Panzanella Classica

By Nonna Nora

Nonna Nora shared with us her very own recipe of Panzanella, a Tuscan bread salad made from stale bread, ripe tomatoes, and good oil.

This summer dish is quite clever in its use of stale bread. The bread is soaked in water and a little vinegar, squeezed dry, and torn into the bowl with tomatoes, onion, cucumber, and basil. Tuscan farmers made it to use bread that would otherwise go to waste, and to eat something cool while they worked through the heat. Nothing in it is expensive, but it is always refreshing and enough to fill you. Some people add beans, tuna, or even anchovies. The classica leaves them out.