Mediterranean Green Bean Salad Recipe

Green bean salad recipe with a Mediterranean twist and ready in 20 minutes. Topped with crispy shallots and feta, this salad is packed with a lot of bright flavors. You can make this recipe with simple ingredients ahead of time.

If you like bright and flavorful salad recipes, today's recipe is for you! Just like our popular Mediterranean salad and Greek salad, this green bean salad recipe calls for fresh vegetables and is full of flavor thanks to the tasty homemade dijon dressing!

It's best to use fresh green beans within 7 days of purchasing them. Keep the beans in a container or a reusable plastic bag in the produce drawer of the fridge.

Ingredients and substitutions

• Green beans: I cut the beans into thirds for this salad, but you can also keep them whole. Make sure the beans are bright in color and crisp.
• Shallots: What makes this salad special is the shallot. Sliced and fried shallots are crispy and somewhat sweet, which would balance the flavors.
• Tomatoes: I used cherry tomatoes, but you can use grape tomatoes, or chopped roma tomatoes as well.
• Green onions and mint: For more flavor, we are bringing in the herbs. You can also use chopped parsley or cilantro.
• Walnuts: In addition to bring a bit of crunch to the salad, walnuts are also a good source of healthy fat.
• Kalamata olives: These add such nice flavor to the salad. Make sure they are pitted and halved.
• Feta cheese: It's always best to buy a block of feta and crumble it yourself. This way the feta tastes fresher and the texture is creamier.
• Dijon dressing: You're going to need dijon mustard, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic for this simple yet delicious dressing.

Using a slotted spoon, take the green beans out of the boiling water and immediately into a bowl of ice water. This way, the beans stay green and crisp.

Most green beans should cook within 8 minutes. However, if you try the beans after putting them in the ice water and they are still uncooked, put them back into the boiling water and cook for another 2 to 4 minutes. Then place them back in the ice water.

How to make the best green bean salad

• Make the dressing: In a small bowl mix the dijon mustard with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper.
• Fry the shallots: Heat the olive oil in a pan and once it's shimmery, fry the shallots until they are golden brown and crispy. Transfer them to a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.
• Blanch the green beans: Bring a pot of water to a boil and season with salt. Add the green beans and cook for 8 minutes. Immediately transfer them to a bowl of ice water and let them be in the water for 5 minutes. Drain and dry thoroughly.
• Assemble the salad: Place the green beans in a large shallow bowl and top with the tomatoes, olives, fried shallots, green onions, mint, walnuts, crumbled feta and the dijon dressing.

It's also a delicious side for dishes such as Mediterranean shrimp, baked mahi mahi or pan seared salmon.

More delicious salad recipes

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Step-by-Step Recipe

Mediterranean Green Bean Salad Recipe

Shadi HasanzadeNemati

Green bean salad recipe with a Mediterranean twist ready in 20 minutes. Topped with crispy shallots and feta, this salad is packed with a lot of bright flavors. You can make this recipe with simple ingredients ahead of time.

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Total Time 20 mins

Course Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine Mediterranean

Servings 6

Calories 257 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 lb green beans trimmed and cut into 3 inch long pieces
• ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ 2 tbsp olive oil
• ▢ 2 shallots sliced
• ▢ ½ cup feta cheese crumbled
• ▢ 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
• ▢ ½ cup walnuts roughly chopped
• ▢ 1 cup kalamata olives pitted
• ▢ ½ cup fresh mint
• ▢ 2 green onions chopped

Dijon dressing

• ▢ 2 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ 1 ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ ¼ tsp black pepper
• ▢ 1 lemon juice of
• ▢ 1 clove garlic minced

Instructions

 

• First, make the dressing by mixing the olive oil, dijon mustard, salt, pepper, lemon juice and garlic in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry the shallots until golden and somewhat crispy. Remove from the pan and onto a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.
• Bring a pot of water to boil and add 1 teaspoon salt to the water. Add the green beans to the boiling water and cook for 8 minutes (this is called blanching).
• Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with water and ice and set it aside. After 8 minutes, using a slotted spoon, take the green beans out of the boiling water and place them in the ice water. Let the green beans be in the ice water for 5 minutes, then drain and dry them.
• Place the green beans in a shallow bowl or a platter and top with fried shallots, feta, tomatoes, walnuts, olives, mint and green onion. Drizzle with the dijon dressing and serve.

Video

Notes

• Most green beans should cook within 8 minutes. However, if you try the beans after putting them in the ice water and they are still uncooked, put them back into the boiling water and cook for another 2 to 4 minutes. Then place them back in the ice water.
• Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. 
• You can serve this salad with zaatar chicken, Greek grilled chicken, instant pot chicken breast or pan seared salmon. 
• I like using fresh green beans for this recipe because of the color and crispiness, however, you can also use canned green beans. 
• To make this salad ahead of time, prepare the dressing, cook the beans, assemble the salad and keep it in the fridge. When you're ready to serve, drizzle with the dressing. 

Nutrition

Calories: 257kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 6gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 615mgPotassium: 364mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 991IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 136mgIron: 2mg

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