This irresistible Green bean salad will have you eating beans more than ever! Garlic, honey, and mustard dressing, toasted almonds, and feta
Green beans never tasted so good!
What do people have against green beans? By people, I mean my family. When I said I was making bean salad, no one else shared my enthusiasm, or even seemed to care. I’m just grateful my kitties can’t talk because I’ll also be copping an earful from them. That’s okay because I was more determined than ever to win them over.
Since I rarely buy green beans, I was floored by how much they cost. The first store wanted $12 per kg, which I thought was way too expensive. Little did I know, that was a fair price because the next place I visited sold them for $22 😳 Like what the?
Either they’re out of season, or everyone in Sydney except my family is obsessed with green beans! In case you’re curious, I went back to the first shop and forked over the money. Was it worth it? Probably not 😂, BUT if you find cheaper green beans, then this salad’s a must!
What’s the trick to making a family who dislikes green beans enjoy them? Blanch the beans so they’re delightfully crisp and sweet. Coat them with a mouthwatering garlic, honey, mustard dressing. Next, generously top the beans with freshly toasted crunchy almonds and sprinkle on some creamy, salty crumbled feta cheese.
The verdict? Husband forgot he even disliked green beans and kept mentioning how delicious they were. My five-year-old, Kai, wouldn’t even try it and blurted out, ‘I DON’T LIKE IT! Initially, my kitties were excited, thinking it was lemongrass, but they quickly lost interest and left, but not without giving filthy looks first. Like a big sucker, I quickly went to snip some from the garden for them.
Green Bean Salad with Toasted Almonds
What are green beans?
Green beans are crisp and have a subtly sweet, grassy taste. They could also go by the names of string, snap, or French beans, depending where you are.
What are the health benefits of green beans?
Green beans are a nutritious vegetable offering several health benefits. They are an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as fibre and folate. High fibre promotes digestive health and helps regulate blood sugar levels, and folate is crucial for cell growth and development.
Why should I toast the almonds?
Don’t skip toasting the almonds if you can. It takes only a few minutes to do and makes a noticeable difference! Toasting almonds enhances their nutty flavour and creates a more complex, nutty taste and a crispier texture.
Is this salad vegan-friendly?
This recipe calls for feta cheese and honey. You can make it vegan-friendly by substituting those ingredients with plant-based feta cheese and maple syrup.
Is this salad gluten-free?
Yes, this bean salad is gluten-free.
No more boring salads! Check these out:
Ingredients for Green Bean Salad
Flaked almonds – You could use sliced, slivered, blanched almonds or swap with pine nuts.
Green beans also go by the names of string, snap, or French beans, depending on where you are. They are slightly sweet, crisp, and have a pleasant grassy flavour.
Crumbled feta (or fetta) cheese – If you’re unable to find crumbed feta, you can make your own. To make crumbled feta, cut feta cheese into small pieces, then gently crumble the pieces with your fingers or a fork until you achieve the desired texture. For a vegan substitute, use plant-based feta cheese.
Honey – Runny honey mixes better for the dressing, but regular honey is fine if you don’t have runny honey. For a vegan substitute, swap honey with maple syrup, agave nectar or date syrup.
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How to make Green Bean Salad
Step-by-step guide with photos
Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat, then add the almonds. Stir regularly for 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly golden and aromatic. Don’t walk away, or the almonds might burn, and if they do, they’ll be bitter and unusable. Transfer the beans to a bowl to cool and set aside for later.
Trim the tips of the beans. Fill a saucepan 2/3 full with water, add a teaspoon of salt, then bring to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, prepare a large bowl of water with ice or just cold water. Once the water boils, add the beans and blanch for just a minute. Drain, and transfer the beans into the iced water and let sit for a minute before draining. Use a salad spinner or a clean tea towel to dry the beans.
Salad dressing – Place all the dressing ingredients into a jar and shake until well combined, or hand whisk the dressing quickly. Taste the dressing and add more honey, lemon, salt, or pepper, as needed.
Just before serving, toss the beans and dressing to combine, ensuring they are well coated. Top the beans with the toasted almonds and crumbled feta cheese.
I’ve used a third-party application to calculate the calories and nutritional information, so please use this as an approximate guide only.
Cooking measurements are in Australian standard spoon and cup measurements. For specific details and conversions, visit our Australian Cooking Measurements page.
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Cheers – Cat T
Green Bean Salad with Toasted Almonds
Video
Ingredients
- ½ cup (55g / 1.9oz) flaked or sliced almonds (NOTE 1)
- 500g / 1.1lb Green beans or string beans (NOTE 2)
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 to 4 ice cubes
- 2 tbsp (25g / 0.9oz) crumbled feta cheese (NOTE 3)
DRESSING INGREDIENTS
- 2 tbsp (40ml / 1.4floz) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1 tbsp (20ml / 0.7floz) fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp (20ml / 0.7floz) honey (runny, if possible) (NOTE 4)
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat, then add the almonds. Stir regularly for 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly golden and aromatic. Don't walk away, or the almonds might burn, and if they do, they'll be bitter and unusable. Transfer the beans to a bowl to cool and set aside for later.
- Trim the tips of the beans. Fill a saucepan 2/3 full with water, add a teaspoon of salt, then bring to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, prepare a large bowl of water with ice or just cold water. Once the water boils, add the beans and blanch for just a minute. Drain, and transfer the beans into the iced water and let sit for a minute before draining. Use a salad spinner or a clean tea towel to dry the beans.
- Salad dressing – Place all the dressing ingredients into a jar and shake until well combined, or hand whisk the dressing quickly. Taste the dressing and add more honey, lemon, salt, or pepper, as needed.
- Just before serving, toss the beans and dressing to combine, ensuring they are well coated. Top the beans with the toasted almonds and crumbled feta cheese.
