Overnight Bean Salad
My mom always made this dish at family BBQs but I was always too busy stuffing my face with potato chips and dip to ever really notice and appreciate this cold bean salad. It just always looked too healthy and too vegetabley for me to waste my time on. Ha ha ha! Oh, the times they are a-changing! I got the recipe from her last night and whipped it up and even though you’re supposed to wait “overnight” (24 hours) to enjoy, I dove right into the bowl for dinner. If you love beans, this is The Yum. I can see lots of ways to change it up for the future, too — namely different veggies and different dressing. But for as simple as the basic recipe is, it’s very, very tasty and refreshing. I made some small modifications to Mom’s original recipe (to cut back on calories) and I’ve noted those changes with asterisks.
Overnight Bean Salad
1 package frozen green peas (run ‘em under water to thaw a bit)
1 can green beans (regular cut, not French cut, drained)
1 can red kidney bean (drained and rinsed)
1 can cannellini beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can white whole kernel corn (drained)
1 cup diced celery
1 medium to large onion, diced (I went with large, I love onion)
1/2 cup diced green peppers
3/4 cup white vinegar
2 tbs “salad oil” [*I used just 1 tbs EVOO]
1/2 cup sugar [*I used just two packets of Stevia for zero calories]
2 tsp water [*I didn't add any extra water, it didn't seem needed]
1 1/2 tsp salt [*I used just 1 tsp salt]
1/2 tsp paprika
In a large bowl, combine all vegetables.
In a small, separate bowl combine the vinegar, oil, stevia (or sugar or whatever you’re using), salt, and paprika and combine thoroughly. Pour over veggies and toss. Cover and refrigerate at least 24 hours, stirring occasionally. I can tell you it didn’t take 24 hours for this to taste like bean bliss. And so simple.
This is so weird!
Last month I asked my mom for her bean salad recipe too…same reasons: I’d never really appreciated it at parties, but with my new appreciation for healthy eating…. Only difference I can see in our moms’ recipes is no corn in ours & mom always used a red onion.
Yum! Thanks for the reminder: timed perfectly as I’m on my way to shop.
I can’t wait to try this! I also want to steal the kitty cat salt shaker!
Yup, we’re trying to play tennis as frequently as possible and I enjoy it especially knowing I’m not exercising but yet working out by doing something fun. It’s my exercise in disguise
Right up my alley! Love the stuff, rarely have it and why the heck not make it myself, low cal style? Hey! Then I can eat it they way I like to…in private…with my fingers.
My mom made a salad like this too when I was young. It was never one of my faves but it might be now… I should try it again. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, apparently EVERYBODYS mom made this!