Ina Garten's Greek panzanella salad will transport you to Greece, no passport required

Ina Garten's Greek panzanella salad will transport you to Greece, no passport required I made Ina Garten's Greek panzanella salad, and it's perfect for summer. Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images As the child of Greek immigrants, the classic Greek salad has always been a staple of my family's dinner table.And that dish has followed me no matter where I've lived. Sometimes it's the perfect desk lunch. Other times, it's a quick and healthy dinner.While there are some rules I'll never break when it comes to the recipe — stop adding lettuce! — I love trying new twists, like Ina Garten's Greek orzo salad (a huge hit with my parents).When I stumbled on Garten's Greek panzanella salad, I immediately headed to the grocery store for the ingredients. Turns out, it's one of her best summer dishes. Garten's Greek panzanella salad adds a fresh twist to the classic Italian dish. Ingredients for Ina Garten's Greek panzanella salad. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider To make Garten's Greek panzanella salad at home, you'll need:Good olive oil6 cups of "rustic" or French bread, diced into 1-inch cubes1 hothouse cucumber, unpeeled and seeded, halved lengthwise and sliced ½-inch thick1 red bell pepper, large-diced1 yellow bell pepper, large-diced1 pint of cherry or grape tomatoes, halved½ red onion, thinly sliced into half-rounds½ pound of good feta cheese, cut into ½-inch cubes½ cup of kalamata olives, pittedTo make the vinaigrette, you'll need:2 cloves of garlic, minced¼ cup of good red wine vinegar1 teaspoon of dried oregano1 teaspoon of salt½ teaspoon of Dijon mustard½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepperOne thing to note: I couldn't find French or "rustic" bread at my local supermarket, so I opted for some thick-sliced white bread. The croutons still came out great! Before assembling the salad, I needed to make the homemade croutons. Cubing bread for Garten's homemade croutons. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider After cutting my bread into cubes, I added ¼ cup of olive oil to a large sauté pan and allowed it to heat up.I knew the pan was ready by using a trick I learned from Martha Stewart. If you sprinkle a few drops of water on top and the oil begins to sizzle, it's hot enough. I added my bread cubes to the pan and seasoned them with salt and pepper. Making the homemade croutons. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider Garten recommends cooking the bread cubes over low to medium heat, tossing frequently, until they're lightly browned.Don't be afraid to add more olive oil if you need. While the croutons were cooking, I began chopping my veggies. My chopped bell peppers. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I seeded and diced my bell peppers, sliced my cucumber and red onion, and halved my tomatoes. After about 10 minutes, my croutons were ready. My homemade croutons. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider My croutons had turned a lovely golden brown. I knew they would look beautiful in the salad. It was time to assemble the Greek panzanella salad. Adding the prepared veggies to a salad bowl. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I threw the cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes, and red onions into a large bowl and tossed everything together. Then I whipped up the vinaigrette. Making the vinaigrette for the salad. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I added the red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, and Dijon mustard to a small bowl, sprinkling 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper on top, then whisked everything together.As I continued to whisk, I slowly added ½ cup of olive oil to make an emulsion. I poured my vinaigrette over the veggies, then added the feta, olives, and croutons. My salad was almost ready! Ina Garten's Greek panzanella salad. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I lightly tossed everything together and let the salad sit for 30 minutes so the flavors could develop. Then it was time to dig in.Garten's Greek panzanella salad is a beautiful dance of flavor and texture. It's crunchy, juicy, and so colorful, making it a perfect summer dish. The homemade croutons were worth the extra effort, and I recommend adding smoked kalamata olives for an even bigger burst of flavor.I've made this for two different potlucks with friends, and it's always been a crowd-pleaser. I can't wait to see if my parents love it as much as Garten's Greek orzo salad.As a Greek American who just got back from Greece, I can confidently say the Barefoot Contessa knows how to honor our cuisine. Read next Anneta Konstantinides is a lifestyle correspondent at Business Insider, with a focus on food and travel. She loves taking readers inside Michelin-starred kitchens and exploring the world of fine-dining, and she's always trying to find the best Ina Garten and Gordon Ramsay recipes. Her second home is LAX, where she's often catching a flight and reviewing airlines.Anneta has also been reporting on the pageant industry for the last six years and has interviewed every Miss USA and Miss Universe winner since 2019. She was a finalist at the LA Press Club Awards for her investigation into the 2022 Miss USA scandal and was featured in The New York Times Presents episode "How to Fix a Pageant" on Hulu in September 2023. After graduating from UCLA with a B.A in English Literature and a minor in film & television, Anneta worked as a journalist in London, Sydney, New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. You can reach Anneta at akonstantinides@businessinsider.com. Ina Garten Food