Delicious Strawberry Panzanella Salad with Homemade Balsamic Glaze: Your Ultimate Summer Recipe
This delightful Strawberry Panzanella Salad is incredibly simple to prepare, featuring just a handful of main ingredients, yet bursting with fresh flavors. It’s an ideal dish for summer gatherings, lively parties, or even a light and satisfying lunch or dinner during warmer months.
If you’re a fan of the vibrant flavors and rustic charm of panzanella salads, then you’re in for a treat! For more exciting variations, be sure to explore our Greek Panzanella Salad and the hearty Chickpea Panzanella Salad. Each offers a unique twist on this classic bread salad, perfect for any occasion.
This post is proudly sponsored by Walmart, bringing you fresh ingredients and smart solutions for your kitchen. All opinions and experiences shared are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that enable Jessica in the Kitchen to share delicious recipes with you!
The anticipation of summer is truly delightful! With warmer days, brighter skies, and the allure of outdoor activities, it’s the perfect time to embrace fresh, seasonal recipes. My partner, Gav, and I have cherished many memories of co-hosting summer gatherings, whether at my parents’ house or in our own apartment. These events, though often intimate, have always been brimming with love and, of course, incredible food – which, for us, is an expression of love itself. As our summers grow increasingly busy, we’ve perfected a strategy: creating easy, yet impressive dishes that taste as if they took hours to prepare. Whether it’s a refreshing 10-minute summer drink or this vibrant 20-minute Strawberry Panzanella Salad, our aim is always to delight our guests while keeping things simple and stress-free for ourselves. It’s a win-win for everyone involved!
Interestingly, I’ve noticed an unintentional culinary trend over the past few years. Every summer, I find myself crafting a new variation of panzanella salad, also known as a Tuscan Tomato & Bread Salad. It began with a zesty Greek Panzanella Salad, followed by a protein-packed Chickpea Panzanella Salad. Now, I’m thrilled to introduce this truly gorgeous Strawberry Panzanella Salad, elevated with a luscious homemade Balsamic Glaze. Each recipe shines in its own unique way, but I particularly adore the sweet and fruity element that strawberries bring to this version!
Here’s a fun, noteworthy fact about this entire recipe and post: every single item I used – from the fresh ingredients to the salad spoons, the serving platter, and even the measuring cups – was purchased at Walmart! I was absolutely thrilled to collaborate with Walmart on this project, as it truly became my one-stop shop for everything needed to create this bright and fresh Strawberry Panzanella Salad. It’s certainly shaping up to be my go-to destination for summer essentials.
Let’s talk about how dedicated Walmart has become to offering high-quality, locally-grown fresh produce. Many might not be fully aware of Walmart’s profound commitment to sourcing and selling locally grown items. They leverage their vast scale to actively support local communities by partnering with farmers across the U.S., ensuring an abundant supply of fresh, regional produce for their customers. The produce section in their stores is impressively extensive, offering endless options. And since I had the pleasure of spending a few hours wandering the aisles (yes, I’m one of those people who finds joy and inspiration in a well-stocked supermarket!), I actually got to witness their efficient restocking process firsthand!
Beyond daily restocking, Walmart has significantly expanded its organic produce section, now brimming with a diverse array of fresh organic vegetables and fruits. While I personally enjoy the experience of leisurely selecting produce in-store when time allows, it’s incredibly convenient to know that for those days when time is short, their Online Grocery Pickup service offers a fantastic, time-saving alternative. This flexibility ensures that fresh, quality ingredients are always within reach, regardless of your schedule.
I was genuinely impressed by the selection available throughout the entire store, not just in the produce aisle. It was incredibly satisfying to find everything I needed for this recipe in one convenient stop. I even explored some of their exclusive collections, like the Pioneer Woman line, which I absolutely loved. Ree Drummond’s blog was one of the first I ever followed, so it was a delight to pick up some of her mixing bowls, measuring cups, and even one of her knives from her collection. This experience truly aligns with Walmart’s Brand Promise Mission: “to provide the utmost quality fresh locally grown produce at a price that saves customers money.” They are unequivocally fulfilling this mission. I found the prices to be exceptionally affordable, and I especially appreciated that every single item required for this delicious vegan salad was readily available.
The strawberries I selected, as you can clearly see in the photos, were bright, plump, and absolutely gorgeous, perfectly complementing all the other fresh vegetables I used for this recipe. To ensure I picked the best, I followed Walmart’s Quick Tips for Selecting the Best Fruit, which proved incredibly helpful. The result was a batch of wonderfully sweet and juicy strawberries. In fact, they were so enticing that I literally had to restrain myself from eating them all before they even made it into the salad! This intense sweetness was precisely what I wanted, as the strawberry flavor shines through beautifully, yet perfectly complements every other ingredient in the dish, especially that exquisite balsamic glaze. The combination is simply irresistible.
