Panzanella is an Italian salad originating and popular in the regions of Tuscany, Umbria, Marche, and Lazio. A favorite during the summer months, it uses day to week-old bread mixed with fresh summer vegetables and herbs. The recipe dates back many years to when people, especially those working on farms during long distances of travel had very little food to eat. Stale bread and local vegetables were primarily at hand, and so came about Panzanella. Although there are a few variations of this recipe, here is one in its most traditional and common form.
Panzanella Salad
Ingredients:
- day or week-old bread (cut into cubes)
- 3 cloves of garlic (minced finely)
- 1 cup of extra virgin olive oil
- 6 ripe tomatoes (chopped)
- fresh basil (chopped)
- fresh Parmesan or Romano cheese (shaved slices)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
Directions:
- Cut bread into cubes and place in a salad bowl
- Chop ripe tomatoes and place in bowl with bread. Make sure tomatoes are fairly ripe
- Mince garlic finely and add to the bowl
- Add olive oil to the bowl of ingredients
- Add salt and pepper
- Chop fresh basil and add
- Add shaved slices of cheese
- Stir well, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour so that the bread has enough time to moisten. The longer it stays in the fridge, the more moist and flavorful the bread salad will become.
If the salad looks like it needs more liquid to be fully covered, you can add some more olive oil or add a bit of cold water, but be sure not to add these ingrediens to excess because then you'll end up with a really soggy salad. The bread will already moisten on its own with the ripe tomatoes and olive oil, which is where the salad gets most of its flavor.
Serve With: This is a great side dish to any meal, or as an alternative to a green salad. If you don't have Parmesan or Romano cheese, you can replace it with mini bocconcini cheese balls instead.
This recipe is panzanella salad in its most basic form. There are several recipes that call for additional ingredients that add a different flavor to the overall dish. Here are some common ingredients that can be added to this recipe: capers, anchovies, tuna, celery, carrots, red wine, vinegar, red onion, cucumber, boiled eggs, fresh peppers, lemon juice, and olives. Don't be afraid to add any of these ingredients to the recipe. More variety brings even more flavor to any dish, but it can also be just as tasty and enjoyed in its basic form as well. This is also an easy dish to make and bring to a summer barbeque party.
