Panzanella and Other Bread Salads — Now You Can Invite Them Over

Your friends are coming over. Panzanella is just bread, tomatoes, and whatever looks good at the market. There's no wrong way to make it. Toss in cucumbers, basil, red onion, a drizzle of good olive oil. You're an artist. Have fun. Impress your friends.

Bread salads are classy and easy. You're building a garden salad, loading it with toasted bread chunks, and drizzling it with dressing. It's a great way to show off the fancy bread you made. Serve it as a main dish, not just a side.

Classic Panzanella

The traditional Italian bread salad. Fresh tomatoes, basil, and Italian cheese with an Italian bread mix.

Ingredients

• Olive oil and red wine vinegar
• 1 slice toasted bread, cut into cubes
• 1 tomato, sliced
• 1/8 red onion, thinly sliced
• 2–3 fresh basil leaves, torn
• Salad greens
• 2 tablespoons grated romano or parmesan

Directions

1. Mix olive oil and red wine vinegar together.
2. Toss toasted bread cubes with tomatoes, onions, and basil.
3. Place on a serving plate, drizzle with the dressing, garnish with cheese. Serve immediately.

Tex-Mex Bread Salad

Made with cheesy salsa bread — cheese, tomatoes, onions, and spices baked right into the dough.

• 1 slice toasted bread, cut into cubes
• 1/4 tomato, cubed
• 1/3 cup canned corn
• 1/3 cup sliced olives
• 3 slices avocado for garnish
• Mozzarella cheese for garnish
• Vinaigrette dressing

1. Toss toasted bread with vinaigrette.
2. Add tomatoes, corn, and olives and toss.
3. Plate and garnish with cheese and avocado.

Fruited Bread Salad

• 1 slice toasted bread, cut into cubes
• 1/4 cup red seedless grapes
• 1/4 cup red apple, cubed
• 1/4 cup blue cheese, crumbled
• 1 cup spinach
• Olive oil and red wine vinegar

1. Toss toasted bread with olive oil and vinegar.
2. Place spinach on a serving plate.
3. Arrange bread, grapes, apple, and cheese on top in quarters.

Make Your Own Bread Salad

Think beyond the greens — add tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, corn, beans, beets, fruits, and nuts. Toast your bread well so it holds up under the dressing without going soggy. Serve immediately after assembly.

Great breads for salads: Italian Country, French Bread, Black Russian Pumpernickel, Tuscany Tomato, Diego's Jalapeño Cheddar.

See all seven things you can make this week →