Green Bean Salad

This green bean salad is one we enjoy all year round. Green beans are blanched then tossed with salad greens and crunchy almonds, feta, loads of fresh herbs and dressed with a tangy sweet shallot infused dressing. The green beans make this a heartier salad and side and one that goes with just about anything from the grill in the summer to turkey dinner in the cooler months. It’s a fresh herby salad that is on repeat.

Green Bean Salad Recipe Ingredients (detailed measurement below)

• GREEN BEANS: We like to use fresh French green beans (often called haricots verts) which are longer, skinner, and more tender than standard fresh green beans. They cook twice as fast and offer a milder, slightly sweeter flavor compared to the thicker, heartier, traditional green bean. Either will work just be sure to adjust cooking time to suit the variety. Feel free to use frozen green beans too - steam or blanch them.
• SALAD GREENS: You will need approximately 8 cups of your choice of baby salad greens. We like the combination of baby romaine and radicchio.
• FRESH HERBS, CHIVES & SPICES: We like to use fresh basil and fresh mint but fresh parsley and fresh dill or any other herbs you think would pair well here you can use. We love to add fresh chives to the salad for flavor but green onions would work too. For spices apart from salt and pepper we use some chili flakes for flavor in the dressing but that is optional.
• ALMONDS & CRANBERRIES: We add some tasty texture with the sliced almonds and cranberries but you could also add walnuts, pecans or pumpkin seeds or do a blend of nuts and seeds, or dried cherries or sultanas or even dried blueberries for sweet texture over cranberries.
• FETA CHEESE: We are pretty partial to feta cheese but we love this salad with goat cheese or even blue cheese work great here for a a stronger flavor contrast. It is also great with lots of shaved Parmesan cheese
• OLIVE OIL: Extra virgin Olive oil is what we use for the dressing.
• LEMON JUICE: We like the fresh tangy flavor from freshly squeezed lemon juice especially when we are making this salad in the spring or summer but it is also great with White balsamic vinegar for a sweeter acidity or you can do a combo of lemon juice and balsamic too.
• SHALLOTS & GARLIC: We like to flavor the dressing by adding the shallots and garlic to it. It also helps mellow out the flavors of the shallots. Red onion works here as well.
• DIJON MUSTARD: We like to add Dijon mustard to the dressing/ vinaigrette as it adds a nice tangy flavor plus it acts as an emulsifier.
• MAPLE SYRUP: This balances the acidity and adds a hint of sweetness. If you prefer honey or sugar over maple syrup they work well too.
• OPTIONAL ADD INS: Cherry tomatoes, chopped avocado, olives are great add-ins or even shredded carrot, chopped bell peppers or cucumbers. You could also add in some drained white beans, grilled chicken, or tuna for extra protein or to make a meal out of this.
  
  

How To Make This Green Beans Salad (detailed instructions below)

1. Prepare Dressing: Either whisk all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl or shake them all in a sealed mason jar.
2. Cook Green Beans: Blanch green beans in pot of boiling water until tender crisp and bright green. Place them in an ice water bath to cool them quickly and then drain and pat dry. Slice in half or thirds depending on preference - you can also leave them long as is too
3. Assemble Salad & Dress: Combine salad ingredients in large serving bowl or platter along with the green beans. Drizzle with dressing and gently toss salad to coat adjusting seasoning to taste.
   
   

Green Bean Salad Make Ahead & Storage

• STORAGE: Undressed salad can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of days. Dressed salad could keep a couple of days the fridge but really the salad greens/lettuce will wilt so it won’t be as fresh as the same day.
• MAKE AHEAD: You can make the dressing several days in advance. Store in a mason jar in the fridge til ready to use. Blanched and cooled green beans will last for 3 the refrigerator stored in an airtight container until ready to make salad.
  
  

More Recipes You Will Love:

• Lemony Green Beans
• Greek Green Beans (fasolakia yiahni)
• Greek Style Green Bean Salad
• Mixed Bean Salad
• Italian Style Potato Salad
• Easy Classic Niçoise Salad
• Chicken Tortellini Pesto Bowls