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Fresh Zesty Mediterranean Bean Salad with Creamy Feta

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A quick and easy Mediterranean bean salad featuring a zesty lemon vinaigrette, fresh herbs, and creamy feta cheese. Perfect as a light lunch or a flavorful side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 can (15 oz/425 g) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can (15 oz/425 g) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup (150 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 small cucumber, diced
  • 1/4 cup (40 g) red onion, finely chopped
  • 1/3 cup (30 g) pitted Kalamata olives, sliced
  • 1/4 cup (10 g) fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/4 cup (10 g) fresh oregano leaves, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup (optional)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 cup (75 g) creamy feta cheese, crumbled

Instructions

  1. Rinse the cannellini beans and chickpeas under cold water using a colander. Drain well to prevent excess liquid from watering down the salad. This step takes about 3 minutes.
  2. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, finely chop the red onion, and slice the Kalamata olives. Chop the parsley and oregano finely. This should take around 10 minutes.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, and honey (if using). Season with salt and pepper to taste. Whisk until the mixture emulsifies into a smooth vinaigrette. This step takes about 5 minutes.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the beans, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, olives, parsley, and oregano. Pour the dressing over and toss gently to coat everything evenly. This takes about 3 minutes.
  5. Crumble the creamy feta over the top and fold it in gently, so it remains somewhat chunky and creamy rather than completely mixed in. This final step takes 2 minutes.
  6. Let the salad sit for 10-15 minutes at room temperature to let flavors meld. If serving later, refrigerate but bring it back to room temperature before serving for best taste.

Notes

Drain beans well to avoid sogginess. Use fresh herbs for best flavor. Add feta last and fold gently to keep creamy texture. Let salad rest 10-15 minutes before serving to meld flavors. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled. For dairy-free, substitute feta with vegan cheese or nuts.

Nutrition

Keywords: Mediterranean bean salad, zesty salad, creamy feta, quick salad, healthy salad, vegetarian, gluten-free

Find it online: https://atomicbite.com/fresh-zesty-mediterranean-bean-salad-recipe-easy-homemade-with-creamy-feta/