Peach Panzanella Salad

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A spin on the classic Tuscan bread salad, this peach panzanella salad is a delicious bread salad featuring summer's finest produce: juicy peaches, velvety heirloom tomatoes, and fresh basil. Just 7 ingredients and it's a foolproof side dish for picnics and potlucks, but the gourmet flavors are guaranteed to impress your guests.
Prep 15 minutes
Cook 15 minutes
Resting Time 30 minutes
Total 1 hour
5 from 22 votes

Summers are for maximizing your time in the sunshine and minimizing work, which is why I love easy summer recipes like this Peach Panzanella Salad. It’s a spin on the classic Panzanella bread salad that features juicy peaches, meaty heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil, and perfectly crisp yet tender bread.

It requires just 7 ingredients and is no-brainer, foolproof recipe, but because it utilizes peak seasonal ingredients, the results are gourmet! Make it for your next summer get-together, and I guarantee your guests will love it!

Why you’ll love this peach panzanella salad

Peak seasonal goodness. Tomatoes, basil and peaches are at the height of their season right now and work so beautifully together in this salad.

And if you’re excited to make more seasonal salads, be sure to try my Sweet and Spicy Smashed Cucumber Salad, my Grilled Corn Salad, or check out this fantastic roundup of 30 salad recipes!

Only 7 ingredients. All you need to make this fabulous side dish are peaches, tomatoes, basil, red onions, bread, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and of course salt and pepper.

Textural delight. The juicy peaches and velvety heirloom tomatoes pair perfectly with the soft, tender yet crisp crunch of the baked bread and the crisp raw red onions. Each bite is a party in your mouth!

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Couldn’t be easier. Even the most novice cook can make this peach panzanella salad, it’s that easy! At the same time, its flavors are guaranteed to wow all of your guests. It’s the perfect easy yet impressive salad for al fresco dining, picnics, and any summer get together.

peach panzanella salad in a white bowl on a pink surface

What is panzanella?

Panzanella is a Tuscan bread salad that consists of stale bread that has been soaked and softened, along with tomatoes and onions. Sometimes it includes basil (in my opinion it should always include basil!) as well as cucumbers, and it’s typically dressed with olive oil and some sort of vinegar or a simple vinaigrette.

While this salad is Tuscan at origin, it is popular in other parts of Italy and bread salads are not uncommon in other regions of the Mediterranean. And it’s popular in summer when tomatoes are in season (and practically begging to be eaten raw!).

And as Kenji Lopez-Alt has pointed out, panzanella is not a tomato salad with bread. It’s a bread salad with vegetables. Panzanella was developed as just another creative way to use up dried stale bread to avoid food waste (similar to gazpacho, a cold soup that is typically thickened with bread).

Panzanella typically doesn’t contain peaches, and while I enjoy a traditional panzanella, I love peach panzanella. They heighten the subtle sweetness and juiciness of the tomatoes and make this salad ultra delicious.

sliced peaches on cutting board

How to make panzanella salad

Slice your bread into one-inch cubes and spread them out on a baking sheet. Toss with olive oil and salt, and bake at 350ºF for 15 minutes until toasted and crisp.

toasted bread cubes on baking sheet

Meanwhile, pit and slice your peaches into wedges. Chop your tomatoes into one-inch pieces. Transfer the peaches and tomatoes to a colander fitted over a bowl. Sprinkle them with salt and allow the fruit juices to collect in the bowl (for 15 minutes, while the bread is baking). These juices are flavorful and you’ll use them in the vinaigrette!

sliced peaches and tomatoes in colander

Remove the colander and whisk in the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and season with salt and pepper.

In a large bowl combine the tomatoes and peaches, along with the red onion, and sliced basil.

sliced peaches, tomatoes, onions, and basil in a large bowl for panzanella salad

Add the toasted bread cubes and vinaigrette, tossing to coat.

toasted bread cubes with sliced peaches, tomatoes, onions, and basil in a large bowl for panzanella salad

Allow the panzanella salad to rest for 30 minutes before serving, tossing the salad occasionally if you can. Season with salt and pepper and a little bit more fresh basil before serving.

peach panzanella salad ingredients in a serving bowl

Tips for a great panzanella salad

Use the best-quality ingredients you can find and afford.

When making such a simple dish as this one, the quality of the ingredients is key.

That’s why I recommend using heirloom tomatoes instead of regular tomatoes. The meaty, velvety texture of an heirloom tomato is impossible to not love. And superior to the often mealy, watery texture of regular tomatoes, especially those at a standard supermarket. There is variety (in taste and texture) amongst heirloom tomatoes, so you can read more about heirloom tomatoes here.

Also, pick a freshly baked bread that you’d enjoy eating. A ciabatta, sourdough, French, or Italian country bread all work well.

