Recipe

Southern Three Bean Salad

Community Pick!

Southern Three Bean Salad

Photo 1 of 2
by Waverly

Southern Three Bean Salad

Photo 2 of 2
by Waverly

  • This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best String Bean Salad
    This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Picnic Dish
  • A&M's Testing Notes: Waverly offers a fresh-tasting bean salad, a welcome update from the traditional (canned) three bean salad. I don't care for green bell pepper, so I substituted an orange bell pepper. The...

    Expand Collapse
  • Chef

    Waverly's Notes: You can make Three Bean Salad from any three beans you like, but the authentic version is a mixture of canned wax, green, and kidney beans, sweet onions, and bell peppers which is marinated...

    Expand

Serves 8-10

  1. Combine Vegetables: In a large serving bowl, combine green beans, wax beans, bell pepper, and onion.

    Ask a question about this step
  2. Make Vinaigrette: In a small mixing bowl, combine vinegar, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper. Whisk in the olive oil until the mixture is emulsified/fully combined.

    Ask a question about this step
  3. Marinate the Beans: Pour the vinaigrette over the beans and toss until beans are coated. Refrigerate overnight.

    Ask a question about this step
  4. Serve: Let the salad come to room temperature. Toss again. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

    Ask a question about this step

7 Comments on Southern Three Bean Salad

Logo-fb Reply

Good point, Captain Twist! I arbitrarily chose the name. The recipe is in the old River Road (Baton Rouge Junior League) cookbook as well as in Screen Doors and Sweet Tea by Martha Hall Foose.... as well as in our old 1970s church cookbook (Texas). I took liberties with the name, but you are right. There is nothing that defines it as particularly Southern. I think rather that it just says old-fashioned-good-stuff. And it is....especially when you use fresh beans!

Reply

I like this recipe, but I don't see what is especially "southern" about it; it's standard all over the midwest. My own recipe for this is nearly identical and was given to me by my grandmother, who got from her grandmother. It turns up regularly at church suppers, luncheons, and public meals of all sorts.

Newliztoqueicon-2 Reply

Looking forward to testing your recipe Saturday to serve with grilled steaks. If I can't find sherry vinegar at Whole Foods tomorrow (I'm out) could I substitute apple cider vinegar? Just remembered that Williams Sonoma always has a good house brand...

Dsc_0382 Reply

I really wasn't sure if it was an error. Was curious if the vinegar pickles them. Looking forward to making this over the holiday weekend.

Dsc_0382 Reply

Made this over the weekend and brought it to a barbecue where it was a big hit even though I accidentally added a can of pinto beans instead of kidneys. I will definitely make this again now that the green and yellow beans are really coming into season. thanks.

Logo-fb Reply

Thank you for pointing out my error. I have edited the recipe to include blanching/steaming the beans to crisp-tender. Crisp-tender beans taste much better than raw beans!

Dsc_0382 Reply

saved and will try soon! Do you blanch the beans first?

Meet our Hotliners:

Dan Soloway

Screen_shot_2011-01-25_at_1_15_11_pm

Dan is the founder of Kitchen Options

Dan Soloway answered vanilla extract and cinnamon 10 months ago