3 Easy Summer Bean Salads
When the weather is warm, the last thing most of us want to do is spend hours in the kitchen. These fresh, colorful bean salads are the perfect summer solution. They come together in minutes, can be made ahead of time, and are packed with fiber, plant-based protein, vitamins, and minerals.
While these salads work beautifully as a side dish for a cookout or weeknight dinner, you can easily turn them into a more complete meal by adding a source of protein like grilled chicken, shrimp, salmon, steak, hard-boiled eggs, or cheese.
Here are three of my favorite combinations.
Asian Edamame Crunch Salad
Ingredients
2 cups shelled edamame, thawed if frozen
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 cup pre shredded carrots
3 green onions, thinly sliced
¼ cup chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
Dressing
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 clove garlic, minced
Make it a meal:
Add grilled chicken, shrimp, salmon, or tofu.
Mediterranean White Bean & Chickpea Herb Salad
Ingredients
1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 cucumber, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
¼ cup chopped parsley
¼ cup chopped fresh mint or dill (or both!)
¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
Dressing
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
Make it a meal:
Top with grilled chicken, tuna, shrimp, or add feta cheese.
Mexican Black Bean, Corn & Avocado Salad
Ingredients
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1½ cups corn (fresh, frozen and thawed, or grilled)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 avocado, diced
¼ cup chopped cilantro
¼ cup diced red onion
Dressing
Juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
Make it a meal:
Add grilled chicken, steak, shrimp, shredded rotisserie chicken, or a sprinkle of cotija or shredded cheddar cheese.
A bowl of bean salad can be much more than a side dish. With a few simple additions, it becomes a balanced meal with fiber, protein, healthy fats, and plenty of flavor with no cooking involved.
