What type of bread is traditional?
Unsalted Tuscan pane sciocco — but any dense, chewy white bread works. Ciabatta is a widely available substitute. Avoid soft enriched bread or anything with seeds.
Italian · lunch
Panzanella
#italian#salad#lunch#vegan#vegetarian
20m
Total time
4
Servings
280
kcal
easy
Difficulty
May 18, 2026
INGREDIENTS.
4
Pantry
- 300 g stale country bread, torn into rough chunks
- 5 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1.5 tbsp red wine vinegar
- to taste fine salt and black pepper
Produce
- 600 g ripe tomatoes, large
- 1 medium cucumber, peeled and deseeded
- 1 small red onion, very thinly sliced
- 15 leaves fresh basil
THE METHOD.
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0/6 done
FAQ · Things people ask
About this recipe.
Can I add other vegetables?
Classic panzanella is tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and basil. Celery and capers are traditional in some versions. Capsicum is also common.
How ripe do the tomatoes need to be?
Very ripe — the juice they release is the whole point of the dish. Out-of-season tomatoes make a poor panzanella. Wait for summer.
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