Skip to main content

Green Bean and Cherry Tomato Salad

Cherry tomatoes and beans come in many sizes and colors. Mix them all together. You can include shell beans, too. The beans can be cooked and cooled in advance.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

1/2 pound green beans (haricot vert, young Blue Lake, Kentucky Wonder, or a similar variety)
1/2 pound cherry tomatoes
1 small shallot, diced fine
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Salt and fresh-ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
6 basil leaves, cut into chiffonade (optional)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Snap off the stem ends (and pull off the tails, if dry or tough) of: 1/2 pound green beans (haricot vert, young Blue Lake, Kentucky Wonder, or a similar variety).

    Step 2

    Cook until tender in salted boiling water. Drain and immediately spread them out on a sheet pan or plate to cool.

    Step 3

    Stem and cut in half: 1/2 pound cherry tomatoes.

    Step 4

    Stir together in a large bowl: 1 small shallot, diced fine, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, Salt and fresh-ground black pepper.

    Step 5

    Taste and adjust if necessary. Let sit for 15 minutes or more. Then whisk in: 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil.

    Step 6

    Adjust the acid and salt as needed. Toss the cherry tomatoes with the vinaigrette. Taste. Add the green beans, and: 6 basil leaves, cut into chiffonade (optional).

    Step 7

    Toss gently. Taste for seasoning and add salt and vinegar as needed.

  2. Variations

    Step 8

    Add chopped black olives to the dressing.

    Step 9

    The green beans alone make a lovely salad. They are particularly good tossed with the basil and lots of chopped parsley.

    Step 10

    Roasted red peppers, peeled and sliced, may be substituted for the cherry tomatoes.

The Art of Simple Food
Read More
Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.
With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.
This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.
With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.
Crunchy and crowd-pleasing, this salad can be prepared in advance and customized to your heart’s content.
Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.
Juicy peak-season tomatoes make the perfect plant-based swap for aguachile.
A garlicky pistachio topping takes this sunny summer pasta from good to great.