Dense Bean Salad Sleepy Girl (Printable)

Protein-rich beans with fresh vegetables and tart cherry dressing for a nourishing and flavorful dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beans

01 - 1 can (15 fl oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 can (15 fl oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
03 - 1 can (15 fl oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed

→ Vegetables & Herbs

04 - 1 cup (5.3 oz) cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 small cucumber, diced
06 - 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
07 - 1/4 cup (0.3 oz) fresh parsley, chopped
08 - 2 tbsp (0.2 oz) fresh dill, chopped

→ Sleepy Girl Mocktail Dressing

09 - 1/4 cup (2 fl oz) tart cherry juice, unsweetened
10 - 2 tbsp (1 fl oz) extra virgin olive oil
11 - 1 tbsp (0.5 fl oz) apple cider vinegar
12 - 1 tsp (0.17 fl oz) maple syrup or honey
13 - 1 tsp (0.18 oz) Dijon mustard
14 - 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
15 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Optional Toppings

16 - 2 oz crumbled feta cheese
17 - 1/4 cup (1 oz) toasted walnuts or pumpkin seeds

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine chickpeas, cannellini beans, kidney beans, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, parsley, and dill.
02 - In a separate small bowl or jar, whisk together tart cherry juice, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the bean and vegetable mixture. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Taste the salad and adjust seasoning if needed.
05 - Transfer to a serving dish and top with feta cheese and nuts or seeds if desired.
06 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It doubles as both a satisfying meal and a sneaky way to wind down before bed without feeling heavy.
  • The dressing tastes like youre cheating with something indulgent, but itapos;s just fruit juice and pantry staples doing all the work.
  • You can make it in under twenty minutes with zero cooking, which means more time to actually relax.
02 -
  • Rinse your canned beans thoroughly or the salad will taste tinny and the dressing won't coat properly.
  • Use 100 percent tart cherry juice with no added sugar, or the dressing will be too sweet and lose its purpose.
  • If you make this ahead, hold off on adding the cucumber and tomatoes until just before serving so they stay crisp.
03 -
  • Toast your nuts or seeds in a dry skillet for a few minutes to bring out their flavor and make them extra crunchy.
  • If you find the red onion too sharp, soak the chopped pieces in cold water for five minutes, then drain and pat dry before adding.
  • Make a double batch of the dressing and keep it in a jar in the fridge for quick salads all week long.
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