Green Panzanella with Pickled Shallot

A fresh and vibrant Italian bread salad featuring green heirloom tomatoes, homemade garlic croutons, peppery arugula, and pickled shallots. This elegant dish combines crispy bread pieces with juicy tomatoes and a red wine vinegar dressing.

6 servings

2 hr 20 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•1 large shallot
•½ cup red wine vinegar
•1 to taste kosher salt and pepper
•3½ pounds green heirloom tomatoes
•½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
•4 cups white country bread
•2 cloves garlic
•3 tablespoons olive oil
•1 to taste kosher salt and pepper
•2 cups arugula
•1 preparation stem trimming

Cooking Instructions

1.
Combine shallot and vinegar in a small bowl; season with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Let stand 30 minutes.
30 min
2.
Meanwhile, place tomatoes on a large rimmed baking sheet; season with salt and let stand 15 minutes.
15 min
3.
Transfer 2 tablespoons vinegar from shallot mixture to a large bowl (reserve remaining vinegar with shallots). Whisking constantly, gradually add oil; whisk until combined. Season dressing with salt, pepper, and more vinegar from shallot mixture, if desired.
5 min
4.
Add tomatoes and their juices to dressing and gently toss to coat. Let tomato mixture stand at room temperature until tomatoes release more juices and soften slightly, about 1 hour.
60 min
5.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F. Combine bread and garlic on a large rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with oil; season with salt and pepper. Squeeze bread pieces lightly with your hands so they will evenly absorb oil and spread out in a single layer.
10 min
6.
Bake bread pieces, tossing occasionally, until crisp on the outside but still chewy in the center, 10-15 minutes. Let croutons cool slightly, then discard garlic.
15 min
7.
Add arugula and croutons to bowl with tomato mixture; season with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Drain pickled shallot. Serve panzanella topped with pickled shallot.
5 min

Ingredients

•1 large shallot

•½ cup red wine vinegar

•1 to taste kosher salt and pepper

•3½ pounds green heirloom tomatoes

•½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

•4 cups white country bread

•2 cloves garlic

•3 tablespoons olive oil

•1 to taste kosher salt and pepper

•2 cups arugula

•1 preparation stem trimming

Cooking Instructions

Combine shallot and vinegar in a small bowl; season with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Let stand 30 minutes.

30 min

Meanwhile, place tomatoes on a large rimmed baking sheet; season with salt and let stand 15 minutes.

15 min

Transfer 2 tablespoons vinegar from shallot mixture to a large bowl (reserve remaining vinegar with shallots). Whisking constantly, gradually add oil; whisk until combined. Season dressing with salt, pepper, and more vinegar from shallot mixture, if desired.

5 min

Add tomatoes and their juices to dressing and gently toss to coat. Let tomato mixture stand at room temperature until tomatoes release more juices and soften slightly, about 1 hour.

60 min

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F. Combine bread and garlic on a large rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with oil; season with salt and pepper. Squeeze bread pieces lightly with your hands so they will evenly absorb oil and spread out in a single layer.

10 min

Bake bread pieces, tossing occasionally, until crisp on the outside but still chewy in the center, 10-15 minutes. Let croutons cool slightly, then discard garlic.

15 min

Add arugula and croutons to bowl with tomato mixture; season with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Drain pickled shallot. Serve panzanella topped with pickled shallot.

5 min