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    Home » Salads

    Green Bean Salad

    Published: Jul 30, 2022 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    Our tender-crisp green bean salad with a creamy mustard dressing that coats the beans to perfection is the easiest and tastiest salad of its kind.

    Learn how to make it in 15 minutes with fresh and simple ingredients. Serve it for the holidays with family and friends or as a tasty everyday side.

    green bean salad with creamy mustard dressing and tomatoes
    On this page:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Variations
    • Storage
    • Questions
    • More Salad Recipes
    • Recipe

    Check out our Best Salad Recipes

    Do you know what the problem with most green bean salads is? The green beans don't taste like anything because the dressing won't stick.

    With our salad, you won't have this problem. We tested several dressings and found thick and creamy mustard and olive oil dressing combined with a touch of crumbled feta cheese to be the solution to all our non-stick green beans problems.

    The dressing sticks to the green beans wonderfully, and your green bean salad will be the tastiest you've ever had. Vegans can easily replace the feta with toasted pine nuts.

    Our green bean salad recipe is straightforward, with a few easy-to-find ingredients. First, boil the fresh green beans in salted water for 6 minutes.

    Then cool them down in a large bowl of ice water or under cold tap water.

    Now toss them in a tasty mustard dressing made with dijon mustard, vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, chopped shallot, and red pepper flakes.

    Finally, add fresh basil, crumbled feta, halved cherry tomatoes, and slivered almonds. In just about 15 to 20 minutes, you've got a delicious and super tasty side dish everyone will love.

    green been salad on a serving platter

    Ingredients

    ingredients for green bean salad
    Ingredients for green bean salad: fresh green beans, cherry tomatoes, mustard, olive oil, red wine vinegar, red pepper flakes, fresh basil, shallot, salt pepper, feta cheese, shaved or slivered almonds.

    Green beans

    Fresh green beans (also known as snap beans, string beans, French beans, or haricot verts) are the main ingredient in this recipe.

    Make sure to get the freshest you can find so they'll stay nice and crisp once cooked. The freshest green beans snap easily as you bend them.

    To save time when making this recipe, you can get already trimmed beans. They are available in some supermarkets; however, they often cost a little more and are not always available.

    We usually trim the beans ourselves; it only takes 5 minutes if you follow our method on a cutting board with a knife. We'll explain it later.

    If you want to make this recipe in winter, you can use frozen green beans, although they won't be as crisp.

    Tomatoes

    We add cherry tomatoes for color and sweetness. You can add other types of small tomatoes too, based on what you find in your supermarket.

    Feta Cheese

    A little feta cheese adds so much flavor and creaminess to this salad.

    We think feta is much better than parmesan cheese because feta melts with the dressing. It gets all creamy and sticks to the green beans making them super flavorful.

    I couldn't find a suitable vegan cheese replacement for this recipe, so to make it vegan, I'd recommend adding toasted pine nuts.

    Slivered Almonds

    Toasted slivered or shaved almonds add extra crunch to this marinated green bean salad. Also, their flavor matches the green beans very well.

    You can substitute toasted pine nuts or crushed walnuts for the almonds.

    Fresh Basil

    Fresh basil brings everything together, and it's a perfect match with green beans, tomatoes, almonds, and feta.

    If you can't find basil, you can replace it with fresh mint, parsley, or dill.

    Mustard Dressing

    This mustard dressing is thicker, creamier, bolder, tangier, and tastier than your usual mustard dressing because it has to stick and add flavor to the boiled beans.

    To make it, you'll need:

    • Mustard: American mustard or Dijon mustard both work.
    • Vinegar: red wine vinegar is best, but white wine vinegar and apple cider vinegar also work. We don't recommend balsamic vinegar for the dressing; it's not sharp enough. However, we have a recipe for the variations with balsamic.
    • Olive oil: olive oil or extra-virgin are both ok.
    • Shallots: chopped shallots add extra tanginess to the dressing and are delicious with the green beans. You can substitute red onion or green onions for the shallots.
    • Red pepper flakes are optional, but if you like some heat, add them.
    • Salt and freshly ground black pepper: to add taste.
    mustard dressing ingredients in a bowl

    Instructions

    Step 1: Trim the Green Beans

    The easiest and fastest way to trim green beans is to take a bunch, align them on a cutting board, and chop their tip off with a chef's knife. Then turn them around, realign them and chop.

    trimming green beans on a cutting board with a chef's knife

    Put the trimmed green beans in a colander and rinse them with water.

    trimmed green beans in a colander

    Step 2: Blanch the Green Beans

    Boil the green beans in a large pot with plenty of salted boiling water for 4 to 6 minutes, depending on their size and freshness.

