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Cannellini and Grape Tomato Salad with Lemon Dressing and Rosemary-Garlic Infused Olive Oil

Cannellini and Grape Tomato Salad with Lemon Dressing and Rosemary-Garlic Infused Olive Oil

As pretty on a patio table in the summer time as it is refreshing and delicious, this light and cooling bean salad is a favorite — and a wonderful idea if you're being buried under fresh garden grape or cherry tomatoes. Little preparation time is needed for this simple recipe adapted from an old Canadian Living magazine entry.

Cannellini and Grape Tomato Salad with Lemon Dressing and Rosemary-Garlic Infused Olive Oil


Cannellini Bean and Grape Tomato Salad with Lemon Dressing and Rosemary-Garlic Infused Olive OilCannellini Bean and Grape Tomato Salad with Lemon Dressing and Rosemary-Garlic Infused Olive Oil
Recipe by
Published on September 3, 2008

Colorful and attractive white bean and tomato summer salad with an herb and garlic infused olive oil dressing

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Salad:
  • 2/3 cup dried cannellini (white kidney) beans (2 cups cooked)
  • 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
  • large handful of fresh parsley, trimmed
  • 1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
Dressing:
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 sprig of fresh rosemary
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and slightly crushed
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • juice from 1 lemon (3 tablespoons)
  • fresh ground black pepper
Instructions:
  • Rinse the cannellini beans under cold running water and soak overnight covered in several inches of cold water with a little yogurt whey or lemon juice added. Drain the beans and rinse again. Cover with fresh cold water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour or until the beans are soft but not falling apart. Drain and set aside to cool.

  • Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat with the sprig of rosemary and the garlic. Once the rosemary begins to sizzle, just a few minutes, remove from heat and let stand for 20 minutes to let the flavors of rosemary and garlic infuse the oil.

  • Discard the sprig of rosemary and remove the garlic from the oil. Set aside the oil and add the garlic to a small food processor along with the lemon zest and lemon juice. Process until smooth. Season with pepper.

  • Drizzle the dressing over the beans and let stand for a few minutes for the flavours to absorb. Gently fold in the tomatoes, parsley, Parmesan cheese and the reserved olive oil, and serve.

Makes 4 to 6 servings

Cannellini and Grape Tomato Salad with Lemon Dressing and Rosemary-Garlic Infused Olive Oil

14 comments:

  1. Hey Lisa, that looks pretty colorful. I use the canned cannellini beans, hence they always turn out mushy in the dish I make, and therefore I avoid them. Soaking and cooking them separately seems to have eliminated that problem... it looks beautiful.

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  2. yummy summery salad. loved the dressing

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  3. The dressing sounds interesting!!!

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  4. This is one of our favourite salads, the dressing is different which I would like to try and it sounds good.

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  5. Im loving this salad. This will have to be a treat just for me as hubby says (thinks) he doesn't like canellnin beans!! He's seriously missing out

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  6. This looks like the perfect end of summer meal- especially with the lemon dressing.

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  7. Mmm I LOVE grape tomatoes! This looks great.

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  8. This must be bursting with flavour, I can see it in the pic! I might go for tinned bean though coz it's all ready prepared.

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  9. That salad looks good,. I like the beans in it.

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  10. This salad highlights all the flavours and colours of the season...we have to say goodbye to summer it seems ....even if I'd rather not:D

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  11. Hi Lisa,
    This is the ideal late summer salad. I love chickpeas and tomatoes together and could a big bowl of this pasta right about now to quell my growling stomach.

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  12. This looks good Lisa. A nice mixture of textures and flavours!

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  13. I love cannellini beans!! Your salad looks so refreshing... I feel rejuvenated just looking at your beautiful photo! What a perfect summer recipe...

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