Ina Garten Three Bean Salad

You can make this classic Ina Garten Three Bean Salad recipe even better with fresh string beans, but you can also use canned. No matter what you do, make it! The longer it sits, the better it becomes.

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Why We Love It:

It only takes a few minutes to prepare this Ina Garten Three Bean Salad.
Most of the ingredients are pantry staples.
There are several health benefits to each serving.
This dish has such pretty colors!
Plus, it is extremely cheap.
There are many ways to make this salad.

Is Ina Garten Three Bean Salad Healthy?

Definitely! Both Ina Garten Three Bean Salad and fresh vegetable salads are healthy. Plant-based proteins, fiber, iron, vitamin C, and other nutrients are found in them. Eating them is a great way to increase your intake of vegetables.

Ingredients That You’ll Need:

The Beans: Cannellini beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans. Use rinsed and drained canned beans. It’s a classic combination that offers great color, texture, and flavor.
Red onion: The bean salad is spiced by the red onion.
Celery: The crunch contrasts nicely with the soft beans for one cup, you need between two and four celery stalks depending on their size.
Italian parsley: A bit of color and flavor can be added to any dish with this herb parsley can also be used in place of this herb.
Italian seasoning blend: this blend combines all the favorite Italian spices into one delicious mix. It gives this Ina Garten salads a great Mediterranean flavor.
Apple Cider Vinegar: The dressing contains apple cider vinegar. It adds a tangy flavor to the Ina Garten salad.
Olive Oil: Added to the dressing.
Salt and pepper: Season dressing.

What Dressings Go Well With Ina Garten Three Bean Salad?

Ina Garten Three Bean Salad can be dressed with any light oil-based dressing, such as olive oil, lime, and garlic dressing. Blend half an avocado into your dressing if you like a creamier dressing by leaving out the dairy and switching to plant-based dressings instead.

How To Make Ina Garten Three Bean Salad?

Combine the ingredients for the salad in a large bowl: beans, onion, celery, parsley, and Italian seasoning.
Mix the dressing ingredients: apple cider vinegar, olive oil, sugar, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl.
Pour the salad dressing over the salad ingredients and mix well to coat.
Serve the salad immediately or refrigerate it to let the dressing soak into the ingredients.(The best flavor is achieved when served at room temperature or only slightly chilled. If it has been chilled, let it warm up at room temperature before serving.)

What To Serve With Ina Garten Three Bean Salad?

This Ina Garten three-bean salad pairs perfectly with other sweet-savory flavors, such as BBQ sauce Here are some ideas:

Black Bean Soup
Grilled Honey BBQ Chicken
Perfect Steak
Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs
Honey Baked Ham
Turkey Burgers
Oven Roasted Turkey
Chicken Enchilada Soup

How Long Does Ina Garten Three Bean Salad Stay Fresh?

In The Fridge: Place your Ina Garten Three Bean Salad in an airtight container then transfer it to the fridge. Properly stored, your Ina Garten Three Bean Salad can last for up to 5 days, while stored, the beans begin to absorb the flavors of the dressing and everything tastes amazing.
In The Freezer: If properly sealed in an airtight container, this Ina Garten salad will keep in the freezer for at least one month.

Note: This Ina Garten Three Bean Salad should not be frozen as it will have a mushy texture when thawed so I don’t recommend freezing it.

Variations & Substitutions

Substitute Green Beans and Wax Beans: You can add canned beans (drained) and green beans (drained) to the kidney beans. Replace 15-ounce cans with beans. It will be another classic version of this bean salad.
Using fresh cooked green beans: As with the version above, fresh green beans may also be used. Boil or steam the beans for a few minutes (literally two or three). To keep some crunch, place them in an ice bath to stop the cooking process.
Swap in distilled white vinegar: It tastes stronger than apple cider vinegar. If you like more tang, this is for you. Try a different oil regular vegetable oil or any other neutral-flavored oil that can be substituted for olive oil.
Add chopped green bell pepper: Bell peppers of any color add color, flavor, and crunch to the dish.
Don’t want to use sugar? Use honey or agave nectar instead. A bit of sweetness offsets the vinegar in the dressing. If you enjoy the flavor of pickled foods, you can leave them out completely.
Swap cilantro for parsley: Try this change for a different flavor profile.
Swap carrots for celery: The bright orange color and sweetness will complement the crunch.

FAQ Section

Can I make Ina Garten Three Bean Salad ahead?

Yes! After combining the ingredients, you should let your Ina Garten Three Bean Salad sit in the refrigerator for several hours, so you should make it the night before.

Should you use canned or dried beans for Ina Garten Three Bean Salad?

Your Ina Garten Three Bean Salad can be made with dried or canned beans. For dried beans to reach the soft texture of canned beans, they must be soaked for anywhere from a few hours to overnight, then boiled, so the overall cooking time will be longer.

What are other ways to serve a mixed bean salad?

As well as serving as a side dish on its own, a cold mixed beans salad can serve as a great toast or salad topping, it can also be added to soups to bulk up vegetables, and it can also be used as a pico de gallo-style dip for chips and vegetables.