White Bean Salad with Fresh Herbs, Vegetables, and Feta Recipe
This refreshing White Bean Salad combines creamy cannellini beans with crisp cucumbers, sweet cherry tomatoes, tangy olives, and fresh herbs, all tossed in a zesty lemon and olive oil dressing. It’s a light, healthy, and flavorful dish perfect as a side or light meal, with optional dairy-free feta for a satisfying touch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Beans and Vegetables
- 2 (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 medium English cucumber, diced
- 1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup diced small red onion
Olives and Herbs
- 1/2 cup chopped kalamata olives (or black olives)
- 1/2 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
- 15 fresh mint leaves, chopped
Dressing and Seasoning
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste (1 teaspoon salt recommended)
Cheese
- 1 cup crumbled feta (dairy-free feta crumbles can be used)
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Add cannellini beans, diced cucumber, red bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, red onion, chopped olives, parsley, and mint leaves into a large mixing bowl.
- Add Dressing and Season: Pour in fresh lemon juice and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste, mixing everything thoroughly to coat the ingredients evenly.
- Incorporate Feta: Gently fold in the crumbled feta cheese, distributing it throughout the salad without breaking it down too much.
- Chill for Flavor: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld beautifully before serving. Taste again and adjust seasoning if needed.
Notes
- For best texture and flavor, allow the salad to chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- To make it vegan, use dairy-free feta or omit the cheese entirely.
- You can prepare this salad up to 1 day in advance and keep it refrigerated.
- Add a splash of red wine vinegar or a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for additional flavor variations.
- Serve as a light lunch, side dish, or part of a mezze platter.
Keywords: white bean salad, cannellini beans, mediterranean salad, healthy salad, vegetarian salad, feta salad, easy salad recipe
