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If one of your goals for the new year is to incorporate more protein into your meals, Hungry Lady Salad: Episode 46 (aka this Rainbow White Bean Salad) is a game-changer! Finding protein-rich alternatives to animal products isn’t just for vegan and vegetarian eaters – it can also be a great way to keep meals lighter and brighter! Packed with so many good-for-you nutritional benefits and bursting with flavors, this hearty and flavorful salad is not your average white bean salad. Not only is it a delicious and satisfying option for meal prep lunches that will last in the fridge all week, but with ingredients like sundried tomatoes adding a subtle and chewy sweetness and Parmesan cheese providing a rich depth of flavor, this salad is a delightful combination of fresh, crunchy vegetables and creamy white beans. It’s a true meal-in-a-bowl that actually fills you up.
How To Make My Rainbow White Bean Salad
Step 1. In a large serving bowl, whisk together the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, a pinch of salt, vinegar, olive oil and mustard until thickened and combined.
Step 2. Add the drained and rinsed white beans and season with a teaspoon of salt. Toss and let the beans sit while you prepare your vegetables.
Step 3. Add in the peppers, fennel, onion, Parmesan, and herbs. Toss again to combine and taste it.
Step 4. Add a pinch more of salt or another splash of vinegar if you’d like. Refrigerate the salad for at least four hours before eating and store in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Step 5. Enjoy!
What Else Can I Use?
- Any small canned white bean works here, Northern or Cannelini is what I turn to.
- If you’d prefer to make your own beans from scratch, just soak and boil the dried beans and continue with the beginning of the recipe once they are cool.
- If you’re dairy free, just leave the Parmesan out. There is plenty of flavor to go around anyway.
- If you don’t have fennel, use celery to get a similar crunch.
- I like to do a mix of fresh herbs: about ¾ cup parsley and ¼ cup oregano. I use basil and parsley in the warmer months.
This Rainbow White Bean Salad is special because:
This salad is perfect for make-ahead meal prepping as it lasts all week in the fridge!
It’s a great source of protein without being heavy, making it a great lunch for a busy workday.
It’s beautiful on its own, or added to a table spread when hosting.
Meal-Prep Ready Hungry Lady Salads:
Asian Chicken Salad with Orange-Sesame Vinaigrette (Gluten Free, Dairy Free)
Vegetarian Chopped Antipasto Salad
Chicken Cobb Salad with Pepperoncini Vinaigrette (Gluten Free)
Shaved Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash Salad with Paprika Honey Mustard Dressing (Vegetarian, Gluten Free)
If you make my Rainbow White Bean Salad, and I hope you do, please leave me a comment and rate the recipe. Your feedback means a lot to me! You can also post to Instagram and tag me so I can share your creations!
If you like full recipe videos, you’ll want to follow me on Facebook and Youtube as I publish new videos daily!
Rainbow White Bean Salad
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, finely diced
- 1 clove garlic, finely minced
- Kosher salt
- 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Two 15-oz cans of white beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 red pepper, finely diced
- 1 yellow pepper, finely diced
- ½ head fennel, diced
- ½ of a medium red onion, finely diced
- 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1 cup mixed fresh herbs such as basil, oregano, and/or parsley, chopped
Instructions
- In a large serving bowl, whisk together the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, a pinch of salt, vinegar, olive oil and mustard until thickened and combined.
- Add the drained and rinsed white beans and season with a teaspoon of salt. Toss and let the beans sit while you prepare your vegetables.
- Add in the peppers, fennel, onion, Parmesan, and herbs. Toss again to combine and taste it. Add a pinch more of salt or another splash of vinegar if you’d like.
- Refrigerate the salad for at least four hours before eating and store in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Fabulous!!!! So easy to prepare and so very tasty! My son tried fennel for the first time, and he loved it! This is a perfect take to work or wfm meal. Thank you!
So flavorful!
Thank you, Linda!
this is the best salad i have had in a long time. i love beans of all kinds. i added chopped hearts of palm and it was amazing. next time, i’m going to try adding artichoke hearts. the dressing is perfect.
This made my day, Judy! Thank you so much for giving it a go!
Hi Kat,
I cannot have bell peppers as I have arthritis anything I can sub them with. Salad looks delish and I wanted to try it
Hi Mimoza, you’re welcome to skip the bell peppers altogether, but if you did want to substitute them for something, cucumber, carrots or zucchini would be a nice crunchy addition, or even celery or radishes! Let me know if you give it a try.
I love this salad and have been making it weekly, but anytime I have an oil and vinegar dressing it gets thick and gloopy. Any tips to prevent that?
Oil and vinegar dressings have their quirks! Because you’re making it for meal-prep, the main culprit that comes to mind is the cold – oil solidifies in the fridge so if you can take the salad out of the fridge 10ish minutes before you eat it, that may help. Also Extra Virgin Olive Oil is well known for thickening, so you could also try another neutral oil like avocado oil and see whether that impacts things? Let me know if that helps!
Delicious and quick! I added a bit of lemon juice to cut the vinegar a smidge. Just perfect on its own or as a sandwich!
I love this, Anna! Enjoy!
This will be my go to bean salad, itโs delicious! I didnโt have 2 cans of white beans, so I used 1 can of white and 1 of garbanzo. Love how long it keeps too!
It’s such a substitute-friendly salad, I’m glad you still got to give it a go, Meg! Enjoy!