Photo by Judith Hausman
Serve this white bean salad along a (grass-fed) steak dinner.
Tossed with a pile of thinly-sliced, spring vegetables (the slicing blade of a food processor makes for a quick prep) and dressed with plenty of bright, lemony flavor, the salad rounded out our grass-fed steak dinner on a Saturday night.
White beans make a great foundation for salads later in the season as well. Ribbons of zucchini, torn basil and oil-packed tuna are the next in line. Then, at the height of the summer, roasted red peppers, fresh tomatoes and thin strips of grilled chicken or bits of feta or smoked mozzarella cheese nestle nicely in the creamy beans.
Servings: 4 to 6
SALAD INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups cooked white beans (cannellini or smaller ones)
- 6 to 8 asparagus spears, ends snapped and thinly sliced
- 6 radishes, thinly sliced
- 1 small fennel bulb, thinly sliced
- 1 small red onion, sweet onion or several scallions, sliced
- 1/2 cup chopped, dill, parsley (add more/less to taste)
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- zest of one lemon, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon fennel seed
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 4 to 6 anchovy filets, chopped
- 1 to 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed through a garlic press
- 1/4 cup or more olive oil
- 1 tablespoon capers
- salt, pepper and a pinch of red pepper flakes
If using canned beans, rinse and drain.
Then, whisk together all dressing ingredients, and in a serving dish, pour half of the dressing over the beans.
Toss the salad vegetables and herbs with the other half of the dressing, and pile them on top of the beans.
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