Mediterranean White Bean Tomato Salad (Printable)

Creamy white beans, cucumber, tomatoes and basil tossed with lemon-olive oil for a bright Mediterranean salad.

# List of ingredients:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large English cucumber, diced
02 - 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 small red onion, finely diced

→ Beans

04 - 2 cups cooked white beans (cannellini or Great Northern), rinsed and drained

→ Herbs

05 - 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn or sliced
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

→ Dressing

07 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
09 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
10 - 1 clove garlic, minced
11 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Optional Add-ins

13 - 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese (omit for vegan)
14 - 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced

# Steps:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, finely diced red onion, and drained white beans.
02 - Add the torn basil leaves and chopped parsley to the bowl with the vegetables and beans.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, sea salt, and black pepper until well emulsified.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
05 - If using, fold in the crumbled feta cheese and sliced Kalamata olives.
06 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld together.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in fifteen minutes flat with zero cooking required
  • The beans make it genuinely filling while staying light and refreshing
  • You can prep everything ahead and toss with dressing right before serving
02 -
  • The salad tastes best after sitting for about fifteen minutes but do not let it go longer than two hours or the cucumbers start releasing too much water
  • If you are making this ahead, keep the dressing separate and toss it in right before serving
  • The beans absorb dressing as they sit, so you may want to reserve a little extra dressing to refresh leftovers
03 -
  • Use a vegetable peeler to create ribbons of cucumber instead of dicing for a more elegant presentation
  • Massage the kale into the salad if you want to add greens for extra nutrition