Gluten-free balsamic panzanella salad is bursting with vine-ripened tomatoes, red onions, basil, spinach and grilled GF bread with a balsamic vinaigrette.
Farmer's Market Finds
The farmer's markets are now filled with loads with sun kissed vine ripened tomatoes and fragrant basil. Don't miss your opportunity to enjoy the late summer harvest with one of our favorite salads; a gluten-free balsamic panzanella salad.
The tomato plants smell fragrant, sweet, zesty and are tantalizing to the nose. My favorite way to eat vine ripened tomatoes are straight fresh from the garden. Tomatoes are best eaten while they are still warmed by the sun. What do you think? How about you? Just bring some napkins along because that juice is sure to run down your chin and arms....
You are just going to love this gluten-free balsamic panzanella salad as it is vegan, budget friendly and cardiac friendly. This recipe was originally posted on August 19, 2012 but has updated to make it gluten-free and dairy free.
What is Panzanella?
Panzanella is a rustic Tuscan salad. This Italian peasant dish was developed many years ago. Country folk used to soak their old stale bread in water and mix it with vegetables from the garden to save pennies. Nothing is ever left to waste.
If you or your family has wheat sensitivities, you can use gluten-free white bread. Please go ahead and use "real" hearty Tuscan bread with a crusty exterior, if wheat does not bother you. Toasting or grilling the bread and not adding the bread until the very last minute, keeps the bread crunchy. The crunchy bread is a great contrast with the juicy tomatoes, crisp onions and fresh spinach.
There are many versions of Panzanella salad. Some people like to add olives, artichokes, cucumbers, beans, cheese or even grilled chicken to their panzanella salad. However, this gluten-free balsamic panzanella salad recipe is a classic version with just a handful of ingredients.
Secret to a good Gluten-Free Balsamic Panzanella Salad
Allow the tomatoes and onions time to marinate in the balsamic vinaigrette dressing. The tomatoes create their own delicious sauce and the onions change from pungent to sweet.
More Delicious Salads
Tutti Fruitti Kale Salad and Citrus Honey Dressing
Heirloom Tomato Cucumber Salad
Seared Steak Salad with Strawberry Cucumber Dressing
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Gluten-Free Balsamic Panzanella Salad
Ingredients
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup olive oil
( and a little extra to drizzle on the bread before grilling) - 1 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning
dried - salt and pepper to taste
- 5 tomatoes chopped heirloom or vine ripened
- 1 small onion red ( chopped into thin half moon slices)
- 3 cloves garlic
(2 finely minced and 1 cut in half to season the bread) - 8 slices bread
gluten free white (or if no gluten allergies then use a rustic Tuscan white bread) - ½ cup fresh basil
roughly chopped - 4 cups spinach chopped fresh or baby spinach
Instructions
- Step 1:Prepare your simple balsamic vinaigrette. Add balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper and Italian seasoning in a jar, cover with lid and shake until well incorporated.
- Place chopped tomatoes, red onion, 2 cloves finely chopped garlic, salt and pepper to taste and ½ of the balsamic vinaigrette in a large bowl. Marinate the tomatoes for at least 1 hour at room temperature.
- Brush both sides of the crusty gluten-free bread with olive oil and then brush the garlic over the oil.
- Grill the gluten-free bread for 3-5 minutes until slightly golden and has grill marks. Remove and set aside. (or you can even put in the toaster or bake in the oven)
- Cut bread into cubes set aside. Add the fresh basil and fresh spinach to the marinated tomatoes, toss to coat well. Add the grilled cubed gluten-free bread and toss. Salt and pepper to taste. Add more balsamic vinaigrette dressing as desired or reserve balsamic vinaigrette in refrigerator for your next salad.
- Enjoy this vegan gluten free balsamic panzanella salad alone or with any grilled meats or fish.
Dana says
Now this is an interesting idea. Gonna book mark this for spring time.
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine says
Love to see a new post from you! This looks absolutely delicious. Does a farmer's market salad mean you're still in the States? I unexpectedly came back this summer as well! I've been in Oregon for 2 1/2 months-- going back to Malaysia this month. I quit my job, and we are going to go back and forth for a few years while my husband works his way out of his company there... I was just unhappy there and needed more family around!
Katerina says
What a delicious salad! Perfect for my mid day lunch! Pinned!
Raymund says
Bring on summer to my place, its nearly there and its getting to spring time. This is the perfect meal when that time comes, I love a good panzanella specially with good chunks of grilled haloumi or fresh mozarella
chgojohn says
Buona notte, BAM! Panzanella salads are a great way to celebrate the tomato harvest, aren't they? I so enjoy them and look forward to preparing the 1st one every year. I'm glad to see that GF bread is so much improved, too. As you know, it wasn't always this way.
Hope you're having a great week, my friend.
Norma Chang says
Timely recipe, tomatoes are at their best, I too like the addition of spinach.
Jasline (Foodie Baker) says
I love a visit to the farmer's market, they usually have so many varieties of tomatoes in different colours, shapes and sizes that it's such a treat to the eyes everytime. This panzanella salad is such a classic and delicious-looking summer salad, yum!
Amira says
This is so simple and elegant, I would love to add olives and artichokes to my plate. Easy and simple summer salad. Thanks Bam.
Gerlinde &Sunnycovechef says
There is nothing better than home grown tomatoes and making panzanella salad. Like Karen, I like the addition of spinach.
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
A friend of ours has gone gluten free and I know he would enjoy this salad. I especially like your addition of spinach…extra healthy and adds color.
Amy (Savory Moments) says
This is a perfect dish for summer!
mjskitchen says
So glad that you brought this recipe back! I missed it the first time. With my garden going wild right now this is a perfect meal for us! Thanks Bobbi!
NancyC says
This looks like such a great salad! And I have some fresh basil in a pot that I can use for it!
John/Kitchen Riffs says
Love this dish! And glad to see it updated to be GF. Thanks!