Dense Bean Salad Sun-Dried Tomatoes (Printable version)
Hearty bean medley with sun-dried tomatoes, crisp veggies and herb vinaigrette—protein-rich 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) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
→ Vegetables & Add-Ins
04 - 3.5 oz 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:
01 - Mix cannellini beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, sun-dried tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, red bell pepper, capers, parsley, and basil in a large salad bowl.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until fully emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Let the salad rest for at least 10 minutes at room temperature to allow flavors to meld.
05 - Serve chilled or at room temperature.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The trick of letting the salad rest means every forkful tastes even better with time passed & it feels like a secret shortcut to flavor.
- I started making this for busy weeknights, but it& since become the thing everyone asks me to bring to potlucks.
02 -
- I once rushed and didn& rinse the beans well, so the salad tasted oddly starchy—take those extra seconds.
- Leaving the salad to rest is non-negotiable& the flavors completely transform compared to eating it immediately.
03 -
- Use your hands to mix for the gentlest touch—smashed beans make things mushy fast.
- A bite of salad with each different bean really gives you the best texture—make sure every scoop has a good mix.