Quick side dishes are my secret for summer cooking. This one can be thrown together quickly and requires minimal heat to prepare. It can also serve as a topping for grilled salmon, steaks or chicken breasts.
The dressing can be processed using an immersion (stick) blender, a mini food processor or a blender, or the ingredients can be finely chopped by hand.
Basil-oregano white and black bean salad
Serves: 4 to 6 servings (makes 3 cups)
Ingredients
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves (1/2 ounce), coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons loosely packed fresh oregano leaves (1/8 ounce)
1/4 teaspoon sugar
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups cooked, no-salt-added black beans
1 1/2 cups cooked, no-salt-added navy beans
Steps
Combine the oil and garlic in a small saute pan over medium-low heat. Cook for 10 minutes, adjusting the heat as necessary to cook but not brown the garlic; remove from the heat.
While the garlic-oil mixture is cooling, combine it with the vinegar, basil, oregano and sugar in a mini food processor or blender. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Puree until smooth.
Combine the dressing with the black beans and navy beans, mixing well to thoroughly coat. Taste, and adjust the seasoning as needed. Serve at room temperature.
Nutrition information per serving (based on 6): 210 calories, 8 g protein, 23 g carbohydrates, 10 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 40 mg sodium, 9 g dietary fiber, 0 g sugar.