John's Bread Salad

Bursting with vibrant Mediterranean flavors, John’s Bread Salad is the ultimate way to elevate your day-old bread into a fresh, hearty masterpiece. This quick and easy recipe comes together in just 20 minutes and features a medley of juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, and fragrant basil, all tossed with crunchy cubes of crusty bread and a tangy homemade red wine vinaigrette. The addition of red onion and garlic adds depth, while a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese takes it to the next level of savory goodness (optional for the cheese lovers!). Perfect as a light lunch, a side dish for summer barbecues, or a make-ahead crowd-pleaser, this rustic bread salad lets simple ingredients shine. Whether you're searching for bread salad recipes, ways to use stale bread, or refreshing summer salads, this dish checks all the boxes for flavor, convenience, and charm.

Nutriscore Rating: 69/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 cups stale or day-old crusty bread
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes
• 1 large cucumber
• 1 small red onion
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves
• 0.25 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Cut the stale bread into 1-inch cubes and set aside.

Step 2

Halve the cherry tomatoes and place them in a large salad bowl.

Step 3

Peel the cucumber if desired, then cut it into thin slices or half-moons and add it to the bowl.

Step 4

Thinly slice the red onion and add it to the salad bowl.

Step 5

Tear the basil leaves into smaller pieces and mix into the salad.

Step 6

Prepare the dressing by whisking together olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.

Step 7

Add the bread cubes to the salad bowl and pour the dressing over the top.

Step 8

Toss the salad thoroughly to ensure the bread absorbs some of the dressing and the vegetables are well-coated.

Step 9

Let the salad sit for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the bread to soften slightly.

Step 10

Top with grated Parmesan cheese if desired, then serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1583.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2527.0

Total Fat 95.0g	0%
Saturated Fat 21.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Cholesterol 53.4mg	0%
Sodium 6172.4mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 334.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 24.7g	0%
Total Sugars 49.2g
Protein 82.8g	0%

Vitamin D 12.8IU	0%
Calcium 1481.5mg	0%
Iron 25.4mg	0%
Potassium 2312.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 33.9%

Protein: 13.1%

Carbs: 53.0%