White Bean Salad Recipe

This French white bean salad recipe is quick and delicious and so satisfying it can make a light meal by itself. It passes the kid test at our house. Since it is so easy to prepare, and you can even serve it as a main dish, you'll have time to make some garlic bread and arrange the salads prettily on individual plates.

The Extra Touch

I like arranging salads on everyone's plates. It makes a little work of art and I think my family pays more attention to their food this way. It can even give you a good excuse to buy some new plates. What the heck, plates are cheap enough, and you just need enough for your family most times.

Try putting a little extra effort into your food presentation (but do keep it simple) and see if your family doesn't start eating their salads more readily.

To keep it quick, this French salad recipe uses canned beans. Nothing is to stop you from cooking the beans yourself however. This white bean salad recipe will only be all the more delicious.

Be sure to have a look at our other easy salad recipes for some more great ideas for serving greens with a French twist.

Salade de Haricots Blancs

1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
salt and pepper
2-15 ounce cans white beans, drained and rinced
1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
butter lettuce
4 small tomatoes, quartered

Prepare a vinaigrette by combining the oil, vinegar, garlic and spices in a jar and shaking well with the lid on.

Place the beans in a bowl or plastic container and pour on the vinaigrette. Stir in parsley. At this point you can leave the salad to sit for about an hour so that the vinaigrette infuses into the beans, or if you wish, you can refrigerate it until you are ready to serve.

To serve, place lettuce leaves on plates, spoon beans on top, and surround with tomato slices.

Serve 4

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