Why we love this recipe
Frequently asked questions
Here’s our spin on the bean salad Alex and I grew up with, with a little more complexity and freshness. But don’t worry: it’s still an easy three bean salad that’s as easy as dump and stir. Is it actually better than Grandma’s? We think so. (Sorry, Grandma: don’t be offended!)
Kidney beans and pinto beans: We like pinto beans in a bean salad, since the common chickpeas can have a tough texture and don’t soak up the marinade as quickly. Canned green beans and wax beans: Adding yellow wax beans to this bean salad makes a nice color contrast! They can be harder to find at the grocery, so you can also use only canned green beans. White onion and red onion: White onion is standard and has the most classic flavor. Red onion adds brightness with the lovely purple color. Curly parsley: The green confetti adds a fresh flavor and visual flair. Use curly parsley if you have it, but Italian also works. White vinegar and olive oil: Bean salad works well with white vinegar, just like a classic cucumber salad. It adds just the right astringent punch, balanced by the salt and sugar. Dried dill and garlic powder: These seasonings heighten the savory and fresh flavors in this dish.
Bean salad recipes vary and most cooks have their own regional spin. The most common ingredients are kidney beans, green beans, and garbanzo beans (it’s often called three bean salad). Other ingredients you’ll often see are pinto beans, wax beans, and onions. It’s almost always marinated in a dressing of vinegar, oil, sugar and salt. The end result? This recipe has half the sugar as the standard, but it’s just as delicious! It’s got all the classic elements so you feel like you’re eating Grandma’s. We’ll be eating this for years to come. Some people call it French cut: it’s a way of making the onion slivers look attractive instead of long and floppy. Cut slices from the tip to the root—instead of through the middle. It’s easiest to explain by showing you: watch minute 1:40 of this How to Cut an Onion video!
Try Easy White Bean Salad Opt for Black Bean and Corn Salad Go for Edamame Salad or Black Eyed Pea Salad Grab Simple Chickpea Salad
4.9 from 15 reviews
