A bean salad is a versatile, nutritious, and easy-to-make dish that often combines a variety of beans, vegetables, herbs, and a flavorful dressing. It can be served as a side dish or a main course depending on the ingredients and portion size. Here’s a simple and delicious recipe for a classic bean salad:
Classic Bean Salad Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) green beans, drained (or 1 cup cooked fresh green beans, chopped)
- 1/2 red onion, finely diced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar (or lemon juice)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (or 1 clove garlic, minced)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional add-ins: chopped cucumber, cherry tomatoes, celery, or olives
Instructions:
- Prepare the vegetables: Dice the onion, bell pepper, and any other vegetables you’d like to add. If you’re using fresh green beans, cook them and chop them into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine the beans: In a large mixing bowl, combine the kidney beans, chickpeas, and green beans.
- Add the vegetables: Add the diced red onion, bell pepper, and parsley (or cilantro) to the beans.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar (or lemon juice), Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- Toss everything together: Pour the dressing over the bean and vegetable mixture, and toss everything gently to combine.
- Chill and serve: For the best flavor, let the salad chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together.
Tips:
- You can make this salad ahead of time! It actually tastes better after sitting for a few hours or even overnight, allowing the flavors to soak into the beans.
- Feel free to customize the salad with other beans like black beans, pinto beans, or navy beans.
- For extra crunch and flavor, add a handful of crumbled feta or goat cheese, or even some toasted nuts or seeds.
This bean salad is perfect for picnics, potlucks, or as a light meal, and it’s packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats! Enjoy!
