Grilled Italian Panzanella Salad
Make the most of flavorful summer tomatoes with this amazing Italian panzanella salad! Perfectly ripe tomatoes, smokey grilled bread, plenty of basil, and light and tangy vinaigrette all come together for a side dish you'll love all season long.
Servings 6
Calories 300kcal
Ingredients
Salad
- 12-14 oz crusty dinner bread, cut into 1 inch thick slices
- olive oil and kosher salt
- 2 large ripe tomatoes
- 1/2 cup halved and pitted kalamata olives
- 1/4 cup sliced fresh basil
Dressing
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2-3 tbsp red wine vinegar, to taste
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
Instructions
- Bread: Brush bread with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Heat a grill on a medium hot fire. Once hot, grill the bread on both sides until toasted and striped with grill marks. Cut bread into bite sized cubes (about 1 inch on a side) and set aside.
- Tomatoes: Seed tomatoes into a bowl and cut into 1/2 inch dice. Toss them with some kosher salt and put them in a colander over the bowl. (So that the bowl collects the juice.)
- Dressing: Mix together the olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Add the red onion and let it all sit for about 15 minutes.
- Salad: Add bread, tomatoes, olives, and basil to a large bowl. Pour the dressing over and toss until the bread is coated. Strain as much of the reserved tomato juice into the salad as you wish, adding it a little a time and tossing so that the bread is well dressed but not soggy.
Notes
- Bread: Choose a rustic style bread with a chewy, firm (not crumbly) interior and with a good ratio of middle to crust. A round loaf, such a boule, is my favorite for making this salad.
- Crust: If it is very thick and tough you may want to trim it off. Otherwise, leave it on.
- Timing: You can prep the tomatoes and dressing while the grill is heating for the bread.
- Tomato Juice: You want to strain this to remove the seeds when you add it to the salad. This keeps the dish from becoming bitter and improves the texture of the dressing.
Nutrition
Calories: 300kcal