Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Prepare the Bread Croutons
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Tear the crusty bread into 1-inch pieces and spread them evenly on a large baking sheet. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons of olive oil, sprinkle with 0.5 teaspoon salt and 0.25 teaspoon black pepper. Toss to coat. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and crisp, flipping halfway through. Set aside to cool slightly.
Prepare the Salad Components
- While the bread is toasting, slice the ripe peaches into wedges or 1/2-inch thick slices. Thinly slice the red onion. Roughly tear the fresh basil leaves.
Make the Vinaigrette
- In a small bowl, whisk together the 0.25 cup extra virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, 0.25 teaspoon salt, and 0.125 teaspoon black pepper until emulsified.
Assemble and Serve
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled toasted bread pieces, sliced peaches, thinly sliced red onion, and torn basil. If using, add the crumbled feta cheese.
- Pour the vinaigrette over the salad ingredients. Toss everything gently to ensure all components are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Let the panzanella salad sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving. This allows the bread to soak up some of the dressing and the flavors to meld. Enjoy!
Notes
For the best texture, use day-old or slightly stale bread for your croutons. It absorbs the dressing beautifully without getting soggy too quickly. Choose peaches that are ripe but still a bit firm; overly soft peaches might become mushy in the salad. Feel free to customize! A sprinkle of toasted pecans, some grilled corn, or even a few cherry tomatoes would be delicious additions to this summer salad.
