The gifts of summer from the garden are easy to highlight in this special recipe. Panzanella is a Tuscan salad made from day-old bread, fresh vegetables from the garden, a simple dressing, and cheese. It is perfect for summer. Panzanella is a fresh, crunchy, bright, and surprisingly filling side dish. Alongside a serving of your favorite protein, this is the perfect summer meal. If you make your own sourdough bread, that is the best for flavor and health. Ciabatta is also good. 

This recipe is great for a party. You can pre-toast the bread, pre-cut the veggies, and make the dressing ahead. At the very last minute, throw it all together for an impressive side. Make it vegan by leaving the cheese on the side or omit entirely. 

Substitute anything you prefer anywhere in this recipe! In the fall, this recipe is great with kale, apples, walnuts, a buttermilk dressing, and smoked gouda. 

Ingredients: 
1/2 loaf sourdough bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (or whatever crusty loaf you have, enough to fill one cookie sheet.) 
1/2 white onion, thinly sliced 
1 large cucumber, quartered/sliced 
3 small peaches, diced into large pieces 
1 heirloom tomato, diced into large pieces 
Handful cherry tomatoes, halved 
4 slices Provolone, cut into 1-inch pieces (Most cheeses would work here!) 
Handful hearty lettuce and/or soft herbs, chopped 

Dressing: 
4T olive oil 
2-3T red wine vinegar 
2 garlic cloves, minced 
Salt and pepper to taste 

Method: 
1. Toast the bread cubes in a 275-degree oven for about 20 minutes. They will be hard and slightly golden. 
2. Combine the dressing ingredients in a jar and shake. 
3. At the last minute, toss all the ingredients together. Add about half the dressing, then add more as needed. Don’t saturate the bread. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. 

Julianne Parkis is a Danbury mom, a chef trained at The Culinary Institute of America, and a certified nutrition consultant. For recipes and health tips, visit her website, homeawaycafe.com. You can email her at homeawaycafe@gmail.com.