Mediterranean White Bean and Artichoke Salad
This light and refreshing Mediterranean-inspired salad packs a punch of flavor and nutrition, making it an ideal appetizer or side dish for any gathering. With creamy cannellini beans, tender marinated artichoke hearts, and a vibrant mix of fresh vegetables, this salad offers a delightful crunch and a burst of herbal notes. Perfect for entertaining, this dish allows you to prep the ingredients ahead of time, ensuring a stress-free experience. Serve it chilled or at room temperature for a versatile addition to your meal, and feel free to customize with your favorite cheese.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
15
Ingredients
Ingredients
red wine vinegar
2.5 tablespoons (none)
olive oil
2 tablespoons (none)
tomato paste
1 teaspoon (none)
salt
1/4 teaspoon (none)
black pepper
1/8 teaspoon (none)
garlic clove
1 (minced)
baby spinach
6 cups (thinly sliced)
bell peppers
2 cups (sliced thinly)
asiago cheese
3 ounces (diced)
celery
1/2 cup (sliced diagonally)
red onion
1/2 cup (sliced vertically)
fresh basil
2 tablespoons (chopped)
fresh parsley
1 tablespoon (chopped)
cannellini beans
1 (19 ounce) can (drained and rinsed)
marinated artichoke hearts
1 (12 ounce) jar (drained)
Instructions
1
In a small bowl, whisk together the red wine vinegar, olive oil, tomato paste, salt, black pepper, and minced garlic to create a tangy vinaigrette.
2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the baby spinach, sliced bell peppers, diced asiago cheese, sliced celery, sliced red onion, chopped fresh basil, chopped fresh parsley, drained cannellini beans, and drained marinated artichoke hearts.
3
Pour the vinaigrette over the salad mixture and toss gently to ensure everything is evenly coated with the dressing.
4
For the best flavor, let the salad sit for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow the ingredients to meld together. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mediterranean White Bean and Artichoke Salad?
It is a light and refreshing salad made with cannellini beans, marinated artichoke hearts, baby spinach, and a tangy red wine vinaigrette.
How much red wine vinegar is needed for the dressing?
The recipe calls for 2.5 tablespoons of red wine vinegar.
What kind of oil is used in the vinaigrette?
The dressing uses 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
What is the role of tomato paste in this recipe?
A small amount of tomato paste (1 teaspoon) is whisked into the vinaigrette to add depth and flavor.
How much salt and pepper should I add?
You should use 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/8 teaspoon of black pepper.
How many garlic cloves are required?
One garlic clove, minced, is needed for the salad dressing.
How should the baby spinach be prepared?
The 6 cups of baby spinach should be thinly sliced before being added to the mixing bowl.
How should the bell peppers be sliced?
Two cups of bell peppers should be sliced thinly.
What type of cheese is included in this salad?
The recipe uses 3 ounces of diced asiago cheese.
How should the celery be cut?
The 1/2 cup of celery should be sliced diagonally.
What is the recommended way to slice the red onion?
The 1/2 cup of red onion should be sliced vertically.
How much fresh basil and parsley are used?
The salad requires 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh basil and 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley.
What size can of cannellini beans is needed?
You will need one 19-ounce can of cannellini beans.
How should I prepare the cannellini beans?
The beans should be drained and rinsed before being combined with the other ingredients.
What size jar of artichoke hearts is required?
The recipe uses one 12-ounce jar of marinated artichoke hearts.
Do I need to do anything special with the artichoke hearts?
The marinated artichoke hearts should be drained before adding them to the salad.
What is the first step in making the salad?
Whisk together the red wine vinegar, olive oil, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and minced garlic in a small bowl.
How do I combine the main ingredients?
In a large mixing bowl, combine the spinach, peppers, cheese, celery, onion, herbs, beans, and artichokes.
When do I add the vinaigrette to the vegetables?
Pour the vinaigrette over the salad mixture after all the main ingredients have been combined in the large bowl.
How long should the salad sit before serving?
Let the salad sit for at least 15 minutes to allow the ingredients to meld together for the best flavor.
Can this salad be served chilled?
Yes, it can be served either chilled or at room temperature.
Is this Mediterranean salad vegetarian?
Yes, this recipe is vegetarian as it contains no meat products.
Can I prepare this recipe ahead of time?
Yes, this dish allows you to prep the ingredients ahead of time, making it great for entertaining.
Is this recipe considered healthy?
Yes, it is tagged as healthy and features nutrient-rich ingredients like spinach, beans, and fresh vegetables.
How many ingredients are in this recipe?
There are a total of 15 ingredients in this salad.
What kind of texture does this salad have?
It offers a mix of creamy cannellini beans, tender artichoke hearts, and a crunch from fresh vegetables.
Can I customize the cheese in this recipe?
Yes, while the recipe calls for asiago, you can customize it with your favorite cheese.
What are the primary tags for this recipe?
The recipe is tagged with salad, mediterranean, healthy, vegetarian, cannellini beans, artichokes, and spinach.
Is this recipe suitable as a side dish?
Yes, it is an ideal appetizer or side dish for any gathering.
What is the total preparation time suggested for melding flavors?
A minimum of 15 minutes is recommended for the flavors to meld before serving.