RED BEAN AND GREEN BEAN SALAD

RED BEAN AND GREEN BEAN SALAD image

Categories Bean

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

1 cup small red beans or red kidney beans, washed, picked over and soaked for 6 hours or overnight
1/2 onion
3 garlic cloves, 2 of them unpeeled and crushed, 1 of them minced or puréed
1 bay leaf
Salt to taste
3/4 pound green beans, stem ends trimmed
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon chopped chives
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons plain low-fat yogurt or broth from the beans
Freshly ground pepper
Optional: 1 to 2 ounces crumbled feta

Steps:

1. Drain the beans, rinse and place in a heavy saucepan with the onion, the crushed whole cloves of garlic, the bay leaf and enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add salt to taste and continue to simmer for an hour to an hour and a half more, until the beans are tender but intact. Turn off the heat and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Remove and discard the onion, garlic cloves and bay leaf. Place a strainer over a bowl and drain the beans. Transfer the beans to a salad bowl. Note: You can substitute canned beans, but make sure to rinse them and to season them well. You will need 2 1/3 cups beans. 2. While the beans are simmering, blanch the green beans in salted boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes, or steam them. They should be tender but still have some snap to them. Cut into 2- or 3-inch pieces. 3. Toss together the red beans and the herbs. In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, olive oil and 3 tablespoons broth from the beans (or yogurt, if you used canned beans). If you have time, allow the mixture to marinate, in or out of the refrigerator, for 30 minutes before adding the green beans and serving. Add the green beans and toss again just before serving.