This Italian White Bean Salad recipe is a delicious mix of canned cannellini beans and garbanzo beans, cucumber, tomatoes, onion, celery, kalamata olives, Parmesan cheese and herbs. It’s all tossed in an amazing red wine vinaigrette that makes this salad really delicious. This Tuscan white bean salad is quick and easy to make and it is always a crowd-pleaser!

A large white salad bowl filled with white bean salad.

You will love how well this Tuscan white bean salad packs and travels to potlucks and backyard barbecues during the warm summer months. 

Glass measuring bowls filled with legumes, vegetables, olives, herbs and grated cheese.

White Bean Salad Recipe

This white bean salad is a delicious mix of ingredients all tossed in an amazing vinaigrette. 

  • Beans. We use a mix of Garbanzo and Cannellini Beans for this salad.
  • Onion. AWe use a.little red and green onion to this salad. 
  • Vegetables. Chopped cucumber, celery and red pepper adds a nice freshness and crunch to this salad.
  • Tomatoes.  We use cherry tomatoes, but you could also use chopped Roma tomatoes as well. 
  • Herbs. We use Italian Parsley and fresh basil which adds a lot of flavor to the mix.
  • Salad dressing .We use an amazing red wine vinaigrette to toss this salad with.
  • Parmesan Cheese.  A little Parmesan cheese (very finely grated) adds a lot of flavor!
  • Kalamata olives. I usually add kalamata (cut in half or sliced) which adds a great flavor. to the mix.

Variations

  • Use feta cheese instead of Parmesan
  • Add other vegetables like chopped zucchini and yellow squash.
  • Toss in some pepperoncini.
  • Add lots of fresh basil leaves cut into ribbons.
  • Add a little extra dressing to the salad so the beans can marinate in it.
  • Sprinkle in a little dried basil and oregano.
  • Use a different vinaigrette  like this Italian Dressing, Greek DressingLemon Mustard Vinaigrette, Lemon Olive Oil Dressing or Parmesan Vinaigrette, (though I think the red wine vinaigrette we use in this recipe is perfect for this salad) 

How to Make White Bean Salad

This salad comes together in about 10 minutes start-to-finish.  It can be eaten at room temperature, but it’s really best if chilled for an hour or two before serving.  

  1. Make Dressing. Add ingredients to a blender and blend well. 
  2. Rinse Beans. Drain and rinse the beans and add them to a large bowl.
  3. Prep Ingredients. Chop celery, cucumber, red pepper, onions, tomato, olives and herbs and add to the bowl. Finely grate cheese and set aside until you’re ready to toss the salad.
  4. Toss Salad. Drizzle the dressing over the ingredients and toss well. Make sure salad is nice and chilled before serving.

A large white salad bowl filled with white bean salad mixed with vegetables. A large salad spoon sits next to the bowl.

Salad Dressing Recipe

To make this dressing, toss everything in a  blender and blend for 10-20 seconds so the dressing is smooth and creamy. You can also whisk everything together in a bowl or toss everything in a mason jar, seal the lid and shake well.

  • Olive oil
  • Red Wine Vinegar
  • Garlic
  • Dried Oregano
  • Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste

A large white salad bowl filled with legumes and chopped vegetables tossed in a dressing.

Can I Make This Bean Salad Ahead Of Time?

This is a great salad to make ahead of time. To do so, prep the ingredients and blend together the ingredients for the vinaigrette, then store them separately in air-tight containers until you’re ready to toss and serve.

How To Store Leftovers

  • Store the salad and dressing separately in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve. 
  • This Italian White Bean Salad keeps in the refrigerator best for up to 3 days if it has not been tossed with dressing.  

A close up photo of legumes with chopped vegetables and Parmesan cheese tossed in a red wine vinaigrette. A serving spoon rests in the bowl.

Why You Will Love This Salad

  • It’s quick and easy to make
  • Delicious and satisfying
  • It’s a great salad to take to potlucks or backyard barbecues
  • You can add it to the top of a green salad
  • Great as a side dish or vegetarian light meal

A close up photo of white bean salad with chopped vegetables and Parmesan cheese tossed in a red wine vinaigrette. A serving spoon rests in the salad.

Looking for more healthy salads to serve?

A large white salad bowl filled with legumes and chopped vegetables tossed in a dressing.
Yield: 8 servings

Italian White Bean Salad

Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

This Italian White Bean Salad recipe is a delicious mix of canned cannellini beans and garbanzo beans, cucumber, tomatoes, onion, celery, kalamata olives, Parmesan cheese and herbs. It's all tossed in an amazing red wine vinaigrette that makes this salad really delicious. This Tuscan white bean salad is quick and easy to make and it is always a crowd-pleaser!

Ingredients

  • 2 15-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/4 cup red onion, cut in quarters and sliced
  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped
  • 3/4 cup celery, finely chopped
  • 2 cups English cucumber, cut into quarter pieces
  • 1/2 cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
  • 1-1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
  • 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
  • 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, cut in half

For The Red Wine Vinaigrette

  • 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 garlic clove, peeled and grated
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • Pinch of salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Add the ingredients for the dressing in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Transfer to a mason jar or an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.]
  2. Drain and rinse canned beans and add them to a large bowl with the cucumber, onion, celery, tomatoes, chop celery, cucumber, onions, tomato, herbs and olives. Finely grate the Parmesan cheese and set aside until you are ready to toss the salad.
  3. Drizzle the dressing over the ingredients and toss well. Sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese and toss again. Make sure salad is nice and chilled before serving.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 493Total Fat: 32gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 25gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 676mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 10gSugar: 5gProtein: 14g

theharvestkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate information, however, this nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. The nutritional information provided comes from online sources and calculations. See full disclaimer on About page.