Greek-Style Panzanella Bread Salad Recipe | foodiecrush.com (2024)

This simple, healthy Tuscan bread salad recipe gets a Mediterranean makeover with the addition of kalamata olives, roasted red bell pepper, capers and feta cheese.

This post is in partnershipwith McCormick.

The first time I heard the word “panzanella”, I thought it was a dessert.

I mean, doesn’t it sound like something fabulously decadent you could only find in aEuropean bakery with those cute little tables sitting outside on the sidewalk? Made by a chef in a white toque (fyi, that’s what they call those Chef Boyardee hats) with moundsof sugar, the sweetest butter and the flakiestcrust, intended to be nibbled slowly through the afternoonside by side toa steaming cup of the most perfectly poured espresso?

Yeah, I was so wrong.

Panzanella is a traditional Tuscansalad made with the summer’s juiciest tomatoes, and get this: day-old, definitely-not-soft, hearty bread. Since our family is a family of bread dippers, the addition of bread in this salad makes itreally popular—no additional dipping required.

To switch things up from the traditional Tuscan way this salad is prepared, Iadded a few Mediterranean-inspired flavors to our usual bread salad mix.

Yeah, and this time, I am so right.

About the Recipe

As I mentioned above, the key ingredient that sets this salad apart is day-old bread. That does not mean stale, hard as a rock bread. I useabout half of a nice hearty baguette from one of my favorite local bakers, most often sourdough. I first cut or tear the bread into cube-ish shapes and then add them back to the paper bag they came in tosit and harden for a day or so.Once the salad all comes together, the juices from the tomatoes and the dressing soak into those delicious bread chunks to soften them, creating bold bites of bread with no need for dipping.The salad dressing is a simple one, with just 5 ingredients. See, you only need 5 ingredients because so much flavor is packed into the dressing thanks to the savoryblend of herbs added to it.I use McCormick’sGourmet™ Organic Italian Seasoning with Flaxseed to infuse the dressing with tons of flavor. There’s nothing else to add in the herb department because this blend contains all the zestI need:Flaxseed, marjoram, basil, savory, more garlic, onion, red bell pepper,and rosemary extract.Sure, it says “Italian” on the label, but the flavor profile is right in line with the other Greek flavors I’ve added to create the perfect complement to the dish.One of my tips in making this salad is to cut your bread, cucumbers, tomatoes, and roasted red bell pepper all the same size—or as close as you can. That way the bread doesn’t take over and dominate the chunks ofcucumber, roasted bell peppers andtomato.And, to my husband’s liking, you then get HUGE CHUNKSof cucumber, his favorite fruit/veg ever.I seeded my cucumber but if you’re feeling lazy and don’t mind the seeds, this is a totally skippable step.But don’t skip this salad. It’s just like dessert in every sweet tomato bursting bite.

If You Liked This Recipe, You’ll Like These:

• Greek Pasta Salad with Cucumbers and Artichoke Hearts
• Summer Panzanella with Garlic Butter Bread
• Greek Salad with Avocado
• Panzanella with Marinated Chickpeas and Chimichurri

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This post is sponsored by McCormick. As always, thank you for reading and for supporting companies I partner with, which allows me to create more unique content and recipes for you. All opinions are always my own.

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As always, thank you for reading and supporting companies I partner with, which allows me to create more unique content and recipes for you. There may be affiliate links in this post of which I receive a small commission. All opinions are always my own.