A good-quality balsamic vinegar and olive oil are also essential! They’re the only ingredients in the vinaigrette aside from the tomato/peach juices and salt/pepper, so they need to shine. Here are my go-tos for olive oil and vinegar.

  • California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil (affiliate link): The quality is good enough to work in a fresh salad like this but the price point is good enough that I use it in daily cooking. You can also find it in many grocery stores.
  • Brightland Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Pricy but very high-quality olive oils from a family-run in California. I reserve these for finishing raw dishes and special occasions.
  • Guiseppe Giusti Balsamic Vinegar or MiaBella Balsamic Vinegar (affiliate links): Two of the highest-quality balsamic vinegars I’ve found online. They’re both syrupy, thick, and sweet. They’ve been aged for at least 12 years, and the flavor/texture are a testament to that process. Balsamic vinegar should be aged for a minimum of 12 years (not the case for your standard $5 grocery store balsamic vinegar).
  • We Olive Balsamic Vinegar: a great-quality balsamic vinegar for a good price. If you live near a We Olive shop, you can pick it up in person; or they offer online delivery. They also make a range of great olive oils, both plain and infused.

Dry out your bread in the oven or use stale bead.

While panzanella is traditionally made with stale bread, I actually prefer to toast fresh bread in the oven. The flavors are a bit fresher and the texture is better. Think crisp and crunchy in some parts but soft and tender in others. It’s also more convenient, as you don’t have to time making your salad with having a loaf of stale bread.

That said, if you already have stale bread lying around, just use that. But be sure to toast it in the oven to refresh it (you only need 10 minutes instead of 15 minutes).

In any event, be sure to dry out your bread, whether fresh or stale. If you use moist bread, the bread will end up mushy after it soaks in the vinaigrette (sad and not good).

Salt the tomatoes and peaches before using them.

Sprinkling the tomatoes and peaches with a bit of salt draws out their liquid, leaving them more concentrated in flavor. The tomato juice and peach juice that seep out also amp up the flavor in the very simple vinaigrette.

Rest the panzanella salad for at least 30 minutes.

Allowing the salad to rest for at least 30 minutes is crucial to getting the perfect texture. If you eat it right away, the toasted bread will be way too crunchy, as it won’t have absorbed the vinaigrette. You can also let the salad rest for a few hours, if needed.

peach panzanella salad in a white bowl on a pink surface

Peach Panzanella Salad

5 from 22 votes
A spin on the classic Tuscan bread salad, this peach panzanella salad is a delicious bread salad featuring summer's finest produce: juicy peaches, velvety heirloom tomatoes, and fresh basil. Just 7 ingredients and it's a foolproof side dish for picnics and potlucks, but the gourmet flavors are guaranteed to impress your guests.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Resting Time 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Diet Vegan
Serving size: 4

Ingredients

  • 8 to 10 ounces (230-280g) of sourdough, ciabatta, French bread, or other rustic bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 medium-large ripe heirloom tomatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 large firm-but-ripe peaches, sliced
  • ½ small red onion, very thinly sliced
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • 5 tablespoons good-quality extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 2 tablespoons good-quality balsamic vinegar*
  • 1/2 cup (8g) basil leaves, slivered

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
  • Spread the bread cubes out on a baking sheet. Toss with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (add a bit more oil as needed to coat the bread). Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, until toasted and crisp.
  • Meanwhile, transfer the chopped tomatoes and sliced peaches to a colander and fit the colander over a bowl. Sprinkle the fruit with 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt and gently toss to combine. Allow the fruit to rest while the bread is toasting, at least 15 minutes.
  • Remove the colander and transfer the peaches and tomatoes to a large serving bowl. Keep the peach and tomato juices that have accumulated in the bowl. To the juices, add the 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Slowly drizzle in the remaining 4 tablespoons of olive oil, whisking as you go to emulsify. Season the vinaigrette with salt and pepper to taste.
    Or, you can transfer the peach/tomato juices to a lidded jar and add the olive oil/vinegar, and shake vigorously until emulsified.
  • To the peaches and tomatoes in the serving bowl, add the sliced onions and basil, and gently toss to combine. Add the toasted bread cubes and vinaigrette, and gently toss again to coat.
  • Rest for 30 minutes (or up to 2-3 hours) before serving, tossing the salad occasionally. Taste, and season with a bit of salt and pepper, as needed.

Notes

  • See “Tips” section for recommended balsamic vinegar brands. 

Calories: 377kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Sodium: 306mg | Potassium: 420mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 903IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 3mg

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31 comments on Peach Panzanella Salad

  1. Amalia

    5 stars
    I can see myself eating this salad every day of the summer. So juicy, so fresh, so satisfying. And the bread that soaked all the amazing juices – perfection. My partner and I devoured this dish. We were both mad we didn’t make this sooner lol. Next time I’ll try it with a fancy aged balsamic vinegar.

