Panzanella – A Traditional Tuscan Recipe

Bread and vegetable salad

Panzanella is an Italian dish that combines stale bread, tomatoes, and onions before being topped with extra-virgin olive oil. Panzanella is a Tuscan bread salad that is perfect for summer. During the summer months in Italy, it is traditionally served for lunch or dinner. This vegan version makes use of chickpea flour bread.

Many Italians, in fact, have their own unique ways of preparing panzanella for special occasions such as holidays or birthdays.

Ingredients (serves 6)

• 400 g 2 day old Tuscanstyle bread
• 4 tomatoes, diced
• 2 red onions or 4 spring onions, sliced thinly
• 1 cucumber, finely sliced
• 10 basil leaves, ripped in half
• 2 tbs red vinegar
• 100 ml extra virgin olive oil
• 2 pinches of salt
• 2 pinches of pepper

Preparation

Soak the bread in cold water for a few minutes. Then squeeze out as much water as you can, crumble the bread in a big bowl, add all the vegetables and basil leaves and mix well. Add half the olive oil, salt and pepper and mix again. Allow to stand in the fridge for an hour or more. Add the vinegar and remaining extra virgin olive oil and mix again. Serve, garnishing with basil leaves.

Bread and vegetable salad Panzanella is an Italian dish that combines stale bread, tomatoes, and onions before being topped with extra-virgin olive oil. Panzanella is a Tuscan bread salad that is perfect for summer. During the summer months in Italy, it is traditionally served for lunch or dinner. This vegan…

Bread and vegetable salad Panzanella is an Italian dish that combines stale bread, tomatoes, and onions before being topped with extra-virgin olive oil. Panzanella is a Tuscan bread salad that is perfect for summer. During the summer months in Italy, it is traditionally served for lunch or dinner. This vegan…