The Hamptons Vegan

Living the Vegan Lifestyle

leftover tomatoes

For the Love of Tomatoes, Make This Bread Salad!!

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bread salad close up in a glass dish
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Bread Salad, AKA Panzanella, is such a perfect summer staple.

Whether you have an abundance of tomatoes from the garden, an abundance of leftover bread, or an overflowing growth of Italian herbs, this bread salad should always be number one on your list of summertime dishes to easily throw together and make on repeat.

For the love of Tomatoes…

ANY tomatoes will work! So use cherry, grape, beefsteak, plum, or any kind of ripe tomatoes you have- cut them up into bite-sized pieces, and you’re good.

And for the love of Onions…

You can use any onions, too! Whether you choose white, yellow, scallions, or my favorite- red, they all work just fine.

And for the love of Parsley…

So if you have a windowsill plant or a garden full (or you bought too much at the farmer’s market), throw a bunch of chopped parsley into this salad- it’s mandatory (in my humble opinion).

And for the love of Oregano and Basil…

Throw those in too! The herbs blend so well with the tomatoes and…

For the love of old Bread…

It’s a main ingredient here, and it’s in the name! But if you have a nice old rustic loaf, a garlic loaf, a sourdough loaf, or even old hot dog or hamburger buns, they will work! I also use frozen bread that we couldn’t finish. And if your bread is still fresh, just leave it out to dry a bit, or stick the chopped, bite-sized bread in the toaster oven or air fryer to crisp up.

Also, for the love of pantry staples: Oil and Vinegar…

Olive oil is best here. But you could use avocado oil or other oils you prefer as well. And for the vinegar, I always go with red wine vinegar, but I bet balsamic would work well, too!

making bread salad with some ingredients in the background.

So… BREAD SALAD it is!

Because if you have these simple ingredients, you’ve got a delicious Bread Salad waiting to be created. And if you want to add to this perfect salad, that works too! I like cucumbers and vegan feta mixed in sometimes, too. I also think chunks of avocado would be delicious. And how about olives!

It’s a gorgeous, fresh summer salad, and if you’ve never had it, please give it a try!

A big bowl of bread salad (aka panzanella) next to a basil plant with a pool in the background.

And For The Love Of All Summertime Dishes…

Try some of these tried-and-true standbys of our summertime staples for more delicious dishes -without having to turn on the oven, of course!

A creamy bowl of Potato Salad :

vegan potato salad

A tasty tomato pasta dish :

And a Kick-Ass Killer Kale Salad! :

kale salad

And for a lovely summery dessert, make this easy Lemon Curd in the morning, put it in a ready-made graham cracker pie shell, and let it set up in the fridge. It will be ready for the perfect pie ending to a perfect summer day. Vegan whipped cream optional.

vegan lemon curd spoonful
thehamptonsvegan

BREAD SALAD (PANZANELLA)

A LIGHT AND BRIGHT SUMMERTIME SALAD
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Appetizer, appetizers, lunch, Salad, Side Dish, summer barbecues
Cuisine: vegan
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4-5 cups Bread cubes: If the bread is not hard or day-old, then crisp lightly in a toaster oven (or oven) on a sheet pan. Spread out so they are not crowded.
  • 2-4 medium to large tomatoes or a carton of cherry tomatoes, chopped to bite-size
  • 1/2 medium cucumber, diced
  • 1/4 – 1/2 large red onion, sliced thin
  • 1/2 cup herbs- parsley, basil, and/or oregano, minced small
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 3 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Method
 

  1. Whisk oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl.
  2. Combine the remaining ingredients in a large bowl.
  3. Pour the whisked dressing over the bread, veggies, and herbs in the large bowl. Toss to coat.
  4. Cover and refrigerate to let the flavors blend.
  5. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Notes

  • See post for substitutions and optional add-in ingredients.