Green beans have a reputation for being dull, but nothing could be further from the truth. Beyond the usual boiled beans, there are a thousand delicious ways to prepare them. I love adding them to salads and pairing them with different ingredients depending on the season.
The dressing also makes all the difference and can turn a simple salad into a five-star dish. There are dressings that add a little extra protein, ideal for enriching the recipe. Below I explain how I prepare a green bean salad ideal for summer, refreshing and hydrating, with an irresistible nut-based dressing made from walnuts and other ingredients that pair wonderfully.
Green Bean Salad Recipe
This salad comes together very quickly and is a very filling and nutritious first course: packed with fibre, vitamins and minerals. In addition, the combination of textures, with the crunch of the nuts and the beans al dente, mixed with the creaminess of the cheese, makes it a sensory experience.
Ingredients (serves 4):
- 450 g green beans
- 1/2 small cos lettuce
- 150 g cherry tomatoes
- 1 small red onion
- a handful of peeled and sliced almonds
- 1 cup feta cheese
Preparation – step by step:
- Clean the green beans, trim the ends and cut them into evenly sized pieces.
- Bring a large pot of water and salt to a boil and blanch the green beans for about 3–4 minutes, until they are bright green and tender yet still crisp. Rinse with cold water to stop the cooking and drain well.
- Wash the lettuce and slice it thinly. Rinse the tomatoes and cut them in half. Slice the onion into julienne.
- In a large bowl, mix the green beans, the lettuce, the cherry tomatoes, the onion and the slivered almonds.
- Strewn with crumbled feta cheese on top.
- Chill the salad in the fridge for a few minutes so it is cool when served.
This salad, made with typical Mediterranean diet ingredients, is a starter (or a light one-dish meal) that is satisfying and nutritious.
It provides a balanced combination of fibre and vitamins from the green beans, the lettuce, the tomatoes and the onion, while the nuts provide heart-healthy fats, proteins and minerals such as magnesium and vitamin E. The cheese, for its part, provides proteins and calcium, making it more filling.
However, it lacks something very important to be truly complete, don’t you think?
The Perfect Dressing for the Green Bean Salad
To make the green bean salad perfect, it’s essential to add the finishing touch, a simple and tasty dressing that will elevate this dish to another level. It provides a fresh, tangy and balanced flavour, with a touch of heat that appeals to both children and adults.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove of garlic
- a handful of chopped walnuts
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Preparación paso a paso:
- Peel the garlic and chop it very finely.
- Cut the lemon in half, squeeze it and strain the juice.
- Place in a bowl the chopped garlic, a tablespoon of lemon juice, a teaspoon of Dijon mustard, two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, the chopped walnuts and a pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
- Whisk well until it emulsifies and spoon it over the green bean salad.
This dressing, with a creamy texture and a slightly tangy taste, highlights the flavour of the vegetables, the cheese and the nuts in the salad. It enhances the flavour without masking it or overwhelming the palate. Fancy giving it a go?
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