Italian Bean Salad (Printable)
Tender mixed beans with crisp vegetables in a zesty Italian herb dressing. Light, fresh, and ready in minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Beans
01 - 1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
03 - 1 can (15 oz) garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and rinsed
→ Vegetables
04 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 1/2 cucumber, diced
09 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
→ Italian Dressing
10 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
13 - 1 clove garlic, minced
14 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
16 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
# How-To:
01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine all the drained and rinsed beans.
02 - Add the chopped red onion, diced bell peppers, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, and chopped parsley to the bowl with the beans.
03 - In a separate small bowl or mason jar, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until well emulsified.
04 - Pour the dressing over the bean and vegetable mixture. Gently toss until all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It requires zero cooking, which means your kitchen stays cool and you stay happy on hot days.
- The salad actually improves as it sits, so making it ahead is not just allowed, it is encouraged.
02 -
- Underdressing is the most common mistake because the beans absorb more flavor than you expect, so be bold.
- Rinsing canned beans thoroughly removes the starchy liquid that makes salads taste muddy and dull.
03 -
- Letting the salad rest overnight transforms it from good to unforgettable, so plan ahead whenever possible.
- A pinch of sugar in the dressing rounds out the vinegar without adding sweetness you can identify.