Description
Summer Cold Green Bean Salad is a refreshing and vibrant side dish featuring crisp green beans, juicy cherry tomatoes, sharp red onion, creamy feta cheese, and a zesty lemon dressing. This easy-to-make Mediterranean-inspired salad is perfect for warm weather gatherings, offering a delightful combination of textures and flavors that highlight fresh seasonal produce.
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ cup sliced almonds, optional
Dressing
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the green beans: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the trimmed green beans and cook for 3–4 minutes until they are crisp-tender. This blanching process ensures they remain bright green and retain a pleasant crunch.
- Cool the green beans: Drain the hot water and immediately transfer the green beans into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. This step helps preserve their color and texture. Once cooled, drain thoroughly and pat them dry with a clean towel.
- Mix the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until the dressing is emulsified and smooth.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large bowl, place the blanched green beans, halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, crumbled feta cheese, chopped parsley, and sliced almonds if using. Pour the prepared dressing over the salad.
- Toss and chill: Gently toss all ingredients together to ensure even coating with the dressing. Refrigerate the salad for 20–30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and serve chilled for the best taste.
Notes
- Blanching the green beans keeps them bright green and perfectly crisp.
- Add toasted sliced almonds just before serving for an extra crunchy texture.
- Adjust the salt and honey in the dressing according to your taste preference.
- This salad holds well for a few hours but is best served fresh on the day it is made.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad / Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
