Panzanella Salad with the Best Dressing

Panzanella Salad with crusty bread, juicy vine-ripened tomatoes, and the best homemade vinaigrette dressing. Try this bread salad once and it will become an instant favorite.

Our garden produces so many tomatoes and tons of basil in summer and we love creative and delicious ways to take advantage of them at their peak of freshness before we start freezing batches of Roasted Salsa and Canning Tomatoes. My whole family loves this tomato salad, even my kids.

• 6 oz crusty bread, (1/2 loaf) cut into 1-inch cubes (6 cups)
• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1/8 tsp sea salt
• 2 lbs ripe tomatoes, cut into small wedges or bite-sized pieces
• 8 oz fresh mozzarella, halved mozzarella pearls
• 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup basil leaves, (about 22 leaves), coarsely chopped, plus more to garnish

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 garlic cloves, grated
• 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
• 1/8 tsp black pepper