Italian Grinder White Bean Salad Recipe
With the delicious addition of salami and pepperoncini peppers, this white bean salad recipe is the best side dish option for any get-together. This no-bake side pays homage to the classic grinder sandwich with its flavorful combination of fresh Italian ingredients. And since it's gluten-and dairy-free, it's perfect for any occasion.
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What Do I Need to Make This White Bean Salad Recipe?
This white bean salad pairs well with any meal, featuring the flavors of an Italian grinder sandwich packed into one delicious side. And since it's made with a handful of flavorful ingredients, it's also quick and easy to prepare! To make your own Italian bean salad, you'll need:
- Red onion
- Red bell pepper
- Italian flat leaf parsley
- White beans
- Navy beans
- Pepperoncini peppers
- Peppered Genoa salami
- Olive oil
- Red wine vinegar
- Dried Oregano
- Lemon juice
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How Do I Make This White Bean Salad Recipe?
Once you try this Italian take on a classic bean salad, you'll never want to prepare it any other way! And the best part about this simple side is that it's ready in minutes. Just follow these easy instructions for preparing your own white bean salad for your next potluck or picnic.
Step One: Prepare the Ingredients
Before you can start putting your bean salad together, you'll need to take the time to prep your fresh ingredients. Start by dicing the red onions and red bell pepper into small pieces, then chop the fresh parsley leaves. After that, finely chop the pepperoncini peppers and slice the salami into thin strips. Then, drain and rinse both cans of white beans.
Step Two: Combine the Salad Ingredients
Once all the ingredients are ready to go, combine the beans, onions, bell peppers, parsley, pepperoncini, and salami in a large bowl. Stir to mix all the ingredients together, being careful not to smash the beans as you stir.
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Step Three: Prepare the Dressing
Add the vinegar, oil, lemon juice, and oregano to a small bowl. Whisk the ingredients together until the mixture is smooth and well combined, then pour the dressing over the top of the salad. Lightly toss to coat all the ingredients in dressing before serving.
Can I Make Bean Salad with Dry Beans?
Using canned beans is a great way to speed up your prep work when making a bean salad. But if you prefer eating freshly cooked dried beans, you can always replace the canned version with dried ones.
You'll need one cup of each type of dried beans to prepare this salad. Follow the instructions on the package for preparing the beans. After they're cooked, drain them from the cooking water and allow them to cool completely before mixing them with the rest of the salad ingredients.
White Bean Salad Recipe Ideas
The best part about preparing cold salad as your side dish that you can easily adjust the ingredients to suit your tastes. Try these additions and substitutions as you're planning your own recipe to whip up a delicious snack to serve at your next party.
- Add more beans. You can't have too many beans in your bean salad! Try mixing in different bean varieties to add more fiber and protein to your side dish. You could mix in some kidney beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, butter beans, cannellini beans, or even green beans!
- Toss in more vegetables. What's a salad without vegetables? It's easy to mix in a few more veggies to your white bean salad, including cherry tomatoes, green bell peppers, spinach, kale, corn, arugula, or peas.
- Mix in more meat. Add more grinder flavor to your bean salad by adding different types of meat to the mix. You can stir in some thinly sliced pepperoni, chopped ham, or diced Canadian bacon.
- Use store-bought dressing. Don't have time to make your own dressing? Try using a store-bought Italian dressing to speed up the prep work on your side dish.
- Stir in some cheese. Enhance the Italian flavor of your bean salad with the help of some cheese. Try mixing in some shredded mozzarella or grated parmesan cheese before serving.
Does White Bean Salad Need to Be Chilled?
You can enjoy your white bean salad immediately after preparing it. But the side dish tastes even better after it's had time to chill. Try placing the bowl in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to give the dressing time to meld with the other ingredients. You can make the salad up to one day in advance and keep it in the refrigerator until you're ready to eat it.
How Do You Store White Bean Salad?
After serving your white bean salad at your party, you might have some extras left when your guests leave. Just transfer the leftovers to an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for best results. The salad can be safely stored for up to five days.
Can I Make White Bean Salad Ahead of Time?
This simple side dish is perfect for meal prepping because it can easily be mixed up ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve it. This salad can be prepared up to one day in advance. Just cover the bowl, keep the salad chilled, and stir it well before serving.
Italian Grinder White Bean Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 red onion diced.
- 2 Red bell peppers diced.
- 1 bunch Italian flat leaf parsley chopped.
- 15.5 ounces white beans
- 15.5 ounces Navy beans
- ½ cup chopped pepperoncini peppers
- ½ lb. peppered genoa salami
- ½ cup red wine vinegar
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 Tbsp. oregano
- Juice of one lemon
Instructions
- Dice the red bell pepper and red onion, chop the parsley, and set aside.
- Chop the peppers and slice the salami in thin strips.
- Rinse and drain both cans of beans.
- Add beans, peppers, onion, chopped parsley, and salami to a bowl.
- Pour the vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, and oregano over the top of the salad. Toss and enjoy!
