅛-1/4 teaspoon both salt and black pepper. Stir until combined well.
- Fold the cooled garlic bread cubes into the salad, and transfer to a serving bowl.
- Garnish with the reserved basil leaves and balsamic glaze drizzle.
Video
Notes
Pro Tips and Substitutions
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- Bread Varieties: Any crusty Italian bread like ciabatta or a baguette, whole-grain, or multigrain bread can be used in this dish.
-
- Extra Vegetables: You can add other vegetables to customize the dish including sliced cucumbers, bell peppers, radishes, or even grilled vegetables like zucchini or eggplant. You can also mix in some leafy greens such as arugula, baby spinach, or mixed salad greens.
-
- Cheese Options: While fresh mozzarella is traditional, you can try different cheeses like crumbled feta cheese, goat cheese, or shaved Parmesan.
-
- Add Extra Protein: To make the salad more substantial, add protein sources like grilled chicken, steak, shrimp, tofu, chickpeas, or even sliced hard-boiled eggs.
- Panzanella bread salad is best enjoyed fresh because the bread gets soggy when stored for too long. However, if you have leftovers, store the bread pieces separately from the other ingredients and refrigerate in an airtight container.
- If the bread becomes slightly stale, you can revive it by briefly toasting it in the oven or in a skillet.
Debbie White
Love it. Simple, quick and easy to do and using the sourdough bread makes it!
Laura Ashley
Thank you so much! I'm so happy it was a hit!! 🙂