Italian Balsamic Bean Salad
Bowl made by Heath Ceramics.
When you want to take a break from all the crazy rich foods we’ve been eating, here’s something you could eat as a light lunch or even as a side to…um…a double cheeseburger. Real talk, this is a tasty Italian Balsamic Bean Salad using the red beans I picked up at the farmers market, but use any bean you find at the grocery. The key is to use good balsamic vinegar, some delicious grated parm, and really fresh basil. It’s a beautiful dish too, so at the very least, you could just eat with your eyes.
Ingredients:
1 pound beans (green, yellow, or red), trimmed and cut into 2 inch pieces
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 clove of garlic, grated
1/4 cup freshly grated parmigiano reggiano
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves (for garnish)
Kosher salt and black pepper
Steps:
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Drop the beans into the water and cook for 3 minutes while you make the dressing.
In a small bowl, combine the balsamic vinegar, EVOO, red onion, and grated garlic. Whisk until combined, and season with salt and pepper to your preference. Set aside.
Drain the beans out into a colander, and immediately place them in a bowl of ice water to “shock” them and stop the cooking. Drain again and add them to a large bowl.
Toss the beans with the dressing and parmesan until everything is coated.
To plate, add the dressed beans into a bowl and garnish with whole basil leaves. Pop open a bottle of Prosecco, and lunch is served!
