White Bean Salad

A fresh and vibrant salad featuring tender white beans tossed with crisp snow peas, radishes, and aromatic herbs in a lemony olive oil dressing. Perfect as a light main course or elegant side dish.

4 servings
8 hr 30 min

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried small white beans, such as cannellini or Great Northern, or 1 15-ounce can
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 leaf bay leaf
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon chopped shallot
  • 1 cup snow peas or sugar snap peas
  • ½ bunch fresh chives, chopped
  • 5 whole mild radishes, such as Lady Slipper radishes, thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    1. If you're using dried beans, first rinse them, picking out any stones, and place in a bowl. Cover with cold water and soak for 8 hours, or overnight, then drain the beans and place in a pot. Add the garlic and bay leaf and enough water to cover the beans by at least 1 inch. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender, about 1 hour.

    480 min

  2. 2.

    2. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, honey, and shallot. Whisk to combine.

    5 min

  3. 3.

    3. When the beans are done, drain them well and place in a medium bowl. Discard the bay leaf and garlic clove. Add one third of the vinaigrette to the warm beans and toss; then let stand for 15 minutes, tossing occasionally. If using canned beans, rinse and drain them, then toss with the vinaigrette.

    15 min

  4. 4.

    4. In a small pot of boiling water, cook the snow peas or sugar snap peas for 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, place them in a bowl of ice water. Drain, pat dry, and slice thin.

    5 min

  5. 5.

    5. In a large salad bowl, place the cooled beans, snow peas, chives, radishes, and basil. Pour the remaining dressing over and toss lightly. Serve immediately.

    5 min

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