Heirloom Tomato White-Bean Panzanella Lunch Jars

Panzanella began as thrifty Tuscan kitchen wisdom—stale bread revived with ripe tomatoes and sharp vinegar. These lunch jars fold in creamy cannellini beans and toasted sourdough so the classic salad travels neatly without turning soggy.

Serves 4 · 20 min prep · 14 min cook

Estimate for one serving

• 445 cal
• 18g protein
• 52g carbs
• 20g fat
• 9.5g fiber

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Ingredients

• 4 cups crusty sourdough bread, cubed
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 cans (15 oz each) canned cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 3 cups heirloom tomatoes, chunked
• 1 1/2 cups English cucumber, diced
• 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
• 3/4 cup fresh basil, torn
• 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup parmesan shavings

Instructions

1. 1Preheat oven to 375°F. Toss the bread cubes with olive oil and salt on a rimmed sheet pan. Bake 12–14 minutes, tossing once, until golden and crisp at the edges but still a little soft inside; cool completely.
2. 2In a small jar or bowl whisk the remaining olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified. This is your sharp, tomato-friendly dressing.
3. 3Layer the four lunch jars starting with a few spoonfuls of dressing at the bottom so nothing gets soggy later. Next add the drained cannellini beans, then the diced cucumber and sliced red onion.
4. 4Add the chunked heirloom tomatoes and torn basil. Finish each jar with a generous layer of the cooled toasted bread cubes and parmesan shavings on top.
5. 5Seal the jars and refrigerate up to 3 days. The bread stays crunchy because it sits above the wet ingredients.
6. 6When ready to eat, shake the jar vigorously or tip everything into a bowl and toss so the dressing coats the tomatoes and softens the bread just enough.
7. 7Taste and add an extra grind of pepper or pinch of salt if the tomatoes are especially sweet. The salad should taste bright, garlicky, and full of late-summer juice.
8. 8Pack a fork and enjoy cold at your desk; no microwave needed and it travels perfectly for school or office.