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White Bean Panzanella | Tuscan Tomato and Bread Salad

This Tuscan Bread Salad is a hot weather saviour! In this Italian-style recipe, ripe juicy tomatoes are combined with white beans, toasted bread and tossed in an aromatic tomato and white bean dressing.

At its core, Panzanella is a bread salad consisting of tomatoes, bread and basil but I have added some protein in the form of cannellini beans to make it more filling.

A close up shot of White Bean Panzanella or Tuscan Tomato and Bread Salad served in a white oval plate

Tuscan Bread Salad

Is it even summertime without a salad? This one is bursting with fresh sunny flavours thanks to the flavoursome ripe tomatoes, fresh herbs and abundance of good olive oil.

Strictly speaking, Panzanella is a bread salad with vegetables rather than a tomato salad with bread. Tomatoes did not even arrive into Europe until the 16th century so this salad would originally be made with different ingredients.

This White Bean Panzanella is less classic and a more modern take on the salad. The addition of white beans adds a creaminess, more texture and more nutrition. I have also made a dressing using tomato, garlic, white bean and extra virgin olive oil which distributes the flavouring evenly through the salad.

White Bean Panzanella - Tuscan Tomato and Bread Salad served with a serving spoons on a white backdrop

Why you should make this recipe:

  • Vegan – this recipe is naturally plant based making it suitable for those following a vegan or vegetarian diet. Unlike other Panzanella, this one does not contain anchovies.
  • Includes plant-based protein – thanks to the addition of white beans, this Panzanella becomes higher in protein and actually fills you up
  • Counts towards your 5 a day – 80g of baby plum tomatoes count as 1 of your 5 a day which is around the weight of the tomatoes in one serving of this salad
  • Celebrates seasonal produce – I like to use tomatoes that are in season
  • Fights food waste as it uses up stale bread.
  • No lettuce salad – this salad does not contain leafy-green salads making it a welcome change from the norm!
Red pesto in a bowl

Ingredients for white bean panzanella

Full ingredients with measurements are available in the recipe card below at the end of this post

  • Tomatoes

For the best Panzanella, use tomatoes that are perfectly ripe as they will be extra juicy. All this aromatic tomato juice will be soaked up by the bread adding extra bursts of flavour in every bite.

I have used halved baby plum tomatoes in this recipe but you can also use full grown plum tomatoes. They are rich in flavour and tend to have few seeds.

You can use many other alternatives:

Beef tomatoes are large with a meaty texture and taste sweet yet mellow and would work well

Heirloom tomatoes are an eye-catching substitute when in season.

Salad tomatoes tend to remain quite firm and are usually not as juicy so (even though it seems counterproductive given their name) I would avoid using these.

Whichever you use, make sure you cut into them to release the juice which is all part of the dressing.

  • Bread

The best bread for this salad is either focaccia, ciabatta or sourdough. You can either use stale bread or toast the bread lightly which is what I have done. Soft breads will disintegrate in the dressing so do not use those.

  • White beans

White beans is actually an umbrella term for different beans. The most common are cannellini beans, also known as white kidney beans. You can find them dried, which then require cooking, or tinned.

Haricot beans, butter beans, navy beans, great northern beans and lima beans are other alternatives. They all differ slightly in size and taste however all will go great in this salad.

  • Red onion – either cut lengthways or diced

Dressing

  • Extra virgin olive oil – use good quality extra virgin olive oil and lots of it! Ordinary olive oil will not work for this salad.
  • Red wine vinegar – alternatively use balsamic vinegar or white vinegar for a similar tang.
  • Garlic – fresh garlic works best
  • Tomato
  • White bean
  • Basil – freshly torn basil leaves adds wonderful flavour and colour to the finished salad

Alternatively – make a simple dressing with minced fresh garlic, vinegar, and olive oil.

A very close up shot of Tuscan bread salad

Instant Pot Cannellini Beans

I had a packet of dried cannellini beans so chose to cook them in the Instant Pot.

The Instant Pot is a handy way to prepare dried beans for forward meal prep. I like to cook up a batch of beans and then store them away for later.

I often use white beans in salads or as toppings for this White Bean Bruschetta. In the winter, I often add it to soups such as Butternut Squash and Cannellini Bean Soup.

Whenever I cook chickpeas in my Instant pot, we love to make this super easy and delicious Indian Chickpea salad too.

I prefer to soak the beans ahead of time simply to reduce the time needed to cook in the pressure cooker. You can however, cook your beans from dried directly.

Try to use dried beans that are not too old. Old beans tend to remain tough even after rigorous pressure cooking.

I do not add bicarbonate of soda when cooking beans.

For 1 cup of raw beans use approximately 3 cups of water. You will be draining this water after cooking.

I soaked the beans the night before. For 1 cup soaked beans I added 1 cup of water, then pressure cook on High Pressure for 8 minutes with Natural Pressure Release.

