Mediterranean White Bean Salad: An Easy Summer Side Dish

Name: Tuscan White Bean Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 15 ounce can Great Northern White Beans; 1/2 cup diced roma tomato; 2 tablespoons minced red onion; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar; 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary; 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano; 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley leaves

This summery Tuscan White Bean salad is a super simple make-ahead side dish that uses ingredients you probably already have on hand in your kitchen. It's a great option for hot summer days when you don't want to cook!

Pair this easy Mediterranean bean salad with these Southwestern Turkey Burger Sliders or this Grilled Salmon for your next al fresco dinner!

White bean salad with tomatoes and red onions in a dark blue bowl

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Contents:

A salad for your next al fresco dinner
Ingredient Notes
How to make this recipe
Meal Prep Tips
What you'll need for this recipe
Frequently asked questions
More summer sides
Tuscan White Bean Salad

A salad for your next al fresco dinner

In the warmer months sometimes you just want a simple salad or side dish and this Mediterranean bean salad certainly fits the bill! It's super easy to make, is naturally vegan, and only uses a few ingredients. Sometimes when it's really hot out I think it's fun to plan a meal that revolves around a couple of great, hearty salads and some delicious crusty bread. Enjoyed with a nice glass of wine on the patio this makes the ideal summer dinner.

While you can eat this right after making it, it's actually better as it sits so it's perfect for prepping at the beginning of the week or as a make-ahead dish for your next summer BBQ.

This is the perfect recipe to add to your summer meals recipe collection. Read on to learn more about how to make this Tuscan White Bean Salad, or jump straight to the recipe to start cooking!

White beans, chopped tomato, red onion and spices in a clear glass bowl

Ingredient Notes

The full list of ingredients and quantities can be found in the recipe card below.

This easy side dish uses a handful of simple ingredients. Here's what you'll need:

Great Northern White Beans: For this salad, I use canned Great Northern white beans to give you a more creamy texture. You can substitute cannellini beans if you can't find Great Northern at your local grocery store.
Roma tomatoes: If you've got fresh tomatoes growing in your garden those would also be excellent in this salad.
Red onion: Since you are not cooking it, red onion is the best option for this recipe. If you use anything else, the taste may overpower the other ingredients.
Italian parsley: This is not the curly version of parsley, it has flat leaves.
Seasonings: dried rosemary, dried oregano, sea salt, ground pepper
Pantry staples: Extra virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, dark sesame oil

Close up of white beans topped with diced tomatoes, red onion and herbs

How to make this recipe

Preparing this salad is as simple as chopping the ingredients and tossing them all into a bowl. Less than 10 minutes and you are ready to go!

Chop the veggies. Chop the tomatoes and red onion and toss them in a large mixing bowl.
Make the salad. Then add the drained beans, herbs, olive oil, and vinegar. Add some salt and ground black pepper to taste. Mix well.
Chill and serve. Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. Just before serving, add the fresh parsley.

Meal Prep Tips

Entire dish: Since this side dish is bean based, you can make the entire thing a day or even two ahead of time.
Dressing: You can make the vinaigrette a couple of days in advance and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to make the salads. Remove it from the refrigerator about 20 minutes before you plan to serve.

If you're a big fan of white beans, try this Vegetarian White Bean Sandwich or these Chicken & White Bean Tostadas.

What you'll need for this recipe

Large mixing bowl - For recipes like this, I like to use a bowl that comes with a lid so you can mix and store in the same bowl. These bowls from Crate & Barrel are nice enough to serve in as well!

Tomato Knife – While this may seem like another kitchen gadget you might not need, I actually find a tomato knife to be very useful. The serrated edge makes it much easier to cut tomatoes and get a consistent sized dice.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between cannellini beans and great northern white beans?

Great Northern beans are smaller and rounder than cannellini beans. In most recipes, they can be used interchangeably.

More summer sides

If you are looking for other great summer sides and salads, check out these reader favorites:

Summer Tortellini Pesto Pasta Salad
30 Minutes
Balsamic Glazed Melon, Prosciutto and Mozzarella Skewers
10 Minutes
Watermelon, Feta & Mint Salad with Quinoa
27 Minutes
Zucchini Noodles with Pesto
25 Minutes

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Tuscan White Bean Salad

Author: Kathryn | Urban Foodie Kitchen

This Tuscan White Bean salad is a super simple summer side dish that uses ingredients you probably already have on hand in your kitchen.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Course Veggies & Sides

Cuisine Italian

Servings cups

Calories 140 kcal

Ingredients

1 15 ounce can Great Northern White Beans
½ cup diced roma tomato
2 tablespoons minced red onion
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
½ teaspoon dried rosemary
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley leaves

Instructions

Rinse and drain the beans and add to a medium mixing bowl.
Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes then serve.

Notes

This salad can be served immediately after preparing, however it's best if you let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/2 cupCalories: 140kcal

Keywords : easy side dish

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This post was originally published in July 2018. It was updated in July 2023 with some new information and photos. No changes were made to the original recipe.

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