3.75 19 Published Nov 10, 2021, Updated Nov 10, 2024
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Light and refreshing – This salad is the perfect blend of fresh and bright, making it a go-to side dish you’ll love all year round. Quick to make – It comes together fast, so it’s perfect for busy holidays or weeknight dinners when you need something delicious in a pinch. Allergy-friendly – Gluten free, dairy free, and vegan (just use maple syrup as the sweetener), so it’s ideal for serving guests with dietary needs. Perfect for any occasion – Whether you’re hosting a holiday feast or just need a quick side, this salad fits right in without any fuss.
Here’s What You Need
fresh green beans – we’re using fresh green beans that are blanched as the base of this recipe. toasted nuts – for some added texture! I used walnuts but pecans or almonds would also be delicious. dried cranberries – add a hint of sweetness with dried cranberries. Try to use unsweetened or fruit sweetened dried cranberries if you can find them! Dates or dried cherries would also be delicious options. shallots – shallots have a flavor profile that’s similar to garlic and onion combined. You’ll add minced raw shallot to the dressing and fried shallots as a topping, which adds a nice crunch. apple cider vinegar – a key ingredient in the dressing – can’t have a salad dressing without oil and vinegar! I personally recommend Bragg’s apple cider vinegar. It’s organic, raw and the best of the best. olive oil – since there are such minimal ingredients in this salad, I recommend using a high quality olive oil so the flavor really shines through. maple syrup – just a hint of natural sweetener to balance the dressing. Honey also works but maple syrup keeps this salad vegan. dijon mustard – adds a little zest to the dressing and also acts as an emulsifier. sea salt and black pepper – to bring all of the flavors of this salad together.
How to Make Green Bean Salad
How to Serve Green Bean Salad
Like I mentioned earlier, this salad is delicious all year round! I would serve this at a summer potluck alongside burgers and potato salad or at a fancy holiday meal. Here’s what I would pair it with for Thanksgiving dinner:
Herbs: Fresh herbs will add a bunch of flavor to this recipe. You could add fresh basil, mint, parsley or cilantro. Cheese: Add crumbled feta or parmesan cheese. Seeds and nuts: Extra crunch is always a win! Sprinkle in some sunflower seeds, pepitas, or even chopped pistachios for a bit of texture. Fruit: Sliced apples or pears would bring in a touch of sweetness and balance the tangy flavors beautifully. Pomegranate seeds are also a fun addition, especially during the holiday season.
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How to Store Leftovers
This salad stores well for 2-3 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. The flavors do get better as they have time to marinate, but the fried shallots will soften over time. Before serving leftovers, make sure to stir up the salad as the dressing will settle to the bottom.
More Green Bean Recipes to Try
Healthy Green Bean Casserole Green Beans Almondine Three Bean Salad Vegetable Soup Orange Chicken with Green Beans
The Most Popular Salad Recipes
Harvest Fall Salad Easy Quinoa Salad Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad Roasted Butternut Squash Salad Garlicky Kale Salad Roasted Sweet Potato Salad Massaged Kale Salad
More Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Healthy Green Bean Casserole Roasted Root Vegetables Thanksgiving Veggie Tray Kale Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash Wild Rice Stuffing Mashed Cauliflower Healthy Mashed Potatoes Sourdough Stuffing Thanksgiving Salad Sautéed Green Beans
Be sure to check out all of the side recipes as well as all of the Thanksgiving recipes here on EBF!
