Ina Garten’s Zesty Greek Panzanella Salad Recipe

Greek panzanella salad bursts with Mediterranean charm, offering a vibrant twist on traditional bread salads.

Summer’s bounty transforms rustic ingredients into a colorful culinary celebration of fresh flavors.

Crisp vegetables mingle with crusty bread chunks, creating a delightful textural symphony that dances across your palate.

Tangy feta and briny olives provide robust undertones that complement the garden-fresh produce.

This robust dish represents more than just a simple side – it’s a sensory journey through sun-drenched landscapes.

Bright, zesty elements blend seamlessly with hearty bread, making each bite a delectable adventure.

Prepare to elevate your meal with this irresistible Mediterranean-inspired creation: your taste buds will thank you.

Mediterranean-Inspired Variations to Try

• Mediterranean Herb Fusion: Replace oregano with a blend of fresh thyme, rosemary, and basil for an enhanced aromatic profile that elevates the classic Greek flavors.
• Protein-Packed Power Salad: Add grilled chicken, chickpeas, or seared shrimp to transform the salad into a complete meal with extra protein and texture.
• Spicy Mediterranean Kick: Incorporate sliced jalapeños, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, and swap Dijon mustard for harissa paste to create a zesty, warm-heat version of the original recipe.
• Roasted Vegetable Upgrade: Grill or roast the bell peppers and red onions before adding them to the salad, intensifying their natural sweetness and adding a smoky depth to the dish.

A Crisp Recap of Greek Panzanella Salad

Mediterranean flavors dance across plates with Ina Garten’s Greek Panzanella, an artful celebration of rustic ingredients.

Mediterranean sunshine radiates through crisp vegetables and robust herbs, creating culinary poetry on ceramic dishes.

Rich olive oil embraces toasted bread cubes, transforming simple components into extraordinary sensations.

Garlic-infused vinaigrette weaves complex layers of tangy sophistication through each ingredient.

Classic Greek elements merge seamlessly, telling stories of coastal kitchens and traditional recipes.

Fragrant oregano whispers ancient culinary secrets while feta and Kalamata olives provide salty Mediterranean signatures.

Savor this masterpiece, share its delightful narrative with friends, spread its Mediterranean magic across social channels, and celebrate culinary creativity together!

Why You’ll Love Greek Panzanella Salad

• Create Crunchy Bread Delight: The perfectly toasted bread cubes transform this salad from ordinary to extraordinary, delivering a satisfying crunch that elevates every single bite with golden-brown goodness.
• Burst Mediterranean Flavors: Packed with vibrant ingredients like tangy feta, briny Kalamata olives, and fresh vegetables, this salad captures the essence of Greek cuisine in a single, delicious dish that transports your taste buds to the sunny Mediterranean.
• Super Simple Summer Showstopper: Requiring minimal cooking skills and taking just 20 minutes to prepare, this recipe is a foolproof option for home cooks wanting to impress guests with minimal effort while maximizing flavor and visual appeal.
• Smart Flavor Marrying Technique: Letting the salad rest for 30 minutes allows ingredients to mingle and develop deeper, more complex taste profiles, ensuring each forkful delivers a perfect balance of textures and seasonings without complicated preparation steps.

All the Greek Ingredients You’ll Need

Main Ingredients:

• Bread Cubes: A hearty base that adds crunch and texture to the salad, best with day-old rustic bread for optimal absorption.
• Olive Oil: Provides rich flavor and helps toast the bread to a golden brown, choose extra virgin for best taste.

• Cucumber: Adds crisp, refreshing element to the salad, look for firm and bright green cucumbers.
• Red Bell Pepper, Yellow Bell Pepper: Brings vibrant color and sweet crunch, select peppers with smooth, glossy skin.
• Tomatoes: Juicy and flavorful component that adds brightness, ripe and in-season tomatoes work best.
• Red Onion: Provides sharp, tangy flavor and crisp texture, choose firm onions with tight skin.

• Feta Cheese: Creamy and salty Greek cheese that adds rich Mediterranean flavor, choose authentic Greek feta for best taste.
• Kalamata Olives: Intense, briny olives that bring authentic Greek character, select high-quality pitted olives.
• Garlic: Adds deep, pungent flavor to the vinaigrette, fresh garlic provides the best taste.
• Oregano: Classic Greek herb that brings aromatic Mediterranean essence.
• Dijon Mustard: Adds tangy depth to the vinaigrette, smooth Dijon works best.
• Red Wine Vinegar: Provides acidic balance to the salad, choose a good quality vinegar.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance overall flavor profile.

Making This Panzanella Salad Step by Step

Step 1: Crisp Up the Bread

Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over low to medium heat. Add bread cubes and sprinkle with salt. Toss the cubes frequently for 5 to 10 minutes until they turn golden brown and crispy. Add extra olive oil if needed to ensure even toasting.