Crafting Your Own Strawberry Panzanella Salad: A Simple Guide
Assembling this vibrant salad is remarkably straightforward, making it an ideal choice for busy days or impromptu entertaining. The process involves three simple steps: toasting the bread until golden and crisp, finely chopping your fresh ingredients, and then gently tossing everything together. It’s almost ridiculously easy, isn’t it? For the balsamic glaze, you have two convenient options. You can either pick up a high-quality pre-made balsamic glaze at Walmart for ultimate speed, or, for an extra touch of homemade goodness, create your own from scratch using ingredients sourced from Walmart, as I prefer to do. Opting for the homemade glaze allows you to perfectly control the sweetness level and adjust its viscosity to your liking, ensuring it adheres beautifully to every component of your salad.
The balsamic glaze is truly the star that ties the entire dish together, imparting a delightful balance of sweet and umami flavors that makes me crave this salad again and again. The interplay of textures and tastes – the juicy sweetness of strawberries, the satisfying crunch of toasted bread, the subtle tang of red onion, and the fresh, crisp vegetables – makes this a definite crowd-pleaser. Your guests are sure to discover something they adore in every bite! Beyond entertaining, this easy Strawberry Panzanella Salad also makes for a bright and refreshing weeknight dinner, perfect for one or two people, especially when you have all that wonderful fresh produce on hand from your latest grocery run. It’s a versatile dish that celebrates the best of summer ingredients.
Before I share the full recipe for this incredible Strawberry Panzanella Salad, there’s one crucial tip that you absolutely MUST follow: always toast the bread. For the best results, start with a fresh, rustic loaf and allow it to sit out for a day or two until it becomes slightly crusty and stale. This is the ideal texture for panzanella. When lightly drizzled with olive oil and baked, it will crisp up beautifully in the oven, transforming into perfect croutons that retain their satisfying crunch even after the rich balsamic glaze is added. This ensures a delightful textural contrast that is fundamental to a great panzanella. So gather your fresh ingredients, toast your bread, and get ready to enjoy this vibrant, refreshing salad. Happy cooking, friends!
Watch This Strawberry Panzanella Salad Come Together
Curious to see exactly how this stunning Strawberry Panzanella Salad is created, step-by-step? Look no further! This video guide will walk you through each stage of the preparation, making it even easier to replicate this delicious recipe in your own kitchen.
Strawberry Panzanella Salad
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Ingredients
Panzanella Salad
- 3 cups gluten free crusty bread, chopped into 1 inch cubes (ensure bread is slightly stale for best results)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil
- ⅓ cup red onion slices, thinly sliced
- 1 ½ cups sliced strawberries, fresh and ripe
- 2 cups spinach, freshly washed and thoroughly dried
- 1 cup cubed English cucumber
Balsamic Glaze
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons raw cane or coconut sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
Panzanella Salad Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) to ensure it’s perfectly hot for toasting the bread.
- Spread the bread cubes evenly on a silicone mat placed on a baking sheet, or use a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil. Drizzle generously with olive oil (or coconut oil), then gently rub the oil into the cubes to ensure each piece is lightly coated, promoting even crisping.
- Bake for 5 minutes, or until the bread cubes are golden brown and perfectly crisp. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool completely. These toasted bread cubes are the essential crunchy element of your panzanella.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the fresh spinach, cooled toasted bread cubes, sliced strawberries, cherry tomatoes (if using, otherwise omit), thinly sliced red onions, and refreshing cucumber cubes. Toss gently until all the ingredients are well mixed and evenly distributed.
Homemade Balsamic Glaze
- In a small pot, combine all the balsamic glaze ingredients (balsamic vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper) over medium-high heat. Stir continuously to dissolve the sugar. Keep a close watch; the glaze should begin to thicken after about 5 minutes. You want it thick enough to cling to the back of a spoon, but not so thick that it becomes a solid glob. It can thicken very quickly, so vigilance is key to achieving the perfect consistency.
- Once the glaze has reached your desired thickness, immediately remove it from the heat. Allow it to cool slightly; it will continue to thicken as it cools.
- For an added layer of flavor and aroma, you can optionally top your finished glaze with fresh herbs like basil or mint, finely chopped, just before serving.
- Any leftover balsamic glaze can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for at least a month, ready to elevate other salads, roasted vegetables, or even desserts.
Bringing it all Together
- Arrange the beautiful Strawberry Panzanella Salad onto your serving plates or a large platter. Just before serving, generously drizzle the homemade balsamic glaze over the entire salad. Drizzling right before serving prevents the bread from becoming soggy and maintains its delightful crunch.
- Serve immediately and savor every fresh, sweet, and tangy bite of this perfect summer creation! Enjoy, friends!
Notes
Disclaimer: While jessicainthekitchen.com strives to provide accurate nutritional information, please be aware that these values are estimates only. Nutritional content may vary based on product types, specific brands purchased, and other unforeseen factors. Jessicainthekitchen.com is not liable for any loss or damage incurred as a result of reliance on this nutritional information. If you are following a specific caloric or dietary regimen, it is recommended to consult with your doctor or a qualified nutritionist first.