Dense Bean Salad, Sun-Dried Tomatoes (Print Version)
Protein-rich Mediterranean bean salad with sun-dried tomatoes, crisp veggies, capers and a bright red wine vinaigrette.
# What You Need:
→ Beans
01 - 1 can (14 ounces) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 can (14 ounces) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
03 - 1 can (14 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
→ Vegetables & Add-Ins
04 - 3.5 ounces sun-dried tomatoes in oil, sliced
05 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
06 - 1 small cucumber, diced
07 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 2 tablespoons capers, drained
09 - 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped (optional)
→ Dressing
11 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
12 - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - 1 garlic clove, minced
15 - Salt, to taste
16 - Black pepper, to taste
# How To Make It:
01 - In a large bowl, add cannellini beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, sun-dried tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, red bell pepper, capers, parsley, and basil if using.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is fully emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the assembled salad and gently toss with a mixing spoon to ensure all components are evenly coated.
04 - Allow the salad to sit at room temperature for a minimum of 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
05 - Serve the bean salad chilled or at room temperature according to preference.
# Handy Tips:
01 -
- Your friends will think you splurged on catering, but it's really pantry magic.
- This salad stays delicious for days, making leftovers genuinely exciting.
02 -
- If you skip rinsing canned beans, your salad could taste oddly metallic or too salty.
- Letting the finished salad sit before serving turned a decent dish into something truly vibrant.
03 -
- Use a fork to test if the beans are mixed gently enough to keep their shape, especially with chickpeas.
- If the salad tastes flat, a small splash of the sun-dried tomato oil works wonders.