Green Bean Salad with Balsamic & Tomatoes

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This green bean salad recipe features crisp-tender green beans, juicy cherry tomatoes and peppery red onions, all coated in a sweet and tangy balsamic dressing. This colorful salad captures the essence of summer and shines when served alongside grilled meats or seafood. To add even more color to this vibrant salad, swap out half of the green beans for yellow wax beans.

a recipe photo of the Green Bean Salad with Balsamic & Tomatoes
Credit:

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Active Time:
35 mins
Total Time:
35 mins
Servings:
6
  • Enjoy a mix of crunchy green beans and juicy tomatoes covered in a tangy dressing.  
  • A small amount of feta cheese delivers a burst of flavor with calcium and protein.
  • Blanching green beans stops the cooking process, keeping them crisp and bright.

Fresh green beans and tomatoes get a tangy twist in this Green Bean Salad with Balsamic & Tomatoes. We love how the briny feta complements the zestiness of the vinegar and lemon juice. The flavors in this antioxidant-filled salad get even deeper and meld together when allowed to sit in the fridge for a day or so. Keep reading for a few cooking success tips—like how to properly blanch the green beans—and what blanching means, if you don’t already know.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

  • This recipe can be prepared ahead of time. The dressing can be made up to five days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, while the green beans can be blanched up to four days ahead and stored in the same manner.
  • To remove some of the sharp taste from raw onions, you can rinse the sliced onion under hot water.
  • When blanching green beans, make sure your ice bath is close by so you can immediately dunk them. This will stop the cooking and ensure a crisp-tender result.
  • For a pop of color and extra flavor, add some radicchio to the salad.

Nutrition Notes

  • Green beans are packed with fiber, plant protein, antioxidants, vitamins C and K and folate, as well as smaller amounts of other nutrients. This low-carb veggie has been linked with improved gut, heart, immune and bone health, as well as reduced risk of cancer. 
  • Despite some people shying away from nightshades, like tomatoes, they’re actually very nutritious. Thanks to their fiber, antioxidants and vitamins A and C, tomatoes have been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease and some cancers. Eating them may also be beneficial to your skin and digestive health. 
  • While balsamic vinegar isn’t going to add much to your nutrient bottom line, its benefits lie in its antioxidants. There is evidence that balsamic vinegar may improve blood sugar, blood pressure, digestion and skin health. 
  • Feta is one of those cheeses where a little goes a long way. This is good since it does rank among some of the saltiest cheeses. With that said, like other types of cheese, feta provides calcium and protein and can be enjoyed in moderation.
the ingredients to make the Green Bean Salad with Balsamic & Tomatoes

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

  • 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed (about 6 cups)

  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons honey

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice

  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided

  • 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper

  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1 1/2 cups halved multicolored cherry tomatoes

  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion

  • 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese, divided

  • Lemon zest for garnish (optional)

Directions

  1. Bring a medium pot of water to boil over high heat. Add green beans; cook, undisturbed, until tender, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with ice and water. Transfer the beans to the ice bath; let stand until completely cooled, about 6 minutes. Transfer the cooled beans to a kitchen towel; pat dry.

    a step in making the Green Bean Salad with Balsamic & Tomatoes

    Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

  2. Meanwhile, whisk vinegar, shallot, honey, lemon juice and mustard together in a large bowl until fully combined. Gradually add oil in a thin, steady stream, whisking until emulsified. Whisk in 1/4 teaspoon salt, pepper and garlic powder.

    a step in making the Green Bean Salad with Balsamic & Tomatoes

    Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

  3. Add the beans, tomatoes, onion, half of the feta and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt to the dressing in the bowl; toss until evenly coated. Transfer to a serving dish and top with the remaining feta. Garnish with lemon zest, if desired.

    a step in making the Green Bean Salad with Balsamic & Tomatoes

    Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is blanching?

    It’s a cooking method where food is briefly heated, using boiling water, steam or a microwave, and then quickly cooled. In this recipe, the beans are placed into boiling water briefly to shock them and then transferred to an ice-cold bath to halt the cooking. There are several reasons why blanching is used in recipes. It helps in reducing cooking time, killing bacteria, decreasing bitterness in certain foods and enhancing the color and flavor of foods.

  • What should I serve with Green Bean Salad with Balsamic & Tomatoes?

    Green bean salad pairs well with grilled meats, particularly chicken breast and seafood.

EatingWell.com, June 2024

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

168 Calories
12g Fat
12g Carbs
4g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Serving Size about 1 1/4 cups
Calories 168
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 12g 4%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 7g
Added Sugars 1g 2%
Protein 4g 8%
Total Fat 12g 16%
Saturated Fat 3g 17%
Cholesterol 13mg 4%
Vitamin A 60µg
Vitamin C 16mg 17%
Vitamin D 0µg
Vitamin E 2mg 12%
Folate 39µg
Vitamin K 41µg
Sodium 338mg 15%
Calcium 109mg 8%
Iron 1mg 6%
Magnesium 30mg 7%
Potassium 307mg 7%
Zinc 1mg 7%
Vitamin B12 0µg
Omega 3 0g

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by
Carrie Myers, M.S.
Carrie Myers
Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic.
and
Linda Frahm
Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications.