Description
Embark on a vibrant culinary adventure with our Mediterranean Dense Bean Salad, that transforms beans into a gourmet masterpiece!
Ingredients
For the Dense Bean Salad:
2 cups mixed dense beans (combination of kidney, cannellini, and black beans)
1 cup cooked quinoa
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1/2 cup diced cucumber
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
For the Zesty Mediterranean Dressing:
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
Prepare the Dense Beans:
- Rinse the dense beans thoroughly under cold water.
- If using canned beans, drain and pat dry.
- If using dried beans, soak overnight and cook until tender.
Cook the Quinoa:
- Rinse quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer.
- Use a 2:1 water to quinoa ratio.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes.
- Fluff with a fork and let cool.
Chop Vegetables:
- Dice red bell peppers into uniform small cubes.
- Slice cucumbers with precision.
- Finely mince red onions to distribute flavor evenly.
Create the Dressing:
- Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, and Dijon mustard.
- Add dried oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Blend until emulsified.
Assemble the Dense Bean Salad:
- Combine dense beans, quinoa, and chopped vegetables in a large bowl.
- Gently fold in crumbled feta cheese.
- Pour dressing over the salad.
- Toss thoroughly to ensure even coating.
Final Touch:
- Garnish with fresh parsley and mint.
- Let sit for 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
Notes
Prepare dense bean salad up to 2 days in advance.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Best consumed within 48 hours.
Avoid freezing to maintain vegetable crispness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Assembling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg