Name: CANNELLINI BEAN SALAD
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 (15oz/425 grams) cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained*; 1 cup (7oz/200 grams) cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered*; 1/3 cup (2oz/60 grams) black olives, halved; 1/3 cup parsley, chopped; 3 Tbsp (45 ml) olive oil or extra virgin olive oil, or adjust to taste; 2 Tbsp (30 ml) lemon, juice; 1-2 garlic cloves, pressed or minced; 1/2 tsp fine salt, or adjust to taste; 1/4 tsp black pepper

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Cannellini bean salad on a white plate with a wooden spoon.

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This super tasty cannellini bean salad packs a protein punch and big flavors in less than 10 minutes!

This easy recipe combines canned cannellini beans and their amazing texture with juicy tomatoes, savory olives, and refreshing parsley. All tossed in a fantastic homemade lemon garlic dressing.

Not only is the combination of textures and flavors utterly delicious, but this easy and inexpensive salad makes a healthy, filling meal ready in minutes, perfect any time, and ideal for meal prep!

Plus, it requires only 4 basic ingredients and an amazing dressing.
So simple, and so good.

Watch how to make it

What ingredients you need

Cannellini beans
Tomatoes
Kalamata olives
Fresh parsley
Extra virgin olive oil
Lemon
Garlic
Salt & pepper

How to make it

Rinse and drain the cannellini beans
Place cannellini, tomatoes, and olives in a large bowl
Chop the parsley leaves
Make the dressing: whisk olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and garlic

Add parsley and dressing to the bowl
Toss well to coat
Enjoy!

RECIPE NOTES & TIPS

I used canned beans, so this recipe comes together quickly and easily.
In my world, salads are easy, healthy, and inexpensive.

And this cannellini bean salad is a winner, it costs approximately $1.20 per serving and makes a complete meal that is low in fat, high in protein, and so delicious!

ARE CANNELLINI BEANS GOOD FOR YOU?

The answer is yes! Cannellini beans are low on calories but loaded with minerals, antioxidants, and fiber.
Plus, these white beans are a terrific source of vegetarian protein and they’re highly filling, making them a very weight loss-friendly food.

FRESH HERBS

Dry herbs won’t work in this salad, you’ll really want to use fresh parsley. It’s so flavorsome, aromatic and rich in Vitamin C.

OLIVES

I used kalamata olives, they add a rich flavor, they’re juicy and taste definitely better than basic black olives. They’re a bit more expensive than their basic counterpart, but you need just a handful.

SALAD DRESSING

This salad dressing is full of the bold flavors of extra virgin olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice.
I’m a big fan of extra virgin olive oil, I think it’s the best choice when it comes to salads.
It’s so tasty, it features a long list of health benefits and it doesn’t go through an insane amount of processing. However, if you have a favorite oil for your salads, it will work fine.

CANNELLINI BEAN SALAD VARIATIONS

This salad recipe is so versatile, you can use chickpeas or other white beans instead of cannellini.
Adding avocado or finely sliced red onions makes another great variation and brings extra nutrients.
If fresh tomatoes are out of season and tasteless, sun dried tomatoes make another lovely substitution.

HOW LONG DOES IT KEEP?

If you have any leftovers, you can store this cannellini salad in the fridge in a tight lid container for 3 days

MORE RECIPES WITH CANNELLINI BEANS?

If you love cannellini beans as much as I do, have a look at these amazing recipes!

The best white bean soup, creamy and delicious
Italian white bean soup, with chili and garlic
Smoky beans on toast, the perfect bruschetta
Mediterranean bean salad, perfect for non-vegans
15 Cannellini bean recipes you will love, from soups to salads!

The fluffy beans, the juicy tomatoes, the savory olives, and the flavorsome garlic dressing make this cannellini bean salad WOW.

And if you make this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it or tag a photo #theclevermeal on Instagram. I would love to hear from you!

Print Recipe

CANNELLINI BEAN SALAD

This super easy cannellini bean salad combines canned beans and their amazing texture with juicy tomatoes, savory olives, and refreshing parsley. All tossed in a homemade lemon garlic dressing to add an irresistible Mediterranean flavor! So simple, and so good.

Prep Time10 mins

Total Time10 mins

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Keyword: Cannellini Bean Salad

Servings:

Calories: 354kcal

Author: Katia

Ingredients

2 (15oz/425 grams) cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained*
1 cup (7oz/200 grams) cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered*
1/3 cup (2oz/60 grams) black olives, halved
1/3 cup parsley, chopped

DRESSING

3 Tbsp (45 ml) olive oil or extra virgin olive oil, or adjust to taste
2 Tbsp (30 ml) lemon, juice
1-2 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
1/2 tsp fine salt, or adjust to taste
1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

Place quartered tomatoes, halved olives and cannellini bean in a large salad bowl.
Remove thicker stems from the parsley, and chop the leaves.
Combine the dressing ingredients in a bowl and whisk them well. Alternatively, place these ingredients in a jar, tightly cover and shake thoroughly to mix.
Add parsley and dressing to the salad, toss well to coat.
Taste, and adjust as necessary until the flavors really pop. You might want to add more salt or olive oil according to your taste (I start with 3 Tbsps of olive oil).
If time allows, leave the salad to rest for at least 30 minutes to enhance the flavor.
Enjoy!

Video

Notes

*Tomatoes: if you use larger tomatoes, cut in half and scoop out seeds and water, then diced.

*Cannellini: make sure your canned cannellini are not too mushy. I notice that they differ a lot from brand to brand. Some are properly cooked, hold their shape nicely and work well in a salad. Others are too mushy, good for soups, but too soft for salads.

Storage: It keeps well in the fridge for 3 days.

NOTE: Nutritional values are estimates only.

Nutrition