Recipes

[ciao_bella]

I don't care for sugar in my bean salad.  Personally, I think adding sugar detracts from the wonderful flavors of bean salad.

  I made this bean salad to my liking and added some of my Italian touches to it.  I've made it for gatherings and it's always one of the first to go.   I think you'll find it as delicious as I do.  (If you prefer, you can swap out different beans.  My son can't eat chickpeas, so I sub pinto beans instead for him.) My daughter and I like it with chick peas, so I make it that way for the both of us.)

My ITALIAN 4 BEAN SALAD

½  large red onion, sliced thin

 2  large ribs of celery, sliced 

 Fresh Italian flat leaf parsley

1 15 oz can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

 1 15 oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1 can *pinto beans, drained and rinsed (can use chickpeas/garbanzo beans instead of pinto beans, if you prefer)

 3 15 oz can cut green beans, drained and rinsed

 1/2 cup olive oil 

1/4 cup red wine 

1/4 balsamic vinegar 

 1 teaspoon dried oregano or dried Italian seasonings

 1 teaspoon salt (I use seasoned salt) 

½  teaspoon black pepper 

 Thinly slice the red onion and add to a large mixing bowl. 

Add the sliced red onion and sliced celery

With your hand grab a big fist full of parsley and tear it off, then loosely rough chop the parsley and add to the bowl. (Probably about 1  cup or so of rough chopped Italian parsley. 

Add the drained and rinsed beans, and green beans to the bowl. 

In a liquid measuring cup or small bowl, combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar/balsamic vinegar mixture, oregano, salt, and pepper, and whisk together.

 Pour the dressing over the salad and mix well until evenly distributed.

NOTE: Taste to adjust any seasonings.    Mix and refrigerate to allow flavors to meld, at least a few hours.  You might be tempted to skip this step, but trust me, the salad will be so much better if you don’t! As it chills, the beans soak up the flavors in the dressing, which makes the whole dish punchier and more exciting to eat. (Refrigerate any leftovers)

[cheriere]

@ciao_bella 

Thank you so much for posting this recipe!😃❤️

I've never had bean salad with this Italian flair and that's right up my alley!

It will be a refreshing dish for summertime meals.  I agree about no sugar too lol.  This will make terrific use of the many beans, onions and garlic in the garden this year!

Thanks again.❤️❤️❤️

[cindyNC]

@ciao_bella Thanks for posting - going to save your recipe as it looks delicious!

[Q-Checker]

Thank you so much for a great recipe that deliberately omits  sugar. Sometimes this forum sounds like Sugarland. 

[Carmie]

I make my been salad just like this posted recipe.  I don't measure though. I don't like it sweet either.

Also, I make a bean salad with just fresh string beans, onions, oil, vinegar, salt pepper and fresh mint leaves.

I like both types.  Yummy.

[Imaoldhippie]

@ciao_bella ...........Thanks for this it sounds good.  I will make it for us probably not until next month, we will be moving back to Ohio around the 1st of July.

[amyb]

Yummmm. Right up my ally. I have all the ingredients (but the red onion, but I have a yellow one so that's ok too)....wanted something different tonight that I could easily throw together too.

Tks for sharing @ciao_bella! 🥗

[ciao_bella]

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@Carmie wrote:

I make my been salad just like this posted recipe.  I don't measure though. I don't like it sweet either.

Also, I make a bean salad with just fresh string beans, onions, oil, vinegar, salt pepper and fresh mint leaves.

I like both types.  Yummy.

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@Carmie   I bet you also make fresh green beans with (cooked) potatoes,  olive oil, garlic, parsley, lemon juice and a little vinegar, S&P.  I like it warm or cold.  My mother always made this when we were kids.  I still make it and enjoy it as much as I did back then.  

[ciao_bella]

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@amyb wrote:

Yummmm. Right up my ally. I have all the ingredients (but the red onion, but I have a yellow one so that's ok too)....wanted something different tonight that I could easily throw together too.

Tks for sharing @ciao_bella! 🥗

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@amyb   Yellow onion is perfectly fine.  Red/purple onion only makes the salad 'look' prettier, no real difference in taste.   

[Carmie]

@ciao_bella   Yes, I do make it that way too.

And, I often make warm potato salad that way with an oil and vinegar dressing without the beans.