0:57in productionCh. 1 · What the dish is and where it came from/ 0:57 · ceiling 15 min
Dishes · Food history
Panzanella
A Tuscan and Umbrian summer salad of soaked stale bread, onions, and tomatoes.
Panzanella is a Tuscan and Umbrian chopped salad of soaked stale bread, onions, and tomatoes. It is popular in the summer. Its name also appears as panmolle.
Panzanella is a Tuscan and Umbrian chopped salad of soaked stale bread, onions, and tomatoes.
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How it works, in terms someone would actually use
Stale bread is soaked and combined with chopped onions and tomatoes.
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What it gets right
It gets right a seasonal, regional format using simple, accessible ingredients: stale bread, raw vegetables, and pantry staples like oil and vinegar.
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What it does not
It does not include tomatoes in its pre-20th-century form, so it is not historically tomato-based.
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What it changed
What it changed is the inclusion of tomatoes — added only in the 20th century, replacing an earlier onion-centered version.
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Who it is for, and who it is not
It is for people seeking a light, vegetable-forward summer dish with bread.
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Is it worth your time
It is worth your time if you enjoy simple, regional salads built around soaked bread and fresh summer produce.
Worth your time?
Selectively. Start with the brief, then cook the parts we point at.
What works
It gets right a seasonal, regional format using simple, accessible ingredients: stale bread, raw vegetables, and pantry staples like oil and vinegar.
What does not
It does not include tomatoes in its pre-20th-century form, so it is not historically tomato-based.
Cook it if
Skip it if
The written brief1 min read
What the dish is and where it came from
Panzanella is a Tuscan and Umbrian chopped salad of soaked stale bread, onions, and tomatoes. It is popular in the summer. Its name also appears as panmolle.
How it works, in terms someone would actually use
Stale bread is soaked and combined with chopped onions and tomatoes.
What it gets right
It gets right a seasonal, regional format using simple, accessible ingredients: stale bread, raw vegetables, and pantry staples like oil and vinegar.
What it does not
It does not include tomatoes in its pre-20th-century form, so it is not historically tomato-based.
What it changed
What it changed is the inclusion of tomatoes — added only in the 20th century, replacing an earlier onion-centered version.
Who it is for, and who it is not
It is for people seeking a light, vegetable-forward summer dish with bread. It is not for those avoiding raw onions or seeking a warm or cooked dish.
Is it worth your time
It is worth your time if you enjoy simple, regional salads built around soaked bread and fresh summer produce.