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A delicious plate of Chef John's Panzanella

Chef John's Panzanella

This Panzanella salad is all about the perfect balance of crispy bread cubes and flavorful ingredients, with the addition of Parmesan cheese adding a delicious touch.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Additional Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 746

Ingredients
  

Bread Cubes
  • 2 cups stale bread cubes about 1/2-inch square, or more to taste
  • 60 ml olive oil or to taste
  • 30 g finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese or to taste
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
  • 30 ml red wine vinegar or more to taste
  • 30 ml extra-virgin olive oil or more to taste
  • 0.5 cucchiaino minced garlic or to taste
  • 1 g white sugar
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 4 fresh basil leaves thinly sliced, or more to taste

Equipment

  • Large Skillet

Method
 

  1. Working in batches if necessary, place bread into a large skillet and drizzle with 1/4 cup olive oil. Cook and stir bread over medium heat, adding more oil as needed, until golden and crispy on the outside, 7 to 12 minutes.
  2. Sprinkle Parmigiano-Reggiano over bread cubes; cook and stir until cheese is melted and bread is crispy on the outside but still chewy on the inside, 3 to 4 minutes more. Let cool completely, 10 to 15 minutes.
  3. Mix tomatoes, vinegar, 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper together in a bowl until well combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature until flavors combine, about 20 minutes.
  4. Toss basil into tomato mixture, then stir in bread cubes. Let sit at room temperature for 3 to 4 minutes; if the liquid is completely absorbed, add more vinegar and olive oil to taste. Season with salt and black pepper.

Nutrition

Calories: 746kcalCarbohydrates: 68gProtein: 18gFat: 46gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 927mgPotassium: 500mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin C: 29mgCalcium: 168mgIron: 5mg

Notes

For a more robust flavor, consider adding capers or olives. This salad can be served as a main dish or a side.
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