    Drain and plunge into a large bowl of ice water or place them under cold running water to halt the cooking process.

    Note: blanching will keep the green beans tender-crisp and bright green. If you like softer green beans, boil them for longer. However, they'll lose their bright green color and become dull dark green.

    large bowl with iced water and blanched green beans

    Step 3: Make Mustard Dressing

    To a large mixing bowl, add the ingredients for the mustard dressing: mustard, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, finely chopped shallots, and red pepper flakes, and whisk well.

    Note: don't worry if the dressing looks thicker than a standard mustard vinaigrette; that's how it should be. It'll stick wonderfully to the wet green beans.

    mustard dressing

    Step 4: Toss Green Bean Salad

    Drain the green beans and add them to the bowl with the dressing. Add halved cherry tomatoes and chopped basil and toss well until beans are fully coated in the dressing.

    green beans tossed in the mustard dressing

    Now crumble in half of the feta cheese and give it another quick toss.

    Arrange on a serving platter and sprinkle with remaining feta and toasted slivered almonds.

    Tip: you can toast slivered almonds on a non-stick pan on medium heat.

    green bean salad with creamy mustard dressing and tomatoes

    Serving Suggestions

    This feta green bean salad is a great side dish for multiple occasions. For example, you can serve it as a side dish for a cozy summer dinner with our rosemary focaccia or zucchini focaccia.

    Or make a salad buffet with our Moroccan carrot salad, avocado salad, pasta salad, and couscous and vegetable salad.

    It also goes well with many of our easy plant-based dinners, such as:

    • Garlic and oil pasta (pasta aglio olio)
    • Easy marinated tofu
    • 20-minute chickpea salad
    • Eggplant caponata
    • Lentil soup

    This green salad recipe is also ideal for a side dish to freshen up a holiday lunch, like Thanksgiving or Christmas. You can use frozen ones if you can't find fresh green beans in winter.

    Variations

    Vegan green bean salad

    vegan green bean salad with nuts

    To make a vegan green beans salad, you must keep out the feta and add toasted pine nuts instead, about 2 to 3 tablespoons.

    The toasted pine nuts add flavor and healthy fats to the salad, making it super yummy.

    Italian green bean salad

    Italian green bean variation

    Italian green beans salad is a simple and light side dish you can make with boiled green beans seasoned in crushed garlic, mint, and balsamic vinegar.

    To make it, boil trimmed fresh green beans in salted water for 13 minutes, or until soft.

    Drain them and transfer them onto a mixing bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 1-2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, a crushed garlic clove, ½ teaspoon of salt, a few twists of freshly ground black pepper, and a handful of fresh chopped mint (or mentuccia) leaves.

    Toss them around and let them sit at room temperature for 15 - 30 minutes before serving. Optionally you can add a squeeze of lemon juice on top and some grated lemon zest if you like.

    The warm green beans will absorb the flavor of the garlic and mint, and you'll have a delicious Italian green bean salad.

    Tip: the Italians like their green beans soft, not tender-crisp. If you don't like soft green beans, follow the blanching method described in our recipe to get a crisp-tender texture.

    Storage

    Store green bean salad leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The next day their texture will change slightly, and they'll be less crisp.

    Questions

    What can I add to green beans for flavor?

    Boiled or blanched green beans tend to have little flavor. We find that the best way to add flavor is to toss them in a thick mustard dressing that sticks to their surface, making them super delicious. Of course, adding a little feta cheese helps too. Check out our recipe below for ingredients.

    Can green beans be served cold?

    Yes, you can serve green beans cold in a salad.

    More Salad Recipes

    Salad is an easy and vibrant way of increasing your veggie intake. For more salad inspiration, see our most loved recipes here:

    • avocado salad
      Avocado Salad
    • Cucumber tomato salad
      Cucumber Tomato Salad
    • tomato salad served on a platter with crusty bread
      Tomato Salad
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      Side Salad

    You can also get even more veggie inspiration by checking out these 25 best vegetable sides, including grilled, steamed, and roasted vegetables.