If not soaking, I would pressure cook on High for 25 minutes.

You may have to adjust this time to suit the beans that you use.

How to make White Bean Panzanella

Full printable recipe in recipe card below.

We firstly need to prepare the main salad ingredients, then prepare the dressing, then assemble everything together.

Grill your bread so it lightly toasts without becoming very hard. Then, slice into large crouton pieces.

Slice tomatoes and the onions. Sprinkle on some sea salt to help draw out some of the liquid and intensify the flavour. Let this sit for about 10-15 minutes.

Add the tomato and onion to the toasted bread and cooked white beans.

Next, prepare the dressing. Blend tomatoes, vinegar, garlic, basil and white beans with plenty of olive oil. You will end up with a dressing that has similar consistency to a runny pesto.

Stir this through the salad and top with plenty of basil. Add an extra drizzle of olive oil.

The salad can be served straight away but is equally good after 30 minutes as the bread has soaked in more of the flavours.

Serving

This sunny Tuscan bread salad is a perfect side dish to serve during the warmer months when tomatoes are best in season. White bean Panzanella can also be the perfect summer salad for your next BBQ with mains like Barbecued Halloumi and Mushroom Skewers, Grilled Sweetcorn, tofu, Creamy Paneer Tikka, vegetables, burgers or any meat or sea food dishes.

It’s also a great starter to a fun Italian menu with anything including Air fryer Sheet Pan Focaccia Pizza Air fryer Toasted Ravioli (no egg) Vegetarian Aubergine Parmigiana

Storage

Ideally this Tuscan tomato and bread salad should be consumed within a few hours after making it. It doesn’t stay well in the refrigerator. If you have any leftovers, store it in a airtight container and keep it on your kitchen worktop for a few hours and consume the same day.

White Bean Panzanella | Tuscan Tomato and Bread Salad garnished with fresh basil leaves

Other summer salad recipes

  1. Mango, Avocado and Black Beans Salad

2. Best Pesto Potato Salad

3. Chickpea Salad with Avocado Dressing

4. Greek Style Potato Salad (Instant Pot)

5. Fresh Watermelon Mojito Salad

6. Instant Pot Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad

7. Watermelon and Dill Salad

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White Bean Panzanella | Tuscan Tomato and Bread Salad

Hayley Dhanecha
White Bean Panzanella – Tuscan Bread Salad with white beans, ripe and juicy tomatoes, and red onion tossed in a flavorful pesto dressing.  Make it as a easy side dish for outdoor summer meals!  Simple to make and totally vegan!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Course Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 813 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup white beans soaked in the cold water for 8-10 hours
  • 2 Ciabatta or any Italian rustic bread
  • 1 cup tomatoes small
  • ¼ cup red onion sliced
  • sea salt

Tomato and White Bean Dressing

  • ¼ cup tomatoes chopped
  • cup white beans cooked in the instant pot
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • cup basil fresh
  • sea salt

Garnish

  • 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon small basil leaves

Instructions
 

  • Add soaked white beans with 1 cup water in the liner of the instant pot. Close the lid and select HIGH PRESSURE COOK for 8 minutes.
    soaked white beans in the instant pot with water
  • Natural pressure release. Open the lid and transfer the cooked beans in to another bowl. Drain the water before adding them in to the salad.
    cooked white beans in the instant pot
  • Grill, toast or bake your bread so it lightly toasts without becoming very hard.
  • Then, slice into large crouton pieces.
    cut ciabatta pieces on a chopping board
  • Slice tomatoes and the onions. Sprinkle on some sea salt and let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
  • Add the tomato and onion to the toasted bread and cooked white beans.
    cooked white beans added to the tomato, onion and croutons
  • Blend tomatoes, vinegar, garlic, basil and white beans with plenty of olive oil.
    red pesto made served in a small clay bowl
  • Stir this through the salad and top.
    pesto added to the Tuscan bread salad
  • Top it up with plenty of basil Add an extra drizzle of olive oil.

Video

Notes

I have cooked white beans in the Instant Pot. 
Add 1 cup soaked white beans with 1 cup water in the liner of the instant pot. 
Close the lid and HIGH PRESSURE COOK for 8 minutes. 
NPR then open the lid. 
Use the beans for your recipe. 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
White Bean Panzanella | Tuscan Tomato and Bread Salad
Serving Size
 
4 serving
Amount per Serving
Calories
813
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
26
g
40
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
3
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
18
g
Sodium
 
1109
mg
48
%
Potassium
 
417
mg
12
%
Carbohydrates
 
121
g
40
%
Fiber
 
6
g
25
%
Sugar
 
2
g
2
%
Protein
 
25
g
50
%
Vitamin A
 
428
IU
9
%
Vitamin C
 
8
mg
10
%
Calcium
 
57
mg
6
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

The nutritional information provided is an approximation calculated by an online calculator/plugin. Please consult a professional dietitian for nutritional advice.

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