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Epicurious

Five Bean Picnic Salad

4.4

(12)

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Five Bean Picnic SaladShelly Strazis

Gina: This colorful salad is one of my go-to recipes when I need something to satisfy a crowd, whether at a church potluck supper or a backyard barbecue. The champagne vinaigrette gives the beans a fresh, zippy flavor. For the best results, add the fresh beans to the salad just before serving, so they do not discolor.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

Kosher salt
3/4 pound green beans, trimmed and halved
3/4 pound yellow wax beans, trimmed and halved
One 14-ounce can dark-red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
One 14-ounce can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
One 14-ounce can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 bunch scallions, white and light-green parts, thinly sliced
1 red (or orange or yellow) bell pepper, diced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, for garnish
2 tablespoons chopped fresh marjoram or oregano leaves (optional)
1 recipe Champagne Vinaigrette
Freshly ground black pepper
Hot sauce

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a generous sprinkling of salt and the fresh beans, and cook until the beans are just tender, about 8 minutes. Drain the beans in a colander, and shock in ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain again and set aside.

    Step 2

    Place the fresh and canned beans, scallions, bell pepper, parsley, marjoram, and Champagne Vinaigrette in a large bowl, and toss to combine. Season the salad to taste with salt, pepper, and hot sauce.

From Down Home with the Neelys by Patrick and Gina Neely Copyright (c) 2009 by Patrick and Gina Neely Published by Knopf. Patrick and Gina Neely are owners of Neely's Bar-B-Que in Memphis and hosts of several Food Network shows, including the series Down Home with the Neelys, one of the highest-rated programs to debut on the popular Food Network. High school sweethearts who reconciled at their ten-year reunion, they have been married since 1994. They live in Memphis with their two daughters. Paula Disbrowe collaborated with Susan Spicer on Crescent City Cooking and is the author of Cowgirl Cuisine.
TagsSaladGreen BeanBean and LegumeVegetableKidney BeanBlack-Eyed PeaChickpeaScallionOnionRoot VegetableBell PepperSideLunchDinnerGluten FreeDairy FreeNut FreeVegetarianEasyQuick30 Minutes or LessCookbooks
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