Panzanella Salad with Roasted Green Beans

Day old bread and soft tomatoes get a new delicious life and make for a great make-ahead dish. Another variation of Insalata di Pane, a venerable Italian classic.

Servings: 4

Time: 60 minutes

Ingredients:

US MeasuresMetric
  • 4 cups day old Italian bread cubes about 1 inch in size
  • 1/2 lb green beans, trimmed and cut in half if too long
  • 2 cups multi-color cherry tomatoes, cut into halves lengthwise
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and left whole
  • 2 Tbsp white balsamic vinegar or to taste
  • juice of 1 lemon + zest
  • 1 cup fresh mozzarella cubes, about 1 inch in size
  • 1/4 cup roughly chopped flat-leaf (Italian) parsley
  • salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 300 g day old Italian bread cubes about 2 1/2 cm in size
  • 225 g green beans, trimmed and cut in half if too long
  • 280 g multi-color cherry tomatoes, cut into halves lengthwise
  • 120 ml extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and left whole
  • 2 Tbsp white balsamic vinegar or to taste
  • juice of 1 lemon + zest
  • 120 g fresh mozzarella cubes, about 2 1/2 cm in size
  • 5 g roughly chopped flat-leaf (Italian) parsley
  • salt and freshly ground pepper

Preparation:

Preheat oven at 450° F/230° C.

Place oven rack in the center. Toss green beans with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread beans on a parchment lined baking sheet. Roast beans for about 10 minutes or until “al dente”, turning beans at mid time. Beans should look a bit shriveled and have some brown spots. Remove beans from the oven and place them in a bowl. Sprinkle them with the lemon zest and toss. Keep the lined baking sheet for roasting the bread.

Place cherry tomatoes in a bowl. Sprinkle with salt to taste and let them sit to gather juices while you prepare the other items. Reduce oven temperature to 400° F/200° C. Mix bread cubes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl. Toss well making sure that bread is well oiled. Spread bread on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Toast turning cubes on the opposite side at mid-term. Roast for about 10 minutes or until bread is golden brown.

Whisk remaining olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a small bowl.

Combine bread cubes, roasted garlic cloves, green beans, mozzarella, tomatoes and their juices in a bowl. Drizzle with the vinaigrette. Toss everything well. Let salad sit for at least 30 minutes. Bread should be softened and tomatoes juicy. If necessary add more vinaigrette before serving.

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