Description
This vibrant Mediterranean Bean Salad is a refreshing and wholesome dish perfect for a light lunch or as a side at your next gathering. Featuring a colorful mix of garbanzo, cannellini, and kidney beans combined with fresh vegetables, herbs, olives, and a zesty lemon-garlic dressing, it offers a delicious blend of textures and flavors that are both nutritious and satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
Beans
- 1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 15-ounce can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
Vegetables & Herbs
- 1/4 cup red onion, chopped fine
- 3/4 cup celery, chopped
- 1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded, and chopped
- 3/4 cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 2 tomatoes, chopped fine
Add-ins
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, optional
- 1/3 cup pepperoncini, optional
Dressing
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Juice of 1–1/2 lemons
- 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- Ground pepper and sea salt to taste
Instructions
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the rinsed and drained garbanzo beans, cannellini beans, kidney beans, finely chopped red onion, celery, peeled and chopped cucumber, fresh Italian parsley, basil, tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, Kalamata olives, and pepperoncini if using. Toss gently to mix all components evenly.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, minced garlic, and dried Italian seasoning until the dressing is well combined. Alternatively, place all dressing ingredients into a mason jar, seal tightly, and shake vigorously to emulsify.
- Toss Salad with Dressing: Drizzle the prepared dressing over the combined salad ingredients. Toss again thoroughly to coat all the elements with the flavorful dressing.
- Chill Before Serving: Cover the salad bowl with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for 45 to 60 minutes. This resting time allows the flavors to meld and the salad to become refreshingly chilled before serving.
Notes
- For a vegan option, omit the Parmesan cheese or substitute with a vegan-friendly cheese.
- Kalamata olives and pepperoncini add authentic Mediterranean flavor but can be left out if unavailable.
- Make sure to rinse canned beans well to reduce sodium content and improve flavor.
- This salad can be made a day in advance and stored refrigerated to enhance flavor.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature for best taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: Mediterranean bean salad, healthy bean salad, vegetarian salad, no-cook salad, lemon garlic dressing, Italian herbs, Mediterranean cuisine