Step 2: Chop Fresh Vegetables

• Cucumber
• Red bell pepper
• Yellow bell pepper
• Tomatoes
• Red onion

Place all chopped vegetables in a large mixing bowl.

Step 3: Whisk Zesty Vinaigrette

• Minced garlic
• Dried oregano
• Dijon mustard
• Red wine vinegar
• Salt
• Black pepper

Slowly drizzle olive oil while whisking to create a smooth, emulsified dressing.

Step 4: Assemble and Marinate

• Crumbled feta cheese
• Kalamata olives
• Toasted bread cubes

Gently mix all ingredients and let the salad rest for 30 minutes. This allows flavors to meld together beautifully. Serve at room temperature for the best taste experience.

Tips to Get That Perfect Crunch and Tang

• Rescue Stale Bread: Transforming slightly stale bread into crispy croutons adds delightful texture and prevents food waste.
• Master Even Toasting: Frequently tossing bread cubes ensures a golden, uniform crunch that elevates the entire salad's mouthfeel.
• Give Flavors Time to Mingle: Letting the salad rest allows ingredients to blend, creating a more harmonious and deeply seasoned dish.
• Chop with Precision: Cutting vegetables into consistent sizes guarantees balanced flavors and an appealing visual presentation in every forkful.
• Final Flavor Fine-Tuning: Tasting and adjusting seasonings just before serving ensures the salad perfectly matches your personal palate preference.

How to Store Your Greek Salad the Smart Way

• Preserve Freshness: Transfer cooled salad into a glass container with a tight-fitting lid to maintain maximum crispness. Seal carefully to prevent moisture absorption and flavor mixing with other refrigerated items.
• Ingredient Separation: Keep croutons and vegetables separate before serving to prevent sogginess. Store bread cubes in a sealed plastic bag at room temperature and refrigerate chopped vegetables in a separate container to preserve their texture and flavor.
• Quick Consumption: Enjoy the salad within 24-48 hours for the best taste and texture. Vegetables start losing their crunch after this period, and the bread will gradually absorb dressing, changing the salad's original delightful consistency.

Ina Garten Greek Panzanella Salad Recipe

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4.9 from 23 reviews

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

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Description

Ina Garten’s Greek Panzanella salad brings Mediterranean flavors to life with crispy bread cubes and fresh Mediterranean ingredients. Tangy feta, juicy tomatoes, and herbed bread create a delightful summer dish that will transport taste buds straight to the Greek islands.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Bread and Vegetables:

• 1 small French bread or boule, cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes (6 cups or 180 g)
• 1 hothouse cucumber, unpeeled, seeded, and sliced ¼-inch (6 mm) thick
• 1 red bell pepper, large diced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, large diced
• 1 pint (300 g) cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• ½ red onion, sliced in half rounds
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Cheese and Olives:

• ½ pound (225 g) feta cheese, cut in ½-inch (1.3 cm) cubes
• ½ cup (75 g) Kalamata olives, pitted

Dressing and Seasonings:

• ½ cup (120 ml) good olive oil, divided
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
• ¼ cup (60 ml) good red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Kosher salt, to taste

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Instructions

1. Crisp the bread cubes by heating of olive oil in a spacious skillet over low to medium heat. Gently toss bread pieces with a pinch of salt, rotating frequently until achieving a golden-brown exterior, approximately 5 to 8 minutes. Supplement with additional olive oil if the cubes appear dry.
2. Dice the cucumber, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, tomatoes, and red onion into uniform, bite-sized pieces. Transfer the chopped vegetables into a generously sized mixing bowl.
3. Craft the vinaigrette by combining minced garlic, dried oregano, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper in a small mixing vessel. Gradually incorporate olive oil while whisking vigorously to create a smooth, emulsified dressing.
4. Drizzle the prepared vinaigrette over the vegetable medley. Gently fold in crumbled feta cheese, Kalamata olives, and the previously toasted bread cubes. Allow the salad to rest for 25 to 30 minutes, enabling the flavors to meld and intensify. Present at ambient temperature for optimal taste experience.

Notes

• Swap Bread Wisely: Day-old bread becomes a crispy, flavor-absorbing wonder in this salad, preventing soggy disappointment and adding delightful texture.
• Chop with Precision: Uniform vegetable cuts ensure each mouthful delivers a perfect harmony of flavors and satisfying crunch.
• Season like a Pro: Tasting and tweaking seasonings right before serving transforms good into absolutely amazing, letting personal preferences shine.
• Rest for Richness: Letting the salad sit allows ingredients to mingle and marry, creating deeper, more complex taste profiles that wow your palate.
• Toss with Technique: Gentle, consistent turning while toasting bread cubes guarantees golden-brown perfection and an even, irresistible crispness.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 330 kcal
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 580 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 14 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 8 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg