Ina Garten’s Zesty Greek Panzanella Recipe – Fresh & Flavorful

Greek Panzanella represents a vibrant Mediterranean culinary masterpiece that transforms simple ingredients into something magical.

Fresh vegetables dance alongside crispy bread chunks in this rustic salad creation.

Summer’s abundance comes alive through colorful ingredients that spark excitement on your plate.

Robust flavors intertwine seamlessly, creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes.

Crisp bread cubes soak up zesty dressing, offering delightful bursts of tanginess with each bite.

Mediterranean traditions shine through this adaptable dish that welcomes personal creativity.

Home cooks can customize this salad with whatever fresh produce catches their eye: deliciousness awaits!

Toss Together Greek Panzanella With Crunch and Color

Step 1: Crisp Up the Bread

Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over low to medium heat. Add diced bread and season with salt and pepper.

• Toss bread frequently
• Cook for 5–10 minutes until golden and crispy
• Set toasted bread aside on a plate

Step 2: Chop Fresh Vegetables

• Slice cucumber
• Dice red and yellow bell peppers
• Chop ripe tomatoes
• Thinly slice red onion

Step 3: Whisk Zesty Vinaigrette

• Pour red wine vinegar
• Mince fresh garlic
• Add dried oregano
• Mix in Dijon mustard
• Season with salt and pepper
• Slowly stream olive oil while whisking to create smooth emulsion

Step 4: Combine Salad Components

• Add toasted bread cubes
• Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese
• Scatter kalamata olives
• Drizzle prepared vinaigrette
• Gently toss all ingredients

Step 5: Let Flavors Develop

Allow salad to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve at room temperature and savor the Mediterranean-inspired dish.

Tips for Perfectly Toasty Greek Panzanella

• Bread Prep Matters: Choose day-old bread that's slightly stale for the perfect texture. Stale bread soaks up the dressing without becoming mushy, creating a delightful base for the salad.
• Toast with Care: Gently toss bread cubes while toasting to achieve an even, golden-brown crispness. Consistent toasting ensures a satisfying crunch in every single bite.
• Slice Like a Pro: Chop vegetables into uniform sizes to guarantee balanced flavor and texture throughout the salad. Consistent cutting means each forkful delivers the same delicious experience.
• Flavor Infusion Time: Let the salad rest for 30 minutes after dressing. This crucial step allows ingredients to mingle and bread to absorb the vibrant vinaigrette, intensifying the overall taste.
• Feta Makes the Difference: Invest in high-quality feta cheese stored in brine. Premium feta delivers a creamy, tangy richness that elevates the entire dish from good to absolutely spectacular.

Smart Storage for Greek Panzanella That Stays Fresh

• Sealed Container Method: Store the salad in a high-quality, leak-proof glass container with a tight-fitting lid. Prevent moisture loss and maintain crisp vegetable textures by ensuring the container seals completely.
• Bread Preservation Technique: Separate bread cubes from liquid ingredients to prevent sogginess. Place croutons in a separate sealed bag or container, keeping them crisp and ready to be added just before serving.
• Refrigeration Strategy: Consume within 24-36 hours for optimal flavor and texture. Keep the salad chilled at 40°F or below, understanding that marinating overnight will intensify the dressing's taste but potentially soften the bread's crunch.

Greek Panzanella Variations That Keep It Fun

• Grilled Mediterranean Panzanella: Char bell peppers and vegetables on a grill for smoky depth, enhancing the salad's natural flavors and adding a subtle outdoor cooking essence.
• Herb-Infused Herb Lover's Version: Replace standard oregano with fresh chopped basil, mint, and dill, creating a more vibrant and aromatic herb profile that brightens the entire dish.
• Protein-Packed Greek Style: Incorporate grilled chicken or shredded rotisserie meat, transforming the salad into a complete meal with added protein and hearty texture.
• Roasted Vegetable Alternative: Swap raw vegetables with oven-roasted zucchini, eggplant, and cherry tomatoes, developing deeper caramelized notes and intensifying the overall vegetable flavor spectrum.

Why Greek Panzanella Is the Boldest Bread Salad

• Crunch-Packed Bread Adventure: The recipe transforms simple bread into golden, crispy cubes that add an irresistible textural excitement to every bite, making each mouthful a delightful crunch festival.
• Mediterranean Flavor Explosion: Bursting with vibrant ingredients like tangy feta, briny kalamata olives, and fresh vegetables, this salad delivers an authentic Greek taste experience that transports you straight to a sunny coastal village.
• Effortless Gourmet Elegance: Despite looking impressive, this panzanella requires minimal cooking skills and comes together quickly, allowing home cooks to create a restaurant-quality dish with simple techniques and straightforward ingredients.
• Flavor-Melding Magic: Letting the salad rest for 30 minutes allows all ingredients to marinate and blend, creating a harmonious dish where each component enhances the others, resulting in deeper, more complex taste profiles.

