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A bowl of caprese panzanella salad.
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5 from 2 votes

Caprese Panzanella Salad

Bursting with amazing flavors, Caprese Panzanella is a perfect light meal or side dish! It comes together in less than 20 minutes with simple, fresh ingredients!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: vegetables
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 310kcal

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

    • 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.
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.

Nutrition

Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 335mg | Potassium: 240mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 808IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 230mg | Iron: 2mg
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