Elegant Green Bean Salad Recipes

GREEN BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Cook cut green beans in boiling water, if fresh, 5 minutes till tender crisp. If using canned, just drain. Drain beans and rinse in cold water.
• Combine fresh lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, basil, salt and pepper in a small bowl; stir well with a whisk.
• Combine green beans with the tomatoes and toss with the vinaigrette.
• Add pine nuts just before serving.

GREEN BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Combine vegetables in a large bowl.
• In a small bowl, mix together oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, and water. Pour over vegetables, and stir to coat. Refrigerate, covered, for 4 hours or overnight.

ELEGANT GREEN BEANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small skillet, saute water chestnuts, onion and mushrooms in 2 tablespoons butter until onion is crisp-tender, 4-5 minutes; set aside. , In large skillet, melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter; stir in flour until smooth. Stir in milk, broth, soy sauce, pepper sauce and salt. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in green beans and cheese. , Spoon half of the bean mixture into a greased 1-1/2-qt. baking dish. Layer with water chestnut mixture and remaining bean mixture. , Bake, uncovered, 45 minutes. Top with french-fried onions. Bake until heated through, about 5 minutes longer.

GREEN BEAN AND TOMATO SALAD

Steps:

• Trim ends of beans and leave them whole.
• Drop beans into a saucepan with salted boiling water. Cook until crisp tender, about 3 to 5 minutes according to the size of the beans. Do not overcook. Drain and let cool.
• Cut away the core of each tomato, and cut it into wedges.
• In a salad bowl, add mustard, vinegar, shallots, garlic, oil, salt and pepper and blend with a wire whisk. Add beans and tomatoes, toss well. Sprinkle with basil.

GREEN BEAN NIçOISE SALAD

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a medium pot; add cold water to cover by 1". Season with salt, bring to a boil, and cook until potatoes are fork-tender, 12-15 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl of ice water and chill until cold, about 3 minutes. Transfer to paper towels and pat dry, reserving bowl of ice water.
• Meanwhile, bring another medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add green beans and cook until crisp-tender, 2-4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to ice water; reserve hot water in pot. Chill beans until cold, about 3 minutes. Transfer to paper towels and pat dry, reserving bowl of ice water.
• Return water in green bean pot to a boil, carefully add eggs, and cook 8 minutes. Transfer eggs to ice water and chill until cold, about 5 minutes. Peel; set aside.
• Combine shallot, lemon zest, lemon juice, Dijon, honey, pepper, and 1/4 tsp. salt in a medium bowl. Whisk in 3 Tbsp. oil in a slow, steady stream, then whisk in 1 Tbsp. dill.
• Heat remaining 2 Tbsp. oil in a small saucepan over medium-high. Add capers and cook, swirling pan occasionally, until capers burst and are crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer capers with slotted spoon to paper towels. Let oil cool.
• Toss green beans in a large bowl with half of the dressing. Arrange on a platter. Transfer potatoes to same bowl and toss with 1 Tbsp. dressing; arrange in a section on top of green beans. Toss radishes with 1 Tbsp. dressing in same bowl; arrange in another section on top of green beans. Cut eggs into quarters and place eggs and olives in sections on top of green beans, letting some beans show through. Just before serving, drizzle salad with remaining dressing, then top with fried capers and remaining 1 Tbsp. dill.

GREEN BEAN, PECAN, AND FETA SALAD

Steps:

• Trim the ends (and strings, if you like) from the green beans, then snap or cut them into thirds.
• Using a steamer basket in a pan, cover and cook for 15 minutes or until crisp-tender; plunge the cooked beans into cold water to stop the cooking process, then drain and pat dry.
• Toss together the cooked green beans, sliced onion, feta, and pecans in a large bowl; cover and chill in refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the remaining ingredients in a non-reactive bowl to make the vinaigrette; chill for 1 hour.
• Pour the vinaigrette over bean mixture, toss, and chill an additional 1 hour; toss again just before serving.
• Makes 8 servings.
• Notes: walnuts or pine nuts can be substituted for pecans, and dill may be substituted for basil if you prefer.
• Tweaked and adapted from a recipe posted at Gail's Recipe Swap.

SESAME CUCUMBER AND AVOCADO SALAD

Steps:

• Make the dressing: Place the sesame oil, rice vinegar, sesame seeds, sugar, soy sauce and red-pepper flakes into a small bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of water and whisk until emulsified. Taste, and adjust seasonings. (Dressing should taste acidic, a little sweet and salty.)
• When you're ready to eat, prepare the salad: Halve the avocados and discard the pits. Using a small paring knife, carefully score the avocado flesh into 1/2-inch cubes, avoiding cutting through the skin. Use a large spoon to scoop out the avocado flesh (in one spoonful, if possible), as close to the skin as possible. Transfer avocado cubes to a large bowl and add the dressing; toss gently.
• Add the cucumbers and scallions and toss everything together. Season with salt and black pepper, top with more sesame seeds, and serve immediately.