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.
Hannah (BitterSweet) says
Ah, what big, beautiful tomatoes! I crave those gnarled knots of red flesh, but the best I can usually do is a standard beefsteak around here. They simply refuse to grow in my garden, year after year, which is always such a disappointment. I would still make this salad with any tomatoes I can get my hands on though, because it looks delicious no matter what.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks Hannah. So nice to hear from you! I know that this year has been a very tough year for most gardeners with the drought and so many other obstacles. This recipe will work well with any kind of tomato. I know you have been super busy and so good to hear about all of your accomplishments. Take Care, BAM
Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide says
Beautiful tomatoes. Beautiful dish.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Amanda's Dish is wonderful! I finally was able to get my tomato fix! Life is good! Take care, bAM
Promenade Claire says
Oh you've got me hankering after a Panzanella salad now BAM !! Those tomatoes do look outrageously good, and what better than freshly picked. Sounds like you had a wonderful holiday, but it' slovely to see you back too 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hi Claire, Thanks and it is good to be back. Missed all of you dearly. I only wish I could have a garden like this in HK, but that is not possible so I will just read about yours. Take Care, BAM
saffronandhoney says
How gorgeous. What amazing tomatoes! Glad you're enjoying everything you wanted to enjoy on your trip.
Healthy World Cuisine says
There never seems to be enough time to do all the things that you wanted to do. However, I did fit in quite a bit of activity during my visit. So many people to visit and so little time. Take Care, BAM
gardenfreshtomatoes says
Good friends, good food, and ripe tomatoes...who could ask for more?
Welcome home, Bobbi!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks Marie! I would love to be at your house at this time of the year with all the yummy harvest coming up. Take Care of yourself. BAM
Karista says
Fantastic Bam! One of my favorite salads and so much better with all those lovely heirloom tomatoes. Yum!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Karista. I was craving some beautiful homegrown tomatoes. I had to wait until my return to Michigan to enjoy these little beauties. I can't wait to head over to your website to see what you have been cooking in your kitchen. Take care, BAM
Tandy says
Those tomatoes look amazing! Hope you are having a great time 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Those are some crazy tomatoes! I am back and still jet lagged. That time zone difference is getting the best of me with this trip. Take Care, BAM
machisan says
delicious!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks
ChgoJohn says
Panzanella is such a flavorful salad and it is really so simple to prepare. I can only imagine how good yours must have tasted, made with garden fresh tomatoes. When I was a boy, we rented a lakeside cabin in Northport, I believe, southwest of Traverse City. They were wonderful times and it sounds like you'll be saying the same about your stay. Good for you, Bam.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Dear John,
I'm glad I was able to bring back some memories for you and such a beautiful area. Panzanella is such an easy dish that anyone can make. Little ingredients and little time but a happy little end product. I hope you are having a super summer. Take care, BAM
ceciliag says
You are back stateside? how did that happen i have missed too much.. love that you love the 'marties.. we have some glorious ones.. you are not that far away.. pop over!! c
Healthy World Cuisine says
Next time we so need to plan a gathering. How fun would that be? Take care, BAM
lambyknits01 says
I need to grow my own tomatoes! This looks and sounds amazing 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
I also wish I could grow my own tomatoes like this in HK but plants dislike the seawater and don't do well outside. So I have to enjoy when I return to the States.
Choc Chip Uru says
Such big fat beautiful tomatoes my friend, lovely 😀
Great recipe, I could devour it all!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
P.S. I have lost 60-70 followers and I don't even know how so if you had subscribed before, it would be great if you could check and if possible, resubscribe - thanks!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Dear CCU,
I am sorry for my delay on catching up with you but I was out of town with no internet access. I felt like I was in the dark ages. I actually had to call and talk to a person to check on my flight status instead of checking on line. LOL I have just checked and I am still following you and how cool you have a new theme and I am loving it!
Take care,
BAM
yummychunklet says
Those are some gorgeous homegrown tomatoes!
Healthy World Cuisine says
I wish I had a scale to weight that one as it was so heavy and huge almost like 3 tomatoes in one. Take care, BAM
Martyna @ Wholesome Cook says
Sounds like you had a fantastic time! The tomatoes look stunning Bam! I can only imagine their sweet flavour. Tomatoes are my favourite fruit / vegetable and that salad one of my favourite ways to serve it.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks Martyna. I hope your winter in Australia has been going well. Do you know that song by Louis Armstrong, You say tomato and I say tomatoe...? I have the same confusion I know it is a fruit but we call it a vegetable. Whatever it is , I love them! Take Care, BAM
Charles says
Wow, Bam - those tomatoes look amazing. Love how simple but deliciously fresh this salad looks too. Love the look of those strips of onion, and I bet the cubes of bread are great. Thanks for sharing... I might give this a try tomorrow!
Healthy World Cuisine says
I think we should enter that one large tomato into the world records for its strange size and shape. Actually panzanella salad started out many years ago with only onions and tomatoes we added more recently. I am not real big on lots of raw onions in my salad but I love the flavor they give to the marinade. We cut them large so that picky teenagers could pick them out easily. I have been without internet access for some time so looking forward to visiting your website now. Take Care, BAM