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    Home ➞ All Recipes ➞ Salads

    Three Bean Salad

    Published: April 18, 2016 // Updated: August 2, 2020 // by Shannon Emery

    Jump To RecipePrint RecipeThis post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    A three bean salad with feta and cucumber served in a large bowl with lemon wedges.
    A three bean salad with feta and cucumber served in a large bowl with lemon wedges.

    A fresh and flavorful salad perfect for outdoor picnics and potlucks! Tasty as a main dish or as a side with grilled chicken or fish.

    A large bowl of Three Bean Salad served with lemon wedges.

    With just three magic beans and a handful of simple ingredients, we can make something amazing.

    Potlucks and picnics are on the horizon so we need food that is easy, uber-healthy, filling, portable, and BIG on taste. Who's ready?!

    I am.

    There's a bright blue sky in the PNW and the temperatures are starting to rise! And it's AAAWE-SOME! Every year during this spring-but-not-quite-summer time of year I feel myself beginning to get a little giddy. Ready to spend more time outside and to shed the BAJILLION of layers of clothing I wear every time I venture out. I'm ready to explore the great outdoors, to hit up the parks with family and a picnic basket in hand, and to schedule some outdoor potlucks with friends.

    If it's not sunny and warm where you are, get on a plane and come here. Like right now. And HURRY, because I feel like me telling you to come here right now to enjoy the sunniness might jinx it. The weather here can be so sneaky like that.

    Three types of beans on a white counter are identified: adzuki, mung, and lentil.

    The Three Beans

    As the name suggests, this salad includes three beans that you may or may not be familiar with but are readily available at most grocery stores or online.

    • adzuki (reddish purple bean) --> An East Asian bean that is naturally sweet in flavor and help manage insulin receptors in our bodies keeping blood sugar at a normal level. They are packed with essential nutrients such as folic acid and provide high levels of manganese and calcium.
    • mung (round, bright green bean) --> A staple in Iran, India and China. Mung beans contain a wealth of vitamins (A,B,C and E) and minerals (iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium).
    • green lentil (flat, light green bean) --> A bean we are more familiar with here in the United States. Boasting the second-highest ratio of protein per calorie of any legume (after soybeans) and they are rich in both soluble and insoluble dietary fibers, iron, folate and magnesium.

    Round of applause for these awesome and nutritious legumes!

    Lemons, cubes of feta cheese, Italian parsley, green onions, cucumber, and a small pinch bowl of cumin sit on a wood table.

    Now let's amp up the flavor!

    Diced cucumber, fresh Italian parsley, green onions, and feta cheese (omit for a vegan dish) are tossed in with the beans. Then finish off this salad magic with a healthy dose of lemon, cumin, and olive oil.

    What we are left with is an extremely flavorful, fresh, and filling salad that you can devour as either a main dish or a side to be served with grilled chicken or steak.

    Your friends and family will love it. They'll beg you for the recipe. You'll become the star of the potluck party. And people everywhere will know your name as the Three Bean Salad Queen.

    Or something like that.

    Mung beans, adzuki beans, and lentils are in a bowl tossed with diced cucumber, feta, parsley, lemon, and spices.

    While the most time consuming part of this recipe is waiting for the beans to cook, it gives ample time and a perfect excuse to research a beautiful local park, to call up your friends, plan that impromptu potluck, and to dust off your crown.

    Because the best part about making tasty healthy food (besides eating it) is sharing it with those nearest and dearest.

    Happy picnicking friends! ♡

    More tasty salad recipes!

    • Mediterranean Bean Salad perfect with grilled chicken, shrimp, or fish
    • Spiralized Cucumber Summer Salad a cool and refreshing salad for a hot, summer day
    • Zucchini Salad with tomatoes, basil, & feta
    • Quinoa Tabbouleh a simple, versatile Middle Eastern salad

    Did You Make This Recipe?!

    If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment and a star rating below! I greatly appreciate your feedback and it is also so helpful for other PMST readers who are thinking about making the recipe. Remember to snap a photo and tag @passmesometasty on Instagram so I can see!

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    A large bowl of Three Bean Salad served with lemon wedges.

    Three Bean Salad


    5 from 3 reviews

    • Author: Shannon Emery
    • Prep Time: 10 mins
    • Cook Time: 1 hour 30 mins
    • Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
    • Yield: 6-8 servings (depends if served as a main dish or side) 1x
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    A fresh and flavorful salad perfect for outdoor picnics and potlucks! Tasty as a main dish or as a side with grilled chicken or fish.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • ¾ cup adzuki beans
    • ¾ cup mung beans
    • ½ cup green lentils
    • 7 cups water or chicken stock 
    • 1 English cucumber, diced
    • 1 ¼ cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped
    • 1 ½ teaspoon ground cumin
    • 4 green onions, thinly sliced (white and green parts)
    • ¾ cup feta cheese, crumbled 
    • 5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (1-2 lemons depending on size)
    • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
    • ¾ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
    • ½ teaspoon pepper (or to taste)

    Instructions

    1. Combine the adzuki beans, mung beans, and water (or chicken stock) in a large pot and bring to a boil for 5 minutes.
    2. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour.
    3. Add green lentils and continue simmering for an additional 30 minutes.
    4. Drain and rinse beans with cool water.
    5. In a large bowl combine beans with the rest of the remaining ingredients. Mix well.
    6. Serve at room temperature.

    Equipment

    Image of Large Pot

    Large Pot

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    Image of Large Bowl

    Large Bowl

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    Notes

    The equipment section above contains affiliate links to products I use and love!

    • Category: Salad
    • Method: Boil
    • Cuisine: Vegetarian
    • Diet: Gluten Free

    Keywords: three bean salad, salad recipes, gluten-free recipes, side dish recipes,

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @passmesometasty on Instagram. I'd love to see what you made!

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    Disclaimer: All brand recommendations are purely my own opinion. I am in no way sponsored by the brands mentioned or compensated by the brand for my recommendations. This post may also contain affiliate links which I may receive a small commission from (without any additional costs to you). The money earned from these commissions helps me to maintain this website. Thank you for your support!

    More Gluten-Free Salad Recipes

    • Arugula Spinach Salad with Winter Citrus
    • Strawberry Chicken Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
    • Quinoa Tabbouleh
    • Roasted Beet & Butternut Squash Salad

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Jeri

      June 23, 2016 at 9:55 pm

      I made this for my family and it was so yummy! I love finding new recipes that are both healthy and delicious. I will have to stock up on adzuki beans so I can make this often!






      Reply
    2. Jeri Sturdivant

      April 19, 2016 at 9:27 am

      Sounds delicious! I can't wait to try it! Do you know if the beans would be available at Chucks or Whole Foods?






      Reply
      • Shannon

        April 19, 2016 at 12:46 pm

        Hi Jeri! You can most likely find green lentils at either Chucks or Whole Foods but I'm not sure about the adzuki and mung beans. If you are unable to find them in the store I've created some links within the post that will direct you to a brand that I recommend and you can purchase them through Amazon. Enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Joseph Emery

      April 18, 2016 at 10:34 am

      This is an excellent alternative to the standard run of the mill garden salad. I love it!






      Reply

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