Classic Bean Salad Recipes

TRADITIONAL THREE BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Mix green beans, yellow wax beans, kidney beans, onion, celery, green bell pepper, and pimento peppers in a bowl.
• Combine vinegar, oil, sugar, salt, and pepper in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes. Remove saucepan from burner and pour dressing over bean mixture; toss to coat. Refrigerate until flavors blend, 8 hours to overnight.

BEST BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Combine the green beans, wax beans, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, green pepper, onion, and celery in a large bowl; toss to mix.
• Whisk together the oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and sugar in a separate bowl until the sugar is dissolved; pour over the bean mixture. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight before serving.

CLASSIC ITALIAN BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Heat oil in a small saucepan over low heat.
• Add onion, garlic, celery and chilli. Cook for 3 minutes or until onion and celery have softened.
• Stir in beans. Cook for 5 minutes or until heated through.
• Set aside to cool slightly.
• Stir in tomatoes, parsley and vinegar.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve.

FIVE-BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. In another bowl, whisk the vinegar, sugar, oil, salt and pepper. Pour over bean mixture and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Serve with a slotted spoon.

CLASSIC THREE-BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Heat vinegar, sugar, oil, garlic, salt, and pepper to taste in small nonreactive saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large nonreactive bowl and cool to room temperature.
• Bring 3 quarts water to boil in large saucean over high heat. Add 1 tablespoons salt and green and yellow beans; cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, fill medium bowl with ice-water. When beans are done, drain and immediately plunge into ice water to stop cooking process; let sit until chilled, about 2 minutes. Drain well.
• Add green and yellow beans, kidney beans, onion, and parsley to vinegar mixture; toss well to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight to let flavors meld. Let stand at room temperatire 30 minutes before serving. (Salad can be covered and refrigerated up to 4 days.).

CLASSIC FIVE-BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Make the salad: Coverbeans with water in separatesaucepans, and bring to aboil. Remove from heat, andlet stand for 1 hour.
• Drain, and return beans totheir saucepans. Add a bay leaf,a piece of carrot, and a pieceof celery to each pan, and coverwith water by 2 inches.
• Bring to a boil. Skim foam.Add 1/2 teaspoon salt to eachsaucepan. Reduce heat, and simmer vigorously until beans aretender, 30 minutes to 1 1/2 hours,depending on size and age ofbeans. Drain, and let cool.
• Meanwhile, bring a large potof water to a boil. Add haricotsverts and 1 tablespoon salt.Cook until tender and brightgreen, about 3 minutes. Drain,and run under cold waterto stop the cooking process.
• Make the dressing: Whisktogether vinegar and mustard.Gradually whisk in oil. Seasonwith salt and pepper.
• Mix the salad: Combine beanswith haricots verts, herbs, andtomatoes. Drizzle with dressing,and toss to coat. Let stand for30 minutes.