Best Make Ahead Summer Bean Salad Recipes

GREEN BEAN SALAD WITH BALSAMIC BASIL VINAIGRETTE

Green Bean Salad with Balsamic Basil Vinaigrette image

This Green Bean Salad recipe is vibrant, fresh, satisfying, crunchy, and can't-stop-eating- fabulous! It is loaded with crisp-tender green beans, juicy tomatoes, roasted beats, punchy red onions, sweet craisins, peppery arugula, buttery mozzarella, and toasted pine nuts all doused in tangy, bright Balsamic Lemon Basil Vinaigrette. This cold Green Bean Salad is exploding with flavor and texture and is a welcome addition to any meal or holiday table. This salad also gets HUGE points because it's the ideal make ahead salad because the green beans keep beautifully!

Provided by Jen

Time 1h5m

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

1 bunch beets (about 4 beets - or more if desired)
2 pounds fresh green beans (trimmed and cut in half)
2 cups cherry tomatoes (I like mixed colors) (halved)
1/4 cup minced red onion (or shallots)
1/2 cup craisins
3 cups baby arugula
1 1/2 cups (10 oz.) Ciliegine - fresh mozzarella balls (1-2 inches) (halved)
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
1/2 tsp EACH salt, pepper, garlic powder

Steps:

BEETS: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the top and bottom ends off of the beets then peel using a vegetable peeler. Cut the beets into 1- 1 ½ inch chunks. Place beets on a foil lined baking sheet. Toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil and some freshly cracked salt and pepper. Roast for 35-40 minutes or until the beets are fork tender.
DRESSING: While the beets are roasting, prepare the rest of the salad. Add all of the Dressing ingredients to a mason jar and shake vigorously or whisk together in a small bowl. Refrigerate dressing until ready to use. If serving salad within the hour, then place dressing in the freezer to quickly chill.
GREEN BEANS: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and stir in two tablespoon salt. Add the green beans and cook until tender crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare a large bowl of ice water to transfer the greens to. Using a slotted spoon, transfer beans to ice water to stop cooking. Drain the beans and pat very dry. Transfer to a large salad bowl.
Combine green beans with tomatoes, beets, red onion, and craisins. Drizzle with some of the dressing, cover and chill one hour (time permitting). When ready to serve, toss with arugula, mozzarella, pine nuts and additional dressing if desired. Season with freshly cracked salt and pepper to taste.

THREE BEAN SALAD

Three Bean Salad image

We like a buffet with all the family here. We serve a variety of salads. This is also great for summer picnics and cookouts. Keeps well, and serves a lot of people.

Provided by JJOHN32

Categories Salad Beans Three Bean Salad Recipes

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

1 (15 ounce) can green beans
1 pound wax beans
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 onion, sliced into thin rings
¾ cup white sugar
⅔ cup distilled white vinegar
⅓ cup vegetable oil
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon celery seed

Steps:

Mix together green beans, wax beans, kidney beans, onion, sugar, vinegar, vegetable oil, salt, pepper, and celery seed. Let set in refrigerator for at least 12 hours.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 111.5 calories, Carbohydrate 15.9 g, Fat 4.7 g, Fiber 2.4 g, Protein 2 g, SaturatedFat 0.6 g, Sodium 298.6 mg, Sugar 10.6 g