Summer Tomato and Burrata Panzanella Salad

A Summer Tomato and Burrata Panzanella Salad is the perfect way to showcase juicy, ripe garden tomatoes! Fresh produce, creamy burrata cheese filled with cream and garlicky toasted bread cubes combine in a most delicious way!

Today, I’m cooking from Susan Pridmore’s newly released cookbook, Simply Vegetarian Cookbook: Fuss-Free Recipes Everyone Will Love. If this recipe is any indication, everyone will love these easy recipes!

Why You Will Love

• This recipe is from my friend, Susan, the blogger at The Wimpy Vegetarian.
• As a lover of fresh summer tomatoes, especially with basil and fresh mozzarella, this panzanella recipe caught my eye.
• Besides the burrata, chickpeas provide additional protein, so this salad makes a perfect lunch or light dinner.

Expert Tips

This simple, rustic Italian salad is a pretty basic recipe. But there are a few tricks when it comes to making a terrific bread salad.

• Use a sturdy, crusty bread, otherwise it will turn to mush when mixed with the vinaigrette and tomato juices. I used ciabatta, but sourdough would also work well.
• If you don’t have time to let your bread cubes get stale (the classic way to make panzanella), toast the bread in the oven like in Susan’s recipe. Plus you can then toss the cubes with olive oil and garlic for a boost of flavor.
• Use juicy, ripe homegrown or heirloom tomatoes. A variety of colors makes for a beautiful presentation.
• Use a sweet yellow onion instead of a sharp white onion. Red onions are nice, too, and I like to soak them in cold water to lessen the bite.
• There are numerous other ingredients you can add to the mix like bell peppers, cucumbers, even capers.
• To thinly slice basil, stack a few leaves, then roll them up like a cigar. Using a sharp knife, cut thin slices perpendicular to the roll. This process is called chiffonade.
• Let the salad sit for at least 2 hours before serving so the flavors meld and the dressing and juices have a chance to soak into the bread.

Frequently Asked Questions

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• Middle Eastern Tomato Salad from Kalyn’s Kitchen
• Tomato Basil Pasta Salad
• Salade de Tomates et Fromage
• More of the Best Salad Recipes

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The Recipe:

Summer Tomato and Burrata Panzanella Salad

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Yield 2-3 servings

A beautiful panzanella salad with chickpeas and burrata cheese.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus ⅛ teaspoon
• 6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 4 cups chopped tomatoes
• 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• ½ sweet onion, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil
• 3 (1-inch-thick) slices crusty bread, such as ciabatta
• 1 teaspoon garlic paste or minced garlic
• 2 balls burrata mozzarella cheese, torn into 4-6 pieces

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400º. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the vinegar, 1 teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of black pepper, and 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the tomatoes, chickpeas, onion, and basil, and toss to evenly coat. Set aside.
3. Tear or cut the bread into large pieces about 2 inches across. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil to a large bowl and stir in the garlic. Toss the bread with the garlic and olive oil and arrange in a single layer on the baking sheet.
4. Season the bread with the remaining ¼ teaspoon of salt and the remaining ⅛ teaspoon of pepper. Bake for 10 minutes. Turn the bread pieces over and bake for another 5 minutes.
5. To serve, place the pieces of burrata on a serving plate. Toss the toasted bread with the tomato salad and pour everything over the burrata, including any residual dressing.

Notes

Recipe courtesy of Susan Pridmore.

Best made in the summer or when you can find the tastiest fresh tomatoes.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

3

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 620Total Fat: 39gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 28gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 1636mgCarbohydrates: 52gFiber: 11gSugar: 16gProtein: 19g

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