The Best Summer Panzanella Caprese Salad

Panzanella caprese salad is a rustic bread salad that bursts with sweet tomatoes, pungent basil, and creamy mozzarella tossed in a tangy balsamic reduction. This summer panzanella salad will be on repeat as an easy dinner option during the warmer months.

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Say hello to my current favorite summer dinner: panzanella caprese salad or caprese panzanella.

Whatever you call it’s amazing.

How could it not be?

It’s a salad full of two of the world’s best things: bread and cheese.

Of course there are some beautiful, sweet summer cherry tomatoes and fragrant basil and the most delicious balsamic glaze ever.

But we can call it salad, so therefore…it’s obviously full of vegetables and not bread and cheese, right?

Glad we’re on the same page there.

Ok, so that’s not how it works, but I can justify almost anything based on the word salad. Anything. Including eating copious amounts of bread and cheese.

You’re welcome.

What better way to bulk up a Caprese than with carbs in the form of delicious, golden brown cubed Italian bread?

Anyway, for the rest of summer this is your meal.

Toasted Italian bread brushed with olive oil, fresh mozzarella, and cheese.

Ingredients and Kitchen Supplies

To make this caprese panzanella salad you’ll need:

• Bread– Bakery Italian style bread, cut into cubes and toasted. Do yourself a favor and don’t use sliced bread.
• Tomatoes- Cherry tomatoes cut in half. You could use any other tomatoes you like, but you’ll need to chop them. You may also need to squeeze the seeds and water out of some varieties.
• Mozzarella– Fresh mozzarella. The small balls works fabulously so you don’t have to chop them.
• Basil– Fresh basil. Substituting dried herbs here really doesn’t work.
• Olive oil– To brush on the bread before toasting it.
• Garlic– Optional but highly recommended! Toss the bread fresh garlic on the bread to give it flavor without it being overwhelming.
• Salt and pepper
• Balsamic glaze– Balsamic vinegar and honey

Kitchen supplies to have on hand:

• Knife and cutting board
• Garlic press
• Baking sheet
• Foil
• Bowl
• Small sauce pan

How to Make

1. Prep the bread.

Just cube up half a loaf of good Italian bakery bread and brush it with olive oil.

Sprinkle it with garlic, salt, and pepper and pop it in the oven and bake it until it’s lightly golden.

2. Prep the tomatoes.

While the bread toasts to golden perfection in the oven, halve the cherry tomatoes.

Then set them aside.

3. Make the balsamic glaze.

Whisk the balsamic vinegar and honey together and cook it over medium low to medium heat until the glaze bubbles and thickens.

4. Assemble the salad.

Once the glaze is done, you can toss the toasted bread with the tomatoes, mozzarella and basil.

Then drizzle the balsamic glaze over the salad.

Serve and enjoy!

Storing Leftovers

As with most other salads, I don’t recommend saving the leftovers for more than a day.

If you do have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for a day.

Keep in mind that storing this leftover may make the bread softer.

FAQs

Tips and Tricks

• Day old bread is best for this! No need for fresh bread.
• Want a different dressing option? Try pesto, olive oil and balsamic, or Italian dressing.
• The fresh garlic is optional, but I highly recommend it for a little extra flavor. And you could even up the flavor more by tossing the bread cubes with grated Parmesan cheese before baking them too!

Other Caprese Recipes

Looking for other Caprese recipes? Try these:

• The Best Burrata Caprese Salad
• Shrimp Caprese Salad
• Puff Pastry Caprese Cups
• Fried Mozzarella Caprese Salad
• Instant Pot Caprese Pasta
• Air Fryer Gnocchi Caprese
• The Best Shrimp Caprese Pasta
• Summer Strawberry Caprese Salad
• Caprese Zoodle Bowls with Chickpeas
• Mini Caprese Skewers
• Elegant and Easy Prosciutto Caprese Skewers
• Easy Pesto Caprese Salad (Italian Mozzarella, Tomato, Basil Salad)

For a different take on panzanella try this Burrata Panzanella Salad Recipe.

Did you make this? Let me know!

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