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When I’m in the kitchen, I take the idea of a salad and transpose it to any vegetable or fruit that may be in season. And while we traditionally of a salad as mostly composed of lettuce, there are endless ingredients that can be the base of a “salad.” I find it’s easy to get into a routine with vegetables, so instead of doing what I always do, I love to create new, unique ways to enjoy them.
For my mom and me, our favorite green bean to grow is the Jade variety. We love the perfect beans that are produced as well as the impressive yield. From late July all the way until the first frost, they typically produce beans… probably more than can be used. We can beans, pickle dill beans, even fry beans, and I love to make a fresh salad with them.
I classify this as a salad because I love it at room temperature or cold. In either case, this uses the best of the summer from fresh beans to ripe tomatoes. Balsamic vinegar, fresh herbs, and feta cheese round out the flavors for what I’ll call a perfect summer salad.
What makes this a salad?
Wait, there is no lettuce, spinach, or any other leafy green in this recipe? Yup, and this is exactly where routines have made us complacent. A salad can be any cooked or raw vegetable, so beans are a terrific main component of this salad. Since beans are pretty simple, the process is as well:
- First, they’re cooked in a small amount of water.
- Next, they gain some color from a quick sauté in olive oil.
- Finally, they’re finished with balsamic vinegar to create a rough vinaigrette.
The herbs and tomatoes provide additional flavor and heartiness. It’s a nice finish for a full salad that can be a side dish or the main meal.
Can you substitute frozen for fresh green beans?
Good question. Recipes can be adaptable and have various alternatives. This recipe, however, needs to use fresh green beans that have not been frozen. Why? The texture of fresh green beans is a key component of the recipe. The beans are cooked to a crisp-tender stage and then lightly sautéed for flavor. Frozen beans would have a softer texture and would not hold up as well with the other ingredients in the salad.
Watch how to make this green bean salad
Fresh Green Bean & Tomato Salad
Ingredients
- ½ medium onion chopped
- 1 ½ lb green beans
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic sliced
- 1 ½ lb tomatoes chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 1 ½ tbsp balsamic vinegar
- ½ cup loosely packed basil
- 2 sprigs oregano (leaves only)
- 2 tsp sea salt
- 2 oz feta cheese crumbled
Instructions
- Place the beans and onion in a 12 to 14-inch skillet. Add ½ cup water, cover, and bring to a simmer. Continue to simmer until the beans are crisp-tender, 5-7 minutes.1 ½ lb green beans, ½ medium onion
- Drain off any remaining water and add olive oil, salt, and pepper. Sauté, tossing frequently until the beans begin to brown, 4-6 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.2 tbsp olive oil, 1 ½ tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper, 2 cloves garlic
- Add tomatoes and balsamic vinegar. Toss and sauté for 2 minutes.1 ½ lb tomatoes, 1 ½ tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Remove from the heat and pour the salad and any sauce on a large platter. Allow to cool to room temperature and serve or chill for up to 2 days. Before serving, top with fresh basil, sea salt, oregano, and feta.½ cup loosely packed basil, 2 sprigs oregano (leaves only), 2 oz feta cheese, 2 tsp sea salt
I made this salad the day you posted it! I was serving a do-ahead chicken (boneless thighs) piccata with angel hair pasta on the side but I needed some greens. This was a perfect salad/side dish. With some Brioche rolls and butter, it was an excellent, low stress meal. (For 8!)
The beans were not as vibrant green and the heirloom tomatoes got slightly mushy, but the dressing was excellent! I need to get more tender beans and firmer heirloom tomatoes.
Thanks Kaleb. I am a fan…of everything you do!
LOVE the fresh green bean tomato feta salad.
I made this from fresh garden beans and tomatoes. It was amazing! Highly recommend this recipe.
Excellent videos with recipes for healthy foods! Also love the gardening videos!! Guess I love them all!
Thanks for sharing your gift with us!! Inspiring❤️
I made this recipe.
It was amazingly delicious!!!
I have shared it with family and friends. Everyone was impressed.
This is an Outstanding recipe…do not hesitate making it! Served it with meatloaf and rice, and Wow! Love your work Kaleb!
I love watching your videos . Iam going to try some of your recipes.
I belong to a group called Bright Line Eating. It is a weight loss group for people who are addicted to flour and sugar. I watched you make this green bean “salad” the other day, and because I had a whole bunch of green beans from a local farm I go to once a week, I decided to try this recipe. I did change it just a tiny bit, only because I didn’t have feta cheese, and I need to limit how much oil I use at my meals, but let me tell you, this was DELICIOUS!!!!! I posted to my Bright Line Eating group, telling them about you and your recipes!! I Love that you use a lot of fresh foods, and have so many ways of preparing them! I will be trying many more of your recipes. Oh, I forgot, I did try your Black Bean soup too!! Very Nice! I am looking forward to many more Bright meals!!! Thank You!!
Love watching and trying your delicious recipes. Thank you.
Can’t wait to try this tonight. Just picked some fresh tomatoes and my second crop of green beans. Thanks for this recipe Kaleb. I’m sure it’s going to be a winner. Love your recipes
Can’t wait till my scarlet rubber beans and celebrity tomatoes start producing you are such a kindred spirit! I happened on an 2023 article in all recipes as i was going through and purchasing old magazines before a move from my lake home! Hard to leave, but I can’t keep it up by myself lost my Rich 3 years ago and I live in Idaho WA border- winter is very tuff and Long ps I’m an antique junkie too most of mine have been stolen by Meth and heroin squatters I’ve been dealing with for 4 years now, but when I move, I plan on jumping back into the game! I go by Terri – only the nuns called me Therese ( pronounce Tear-ase)