Green Bean Salad with Cherry Tomatoes, Red Onion, and Lemon Vinaigrette Recipe
This fresh and vibrant Green Bean Salad is a quick and easy side dish perfect for any meal. Featuring crisp green beans lightly steamed to your preferred tenderness, combined with tangy lemon, sweet cherry tomatoes, aromatic parsley, and a zesty Italian dressing, this salad is refreshing and flavorful. Ideal for summer gatherings or a healthy everyday salad, it’s simple to prepare and serves chilled for maximum taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 12 ounces fresh green beans
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup chopped parsley
Liquids & Other
- 1 cup water
- 1 lemon, juiced
- ½ cup homemade or store-bought Italian dressing
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Steam the Green Beans: In a medium pot, bring one cup of water to a boil. Add the fresh green beans, cover with a lid, and steam for 2 to 5 minutes depending on your desired crispness or tenderness. Drain the beans in a colander and leave to cool completely.
- Prepare the Dressing Base: In a large salad bowl, combine thinly sliced red onion, minced garlic, and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Mix well and let it set while the green beans cool down to allow the flavors to meld.
- Combine Green Beans: Once the green beans reach room temperature, add them to the salad bowl with the onion and garlic mixture. Toss everything together thoroughly.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Incorporate the halved cherry tomatoes, chopped parsley, and ¼ cup of Italian dressing into the salad. Mix gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Chill and Season: Place the salad in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes to let the flavors meld and the salad chill. Afterward, taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as desired.
- Serve: Remove from the fridge and serve the salad cold, with additional Italian dressing on the side for extra flavor if desired.
Notes
- You can adjust the steaming time based on whether you prefer your green beans crisp or tender.
- Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor impact.
- For a lighter salad, use a low-fat Italian dressing or vinaigrette.
- This salad can be prepared a few hours ahead; just keep it refrigerated.
- Garnish with extra chopped parsley for presentation and freshness.
Keywords: green bean salad, fresh green beans, Italian dressing salad, healthy side dish, summer salad, vegetarian salad