    For many more side dishes ideas, check out our sides category page.

    Recipe

    green bean salad

    Green Bean Salad

    Author: Nico
    Our tender-crisp green bean salad with a creamy mustard dressing that coats the beans to perfection is the easiest and tastiest salad of its kind.
    Learn how to make it in 15 minutes with fresh and simple ingredients. Serve it for the holidays with family and friends or as a tasty everyday side.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    4.75 from 4 votes
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 6 mins
    Total Time 16 mins
    Course salad, Side dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 166 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1½ pounds green beans
    • 10 cherry tomatoes
    • 3½ ounces feta cheese or more to taste
    • 2 tablespoons slivered almonds
    • ⅓ cup fresh basil

    FOR MUSTARD DRESSING

    • 2½ tablespoons dijon mustard
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 large shallot
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional

    Instructions
     

    STEP 1: TRIM THE GREEN BEANS

    • The easiest and fastest way to trim green beans is to take a bunch, align them on a cutting board, and chop their tip off with a chef's knife. Then turn them around, realign them and chop.
      trimming green beans on a cutting board with a chef's knife
    • Put the trimmed green beans in a colander and rinse them with water.
      trimmed green beans in a colander

    STEP 2: BLANCH THE GREEN BEANS

    • Boil the green beans in a large pot with plenty of salted boiling water for 4 to 6 minutes, depending on their size and freshness.
      Drain and plunge into a large bowl of ice water or place them under cold running water to halt the cooking process.
      Note: blanching will keep the green beans tender-crisp and bright green. If you like softer green beans, boil them for longer. However, they'll lose their bright green color and become dull dark green.
      large bowl with iced water and blanched green beans

    STEP 3: MAKE MUSTARD DRESSING

    • To a large mixing bowl, add the ingredients for the mustard dressing: mustard, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, finely chopped shallots, and red pepper flakes, and whisk well.
      Note: don't worry if the dressing looks thicker than a standard mustard vinaigrette; that's how it should be. It'll stick wonderfully to the wet green beans.
      mustard dressing

    STEP 4: TOSS GREEN BEAN SALAD

    • Drain the green beans and add them to the bowl with the dressing. Add halved cherry tomatoes and chopped basil and toss well until beans are fully coated in the dressing.
      green beans tossed in the mustard dressing
    • Now crumble in half of the feta cheese and give it another quick toss.
      Arrange on a serving platter and sprinkle with remaining feta and toasted slivered almonds.
      Tip: you can toast slivered almonds on a non-stick pan on medium heat.
      green bean salad with creamy mustard dressing and tomatoes

    Video Recipe

    Green Bean Salad is a fun way to eat veggies

    Notes

    Nutrition information is an estimate for one serving out of six.
    To make a vegan green beans salad, you must keep out the feta and add toasted pine nuts instead, about 2 to 3 tablespoons. The toasted pine nuts add flavor and healthy fats to the salad, making it super yummy.

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Green Bean Salad
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 166 Calories from Fat 99
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 11g17%
    Saturated Fat 2g13%
    Trans Fat 0g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 6g
    Cholesterol 9mg3%
    Potassium 360mg10%
    Carbohydrates 12g4%
    Dietary Fiber 4g17%
    Sugar 6g7%
    Protein 7g14%
    Vitamin A 1119IU22%
    Vitamin B6 0.2mg10%
    Vitamin C 18mg22%
    Vitamin E 2mg13%
    Vitamin K 61µg58%
    Calcium 62mg6%
    Folate 46µg12%
    Iron 2mg11%
    Manganese 0.4mg20%
    Magnesium 46mg12%
    Zinc 0.5mg3%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?We are not much on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Leave us a comment below instead, it would mean the world to us 🙂

    If you liked this green beans salad, you might also enjoy:

    • Vegetarian lunches
      35 Best Vegetarian Lunch Ideas
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      What to Serve with Risotto: 25 Easy Ideas
    • Pizza with tomato and melted cheese
      25 Side Dishes for Pizza
    • Vegan salads with fresh herbs and legumes
      25 Vegan Salad Recipes
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    Nico and Louise founders of the Plant-Based School.

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