Cannellini Bean Bacon Spinach Salad

Cannellini Bean Bacon Spinach Salad came from the question “What the Forks for Dinner?” I really wasn’t sure??

Cannellini Bean Bacon Spinach Salad

We were down to the skinnies for groceries, but we did need dinner. Let me just say, if you have bacon, and a can of beans…… you can make dinner. Continue reading “Cannellini Bean Bacon Spinach Salad”

Minestrone Salad

Soup turned salad……..Minestrone Salad.

Minestrone Salad

Thick Italian minestrone is a combination of vegetables, pasta, beans, and tomatoes. Perfect for a snowy winter warm up.

But, it’s summer….and, its hot. I really don’t want soup. But the flavors of Minestrone sound really good…..lets try a salad!!

Minestrone Salad

Since there is no set recipe for minestrone…..according to Wikipedia. so add what you like. It’s usually made from in season vegetables. But, to be true minestrone according to cookbook author Angelo Pellegrini,minestrone must have beans.

Minestrone Salad

Well far be it from me to make an untrue minestrone, so we have beans. Two kinds…..dark red kidney, and white kidney or cannellini, as they are commonly referred too.

Fingerling potatoes, green beans, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and carrot, celery, and onions, are added to al dente gemelli pasta and the beans. Any small pasta will do, I just like the twisted look of the gemelli.

Minestrone Salad

Instead of a “salad dressing” I used sundries tomato pesto. It has the right flavor for minestrone and it gives the Minestrone Salad the tomatoey look of the soup.

Minestrone Salad
Top with parmesan cheese and garnish with parsley. Cool minestrone……

Minestrone Salad can be a main dish salad, served with a crusty loaf of bread, or as a side dish for your favorite meat.

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Minestrone Salad

Minestrone Salad

  • Author: Marty Boyd
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Cook
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 fingerling or baby red potatoes
  • 2 cups green beans, cut in half
  • 1 cup carrots, diced
  • 1 cup celery, sliced
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1 small zucchini, cut into chunks
  • 1 can 15 1/2-ounce kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can 15 1/2-ounce cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half
  • 1 pound gemelli, cooked al dente and cooled
  • 1small jar sun dried tomato pesto
  • Parmesan cheese for serving
  • Chopped Parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Slice fingerling potatoes in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are just tender, about 8-10 minutes. Rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside.
  2. Bring a pot of water to a boil and add 1 teaspoon salt. add green beans and blanch the vegetables just until they’re bright green, 1 to 2 minutes. Drain and rinse them with cold water, and set aside.
  3. Toss all ingredients until the pesto coats the veggies, pasta, and beans. Top with parmesan cheese and garnish with parsley if desired.

Keywords: potatoes, green beans, carrots, zucchini, kidney beans, cannellini beans, cherry tomatoes, pasta, pesto, salad

 

5 Bean Basil Salad

Making a special meal for Mom on May 8th? 5 Bean Basil Salad is a perfect salad for brunch or lunch.
5 Bean Basil Salad

Healthy, beautiful, super easy to prepare, and can be made ahead. What’s not to love!!

5 Bean Basil Salad

I no longer am fortunate enough to have my Mother, but we always made a huge ordeal over Mothers Day. My Mom loved good food, and I was always happy to prepare it for her. But on Mothers Day, I always went the extra mile.

5 Bean Basil Salad

Not only did the meal need to be really good, but it had to be beautiful…….just like my Mom! Everything had to be artfully arranged, and only the best china, and flowers would do. After all it was the day we celebrated her.5 Bean Basil Salad

If your Mom deserves a special meal……and what Mom doesn’t? Add Five Bean Basil Salad to the menu. Green beans, kidney beans, black beans, chickpeas, and cannellini beans. The colors alone are enough to make your mouth water.

Add the red and yellow of cherry tomatoes, and the red and white of radishes…….art on a platter.

5 Bean Basil Salad

Top it all with what I must say was an excellent basil dressing and you have a salad made for a Queen….a.k.a. Mom!

5 Bean Basil Salad

The Five Bean Basil Salad is so extra easy to prepare that you will have plenty of time to spend with the lady of the day! So spoil you Mom this Mothers Day…..she deserves it!!

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5 Bean Basil Salad

  • Author: Marty Boyd
  • Yield: 6 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and blanched
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil, plus more for garnish
  • 1 small shallot, quartered
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • Salt & Pepper to taste
  • 1 15-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed & drained
  • 1 15-ounce can dark red kidney beans, rinsed & drained
  • 1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed & drained
  • 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed & drained
  • 1 cup halved red & yellow cherry tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced radishes

Instructions

  1. For dressing:
  2. Combine 1/2 cup basil, shallot, oil, vinegar, honey, mustard, salt and pepper in a blender and puree until smooth.
  3. Arrange the green beans and all other ingredients decoratively on a platter. Serve with the dressing. Garnish with the chopped basil.