There are days in an Andalucían summer when turning on the hob feels like a poor life decision. This is the answer — a bowl of something colourful, substantial and completely uncooked, assembled in about five minutes from whatever is in the fridge and the storecupboard.
The beans are the base. A jar or tin of whatever you have — kidney beans, borlotti, cannellini, or chickpeas. Drained, rinsed, and tipped into a bowl. Everything else is flexible. The feta or soft goat's cheese adds saltiness and body. The sun-dried tomato paste gives depth without any cooking. Fresh herbs — as many as you have — lift the whole thing considerably.
Mediterranean bean salad at Casa Adora — no cooking required.
No heat required. No plates to wash beyond the bowl. On the table in five minutes.
Mediterranean Bean Salad Ingredients
(serves 1)
- 1 jar or tin of beans of choice, drained and rinsed
- 1 small carrot, finely diced
- 1 ripe tomato, diced
- 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
- 1 red chilli, finely chopped
- ½ red onion or a few spring onions, finely chopped
- 1 tsp sun-dried tomato paste
- A good glug of extra virgin olive oil
- 75g feta or soft goat's cheese, crumbled
- A small handful each of fresh parsley, mint, basil and oregano, finely chopped
- A squeeze of fresh lemon juice
- A splash of cider or apple wine vinegar
- Freshly ground black pepper
Method
Tip the drained beans into a large bowl. Add the carrot, tomato, garlic, chilli and onion. Add the sun-dried tomato paste and olive oil and stir gently.
Add the feta or goat's cheese, fresh herbs, lemon juice and vinegar. Season generously with black pepper and stir gently once more.
Eat immediately, outside if possible.
If you're partial to a bean story with a happy (if delayed) ending, my Beans: They Can Kill You, You Know. Well, Nearly Anyway. tells the tale of how a kidney bean mishap eventually led to a tuna and bean salad much like this one.
This Mediterranean bean salad is part of my Veg, Fruit & Pulses collection. Wonky photos, proper produce, genuine adventures – The Flexible Chef
