This white bean salad is incredibly easy to make and full of fresh flavor. It makes a great side, and travels well too. It's a tasty, versatile dish.
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There are lots of times where we seem to fall into the same old sides, but now and then I get a bit inspired, even if that means keeping things simple.
Not so long ago, I made some relatively simple roast chicken with Spanish-inspired flavors. As I was thinking what to go alongside, I got to thinking about some of the simple bean salads we sometimes had when I lived in Spain. It was the perfect accompaniment and reminded we should have bean salads more often.
White bean salad: a discovery in Spain
One of the things I loved about living in Spain was the fantastic food. And what was even better for people like me who can't decide what to eat sometimes, is eating tapas meant I didn't always have to narrow it down to one thing.
I know some people don't like to share their food, but for me if it means I can try four or more things on a menu rather than just one, I'm all for it. Plus it lets you balance out meaty dishes like pinchos moruños or wine marinated steak with veggies and other sides like patatas bravas and pan con tomate (tomato bread).
A simple bean salad like this is a dish I sometimes got near where I lived in Catalunya, and it is a great way to lighten up a meal. White beans are popular in Spain, often larger than the ones here, but really any work.
This white bean salad has become a bit more of a regular feature in our house after the first time I re-acquainted us with it. It works so well as a side with our main meal or as part of a lunch box, since it's great to make ahead.
How to make this simple white bean salad
All you do is:
- Rinse the canned beans (or pre-cooked).
- Dice the tomato and onion.
- Roughly chop the parsley.
- Whisk together the dressing.
- Mix it up and that's it.
It really takes no time to make but has lovely fresh flavors that go well with a broad range of dishes, from other tapas to grilled meats and more. So mix up some of this white bean salad for your next potluck or picnic, make it with dinner or have it for lunch. It's so easy and tasty, it's bound to be a regular in no time.
Try these other sides perfect for a potluck or picnic:
- Mexican street corn salad (so easy and tasty)
- Mango jicama slaw (full of tasty crunch and a bit of sweetness)
- French lentil salad with feta (simple flavors that work so well)
- Tuscan white bean and tuna salad (another simple salad with white beans)
- Plus see more make ahead salads and summer recipes for more inspiration!
Easy white bean salad
Ingredients
- 14 oz cooked white beans 1 can, 397g, eg cannellini, small white, navy
- 1 tomato large, or 2 small
- ¼ red onion approx - can use a little more to taste
- ¼ cup parsley (leaves from 20g, approx)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ tablespoon wine vinegar
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Rinse the canned beans (alternatively, you can pre-cook your own).
- Dice the tomato and onion into a relatively small dice, ideally similar in size to the beans (I often make the onion a little smaller). Roughly chop the parsley.
- Whisk together the oil, vinegar, lemon juice and mustard for the dressing. Add a little salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the tomatoes, onion and parsley to the beans and gently mix together. Drizzle over the dressing and mix through. Serve or store in the fridge until needed.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store.
Get more ideas perfect for summer entertaining:
- BBQ Grilled Corn on the Cob by The Spiffy Cookie
- Patriotic Blueberry Jello Cheesecake Salad by Daily Dish Recipes
- Grilled Eggplant, Tomatoes, and Burrata Platter by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Grilled Tuscan Chicken Flatbreads by Cindy's Recipes and Writings
- Jalapeno Bacon Baked Beans by Sweet Beginnings
- Kaiser Rolls by Karen's Kitchen Stories
- Salami and Cream Cheese Roll Ups by Cookaholic Wife
- Strawberry Green Iced Tea by Palatable Pastime
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Morgan Eisenberg says
I love tapas for the same reason! It's nice to balance out some of the rich, meaty dishes with something bright and fresh like this.
Ellen says
Easy is always good when it comes to a BBQ party. So much flavor in these beans.
Caroline's Cooking says
Absolutely! And yes, simple but with plenty flavor.