Not Nearly as Dense Bean Salad

Yeah, I fell into the TikTok trend of the bean salad. It was amazing, the recipe made 2 servings for me, and I gobbled it up.

The dressing is amazing. Yes, it needs it's own paragraph to stress: it's amazing.

And then beans did what beans are wont to do. I probably could have jet-propelled my car home, honestly. It was horrible and with IBS, made more so. 

So I pondered for a moment what I could do with the second serving of the salad and maybe not have ride with the windows down. 

Well, I had some salami, some banana peppers, and some argula left from a different meal. Split the salad in 2, put in what I liked and packed the top with the leafy greens. (Don't mix! You'll have soggy greens.)

It was delightful, and less detrimental to the digestion. Recommend! Give it a try. 

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The Salad

- 1 can garbanzo beans, drained, rinsed and dried

- 1 can navy beans, drained, rinsed and dried

- 1 small red onion, diced (about 3/4 cup when diced) OR 1 tsp onion powder

- 2 small bell peppers, diced (red, orange or yellow)

- 1/2 English cucumber, diced

- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced

- 6 ounces feta cheese, crumbled

- about 32 medium slices of salami, rolled and cut in half

- 2 cups Arugula 

- 1/4 cup banana peppers (to taste)

- Fresh parsley, stems removed, finely diced

The Dressing 

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Juice of one lemon (about 3 tablespoons)

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 teaspoon dijon (or onion dijon) mustard

3 large cloves garlic, pressed through a garlic press

1/2 teaspoon fine salt (be generous)

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1 tsp sazon completa

Instructions

1. Prepare the veggies. Chop the red onion, bell peppers and cucumber into bite-sized pieces. I use this vegetable chopper to ensure that everything is evenly sized. It saves loads of time too! Slice the pitted Kalamata olives.

2. Rinse the beans. Drain, rinse and dry the chickpeas and navy beans. Add all salad ingredients to a large mixing bowl.

3. Add the salad dressing. Whisk or shake the dressing ingredients together and pour overtop the salad. 

4. Toss well to combine.
Serve! Enjoy immediately or divide into mason jars to save for later.