What You’ll Need for Greek Panzanella Magic

• Bread: Sturdy bread cubes that create crunchy texture and absorb vinaigrette, best when day-old or rustic.
• Olive Oil: Rich cooking oil for toasting bread cubes, helps achieve golden and crispy exterior.

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• Cucumber: Crisp vegetable adding refreshing crunch and light moisture to the salad.
• Red Bell Pepper, Yellow Bell Pepper: Sweet peppers providing vibrant color and mild pepper flavor.
• Tomatoes: Juicy component that adds natural sweetness and Mediterranean character.
• Red Onion: Sharp ingredient offering zesty bite and traditional Greek salad profile.

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• Feta Cheese: Tangy Greek cheese with creamy texture, classic Mediterranean ingredient.
• Kalamata Olives: Briny, dark olives with intense flavor characteristic of Greek cuisine.
• Red Wine Vinegar: Acidic base for vinaigrette, bringing bright and sharp undertones.
• Garlic: Pungent ingredient adding depth and traditional Mediterranean seasoning.
• Oregano: Dried herb providing authentic Greek herbal notes.
• Dijon Mustard: Smooth condiment helping emulsify vinaigrette and add subtle tang.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings for balancing and enhancing overall dish flavors.

A Toasty Goodbye to Ina’s Greek Panzanella

Greek panzanella showcases Mediterranean culinary magic with Ina Garten’s signature touch.

Mediterranean ingredients dance together, creating symphonic flavor profiles that transport palates to sunny Greek islands.

Crisp bread cubes provide perfect textural contrast against juicy vegetables and tangy feta cheese.

Wine vinegar and garlic weave complex aromatics through each delightful bite.

Mediterranean charm radiates from this simple yet sophisticated salad, promising memorable dining experiences.

You’ll want to savor each spoonful, share this recipe with friends, double-tap this article, and spread Mediterranean sunshine through your kitchen.

Ina Garten Greek Panzanella Recipe

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4.6 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s Greek Panzanella brings Mediterranean charm to your table with crisp bread cubes and tangy feta. Fresh herbs and juicy tomatoes mingle with crunchy cucumber, creating a perfect summer salad you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

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Produce:

• 1 hothouse cucumber, unpeeled, halved lengthwise, seeded, and sliced ½ inch thick
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and large-diced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and large-diced
• 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• ½ small red onion, thinly sliced in half-rounds

Bread and Cheese:

• 6 cups (1-inch) diced rustic bread
• ½ pound (226 grams) good feta cheese, ¾-inch-diced

Liquids and Seasonings:

• ¾ cup (180 milliliters) good olive oil, divided
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) good red wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 cloves)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
• ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
• ½ cup kalamata olives, pitted
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Transform stale bread into crispy croutons by heating olive oil in a large sauté pan over low to medium heat. Carefully add diced bread cubes, sprinkling with salt and pepper. Toss frequently, ensuring even golden browning for 5-7 minutes until perfectly crisp and crunchy. Transfer toasted bread to a separate plate and set aside.
2. Prepare vegetable medley by combining diced cucumber, vibrant red and yellow bell peppers, ripe tomatoes, and thinly sliced red onion in a spacious mixing bowl. Ensure ingredients are uniformly chopped for consistent texture and visual appeal.
3. Craft a robust vinaigrette by whisking red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, Dijon mustard, salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper in a small mixing bowl. Gradually incorporate the remaining olive oil, whisking continuously to create a smooth, emulsified dressing.
4. Construct the salad by adding the golden croutons, crumbled feta cheese, and briny kalamata olives to the vegetable mixture. Gently pour the prepared vinaigrette over the ingredients, using a light tossing motion to ensure even coating without crushing delicate components.
5. Allow salad to harmonize at room temperature for 20-30 minutes, enabling flavors to intermingle and develop a more complex taste profile. This resting period helps ingredients absorb the vinaigrette’s nuanced seasonings.
6. Final presentation involves a quick seasoning adjustment if needed. Serve at ambient temperature, inviting diners to enjoy the Mediterranean-inspired dish with its layers of texture and vibrant flavors.

Notes

• Elevate the taste by using premium, briny feta cheese that crumbles with a rich, tangy flavor. Cheap or dry feta won’t deliver the same creamy depth.
• Give the salad time to marinate after mixing with vinaigrette. Resting for half an hour allows bread to soak up dressing and ingredients to meld together perfectly.
• Create uniform vegetable pieces by cutting cucumber, peppers, and tomatoes into consistent sizes. This ensures balanced flavor and texture in every single bite.
• Achieve golden-brown crispness by frequently tossing bread cubes while toasting. Constant movement prevents burning and develops a delightful, even crunch.
• Transform day-old bread into the ideal salad base. Slightly stale bread absorbs vinaigrette beautifully without turning mushy, unlike fresh bread that can quickly become soggy.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Greek

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 200g)
• Calories: 250 kcal
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 500 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Carbohydrates: 26 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 8 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg