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Dense Bean Salad Recipe

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4.1 from 48 reviews

This Dense Bean Salad is a refreshing, nutrient-packed dish that combines chickpeas, cannellini beans, colorful bell peppers, crisp cucumbers, kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese, all tossed in a tangy red wine vinegar dressing. Perfect for a quick, healthy lunch or a flavorful side dish, it’s easy to prepare and best served chilled after marinating to let the flavors meld beautifully.

Ingredients

Beans

  • 1 can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
  • 1 can cannellini beans (drained and rinsed)

Vegetables & Herbs

  • 1 red bell pepper (finely diced)
  • 1 orange or yellow bell pepper (finely diced)
  • 2 Persian cucumbers (or half an English cucumber, diced)
  • ½ small red onion (heaping half cup, finely diced)
  • ⅓ cup fresh parsley (finely chopped)

Add-ins

  • ½ cup kalamata olives (pitted and sliced; can substitute pepperoncini or a mix)
  • ½ cup feta cheese (crumbled)

Dressing

  • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 ½ tsp honey or pure maple syrup
  • 1 ½ tsp dried oregano
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • ¾ tsp fine salt
  • ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Dressing: In a bowl, whisk together red wine vinegar, honey (or maple syrup), dried oregano, minced garlic, fine salt, and freshly ground black pepper until combined. Slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil while continuously whisking to emulsify the dressing.
  2. Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the drained and rinsed chickpeas and cannellini beans. Then add the finely diced red and orange/yellow bell peppers, diced cucumbers, red onion, chopped fresh parsley, sliced kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese.
  3. Toss the Salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients. Gently toss everything until the beans, vegetables, olives, and feta are evenly coated with the dressing, ensuring balanced flavor throughout.
  4. Chill and Serve: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and deepen. Before serving, give the salad a gentle stir to redistribute the dressing. Serve chilled for the best taste and texture.

Notes

  • For a different tangy twist, substitute kalamata olives with pepperoncini or a mix of both.
  • Using fresh herbs enhances the flavor, but dried oregano in the dressing provides a nice aromatic touch.
  • Make sure to rinse canned beans thoroughly to reduce sodium content.
  • Can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days; flavors improve after resting.
  • Customize by adding chopped tomatoes or avocado for extra freshness.

Find it online: https://justsosavory.com/dense-bean-salad-recipe/