Description
A vibrant Mediterranean Dense Bean Salad featuring chickpeas, white beans, fresh celery, shallots, and crumbled feta cheese, all tossed in a tangy lemon-mustard dressing with fresh herbs. This quick and nutritious salad is perfect for a light lunch or a side dish, offering a delightful blend of textures and flavors with minimal preparation time.
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 1 (15 oz can) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz can) white beans (cannellini or great northern), drained and rinsed
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 small shallot, finely diced
- ⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley or dill (or a mix)
Dressing Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp honey (or maple syrup for vegan option)
- Salt & black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prep the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, lemon zest, salt, and black pepper until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed to balance the flavors.
- Add everything in: Add the drained chickpeas, white beans, chopped celery, and finely diced shallot to the same bowl with the dressing. Toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Fold in the flavor: Gently stir in the crumbled feta cheese and the chopped fresh herbs, being careful not to break up the cheese too much, to evenly distribute flavor throughout the salad.
- Chill & serve: Allow the salad to rest for 10 to 15 minutes at room temperature or chilled in the refrigerator to let the flavors meld. Before serving, taste and make any final adjustments with salt, pepper, or lemon zest if desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature for optimal taste.
Notes
- Use maple syrup instead of honey for a vegan version.
- Can substitute fresh herbs with dried if fresh is unavailable, but use less as dried herbs have a stronger flavor.
- This salad is best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.
- Try adding chopped cucumber or bell pepper for extra crunch.
- For a completely vegan dish, omit the cheese or use a plant-based cheese alternative.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean