Here's an easy three bean salad recipe with a Mediterranean twist. This protein-packed vegan salad is perfect for meal prep or as a healthy side dish.
We have lots of salad recipes here on the blog and keep adding to them. Salads are a great addition to any table and many of them can be turned into a complete meal. Our readers love our Turkish white bean salad, lentil salad and easy Mediterranean salad. This three bean salad with a Mediterranean flair is one of my favorites because it brings an American classic and my favorite Mediterranean flavors together to make a delicious recipe.
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About this recipe
Three bean salad is something that many of you have probably grown up with. Many make this salad at home and it's also available in cans and jars at almost any supermarket. This healthy three bean salad recipe however is a twist on the classic bean salad. This protein-packed vegan salad is perfect for meal prepping. Just like our nicoise salad and Mediterranean roasted cauliflower salad, this one is also packed with amazing flavors.
The recipe calls for beans such as navy and pinto and ingredients such as artichokes and olives. The dressing is made with simple ingredients and adds a little bit of zest and tanginess to balance the flavors. Unlike the classic recipe, this one adds no sugar to the dressing.
Ingredients
To make this easy bean salad with a Mediterranean twist, you need the following ingredients:
- Beans: For this recipe I used pinto, red kidney and navy beans. You can either used canned beans or use my tutorial on how to make instant pot beans to make them at home. If using canned beans, it's always best to use organic or ones that don't have added sugar or sodium.
- Red onion: Adds a nice crunch and zing to the flavor, cannot be substituted with white onion.
- Parsley and mint: Some herb would add nice flavor and freshness to the salad.
- Artichoke hearts: It's best to use ones that are marinated in olive oil and spices for more flavor.
- Olives: You can use green or black olives. I used green ones stuffed with red pepper.
And for the dressing you just need lemon, vinegar, olive oil, garlic and spices such as oregano and sumac.
This is such a versatile salad recipe and you can modify the ingredients to you liking. We'll talk more about the additions and modifications below.
What beans to use
To make this recipe, I used three types of beans: navy, pinto and red kidney. These are the beans I grew up with and seem to be common to many three-bean salad recipes. They go well together and make this salad into a complete meal that you can make ahead of time and enjoy for a few days. Navy beans are similar to cannellini beans with a creamy texture, they also taste great in this white bean soup.
As for dry or canned, this decision is totally up to you. I used canned beans for this recipe but you can also cook them at home and use them in this salad. Note that beans need to soak for a while before you cook them so please plan accordingly. If owning an instant pot, you can use my instructions for no-soak instant pot beans.
Instructions
- If using canned beans, drain and rinse them separately. Add them to a large bowl.
- Chop the red onion and add it to the beans.
- Wash and dry parsley and mint. Chop them finely and add them to the salad.
- Cut the artichoke and olives into smaller pieces and add them to the bowl as well.
- Using two spoons, gently mix the salad.
- To make the salad dressing, whisk all the ingredients in a small bowl and drizzle over the salad.
- It's best to serve this salad cold.
Additions and variations
The best part of this salad is that you can modify it to your liking and add or leave out the ingredients:
- Not a fan of olives? Leave them out or substitute with some capers.
- Add grape tomatoes for a pop of color.
- Chop some celery and add it to the salad for extra crunch.
- Swipe one of the beans for chickpeas if desired.
- Sliced red bell pepper will add some subtle sweetness to the salad.
- Use other herbs such as green onions or cilantro.
Serving suggestions
I usually have this salad as a complete meal on it's own because it's packed with protein and keeps me full for hours. You can also serve it as a side dish with lots of dishes, such as beef shish kabob and our Mediterranean chicken sheet pan dinner! In summer, you can enjoy this salad with grilled spatchcock chicken, Greek grilled chicken or zaatar chicken.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. You can use either canned green beans or cook them from scratch. If doing so, bring some water to a boil in a saucepan. Cut the green beans into 2-inch pieces and boil them for 5 to 10 minutes until fork tender and fully cooked. Transfer them to an ice water bowl immediately to preserve their bright green color.
This salad keeps well in the fridge. You can make it one day in advance. Just give it a nice stir before serving and add a splash of olive oil for extra flavor.
Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate. This salad keeps for up to 3 days. However, since this salad is made with fresh herbs, it's best to not let it sit in the refrigerator for a long time.
Notes and tips
- This salad is best served cold. Once you're done making it, cover the bowl and refrigerate for one hour so the flavors combine well.
- If using canned beans, make sure to drain and rinse them to get rid of the thick liquid them come in. This is for the beans to have better texture.
- I chop the onions pretty small for this salad but you can also slice them or use a vegetable slicer to get very thin slices.
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Step-by-Step Recipe
Mediterranean Three Bean Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 can pinto beans 15 oz.
- 1 can red kidney beans 15 oz.
- 1 can navy beans 15 oz.
- 1 red onion chopped
- ½ cup parsley chopped
- ½ cup fresh mint chopped
- 1 cup marinated artichoke sliced
- 1 cup olives green and black
Three Bean Salad Dressing
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon white vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon sumac
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Drain and rinse the pinto, navy and red kidney beans. Place them in a large bowl.
- To the beans, add chopped onion, parsley, mint, artichoke and olives.
- Mix well using two large spoons.
- To make the dressing, mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
- Pour the dressing over the bean salad and mix well.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for about one hour.
- Serve cold.
Video
Notes
- You can add other vegetables such as tomatoes, green onions or red bell pepper.
- Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate. This salad keeps for up to 3 days. However, since this salad is made with fresh herbs, it's best to not let it sit in the refrigerator for a long time.
- This salad is best served cold. Once you're done making it, cover the bowl and refrigerate for one hour so the flavors combine well.
- I chop the onions pretty small for this salad but you can also slice them or use a vegetable slicer to get very thin slices.
Claudia Lamascolo
I made this last weekend for dinner as a side dish and I cant wait to make it again it was the best ever!
Beth
Oooo, amazing salad dish! So full of flavor and filling enough for it to be a main dish too!
Carolina Vallario
What can you use in place of sumac?
Shadi HasanzadeNemati
Sumac has a very unique tart flavor. You can leave it out or use a bit more lemon juice.
susan | the wimpy vegetarian
This is a perfect meal for vegetarians! And I love that you included sumac - it adds such a great grounding flavor to things.
Noelle
I love this! Perfect for a predinner salad, great flavors!
Irina
OMG! Made last night, this three bean salad turned out great! Yummy and delicious!
Andrea Metlika
Wow! I am a fan of 3 bean salad and you totally kicked it up with the artichokes, olives and this dressing.
Erika
This is a delicious salad and it makes the perfect side dish!
Shadi HasanzadeNemati
Glad you enjoyed it Erika!