    1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Aw, those words are music to our ears, Amalia! :) Thanks for finally giving this recipe a shot, we’re thrilled you loved it!

  2. Emma

    5 stars
    I just made this for the first time and it was sooooo good. It’s going to be a regular on my summer rotation from now on. I was surprised how few reviews it’s got. People are really missing out on something special if they’re skipping over this recipe.

    1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Emma, Thank you for your thoughtful review! We’re so happy to hear that you enjoyed the Panzanella Salad.

  3. Maddie

    5 stars
    Wow, just brought this salad to dinner at a friend’s and it was sooo good! We had it alongside pasta primavera and kale salad. I will most definitely make this again – a real crowd-pleaser and tastes like summer. wow wow wow

  4. Lilly

    5 stars
    It looks delicious, getting te ingredients later this week, are black lentils a good at on? Or are chickpeas a better fit?

    1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Hi Lilly, thanks! I’d say chickpeas or even white beans would be good additions to this salad. We hope you enjoy it!

  5. Debbie

    5 stars
    Delicious! I used nectarines instead of peaches but I imagine the taste is similar. We served it on a bed of romaine. This is the fourth rainbow recipe I have made and they have all been amazing. So full of flavour!

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Awesome, Debbie. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review!

  6. Rebecca

    Looks delish! What if I don’t want so much bread or any bread, what would be a good substitute?

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Hi Rebecca, you can try making this recipe with less bread if you’d like! If you completely cut it out, it wouldn’t be a panzanella salad anymore unfortunately.

  7. Erin Minaker

    5 stars
    Every summer we look forward to making this and enjoy it a few times before the peach season ends. Delicious

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Awesome, Erin. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review!

  8. Prasi

    5 stars
    What a perfect summer salad! so fresh, juice, tart, sweet, and just everything you want in a summer salad. LOVED IT!

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Prasi, So glad to hear you loved this recipe!

  9. Ava

    5 stars
    Amazing! This salad hits the flavour jackpot! I added some freshly grilled corn, which went well with the juicy peaches and tomatoes. I’m definitely making this salad more often during the summer. It’s a real winner :)

    1. Nisha

      Oooh, grilled corn is so good right now so I can imagine that being perfect. Thank you so much for sharing, Ava!

  10. Baye

    5 stars
    Ten stars. We just finished this salad with soup for a light dinner and I’m already planning to have it again very soon.

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Awesome, Baye! We are so happy to hear that.

  11. Laura Dewey

    5 stars
    Made this because I had a perfect homegrown tomato and it was just WOW!!

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Perfect! So glad you enjoyed, Laura!

  12. Rita

    5 stars
    I wanted to tell you that I’ve made this salad, we really enjoyed the flavours, textures and colours! You have become my favourite vegan inspiration!
    I’m looking forward to your new cookbook! Thank you Nisha🥰

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Aww that is awesome to hear Rita! So glad you love the recipe!

  13. Ralph

    Would this work with canned peaches? Peaches are rare to find in our country

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Ralph, it won’t be nearly as delicious as fresh peaches but you can! I suggest rinsing off any excess liquid first, though.

  14. Olivia

    5 stars
    I made this today because I just had to try Nisha’s new recipe. It is an absolute home-run! The flavours are so vibrant and work incredibly well together. I was a fan of panzanella salad before, but this has taken it to a whole other level. I used ciabatta bread and high quality oil/vinegar like suggested and it’s perfect! Will be making this for as long as peach season lasts!

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Thank you for the awesome review, Olivia! So glad you love this recipe as much as we do :)

  15. Evalena

    Hi!
    I have not made this yet but I will as it sounds really good!
    I was wondering if you could give your oven temperatures in degrees Celsius as well as it is part of the International Standards like kg and litre. In Northern Europe we stopped using F a very long time ago and such markings are not to be found on any ovens. Thanks!

    1. Michaela

      you can ask google to translate the F in Celsius. I make this all the time.

  16. Emily

    5 stars
    Yay! You posted it! I have made this several times in the height of tomato & peach season and its a winner! The great thing too is I can use the leftover bread tomatoes & peaches for a tomato soup with croutons and your lovely peach cobbler! :) My only complaint (which isn’t a complain so much as a “you said so, and its true” its a very time-sensitive dish. Eat it right away, too crunchy; wait too long (IMO a couple hours) and its too soggy. I have to time this baby just right for dinner (I usually wait for the 30 min window to toss in the croutons last) but it is totally worth it.

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Thanks for sharing your experience, Emily! We are so glad you love the salad.

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