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Lemon Basil Three Bean Salad Recipe

4.6 from 61 reviews

This vibrant and refreshing Lemon Basil Three Bean Salad combines three types of beans with fresh cherry tomatoes, fragrant basil, and zesty lemon juice. Perfect as a light meal or a flavorful side dish, it’s quick to prepare and gains depth of flavor when allowed to marinate. A healthy, colorful salad that’s easy to make and full of texture and bright flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

Beans

  • 1, 15oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1, 15oz can white beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1, 15oz can black beans, rinsed and drained

Vegetables & Aromatics

  • 1/4 medium red onion, minced
  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed or minced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered or halved
  • Zest of one lemon
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, minced

Dressing & Seasoning

  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (optional)
  • Juice of two lemons
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt or more to taste
  • Fresh cracked black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the rinsed and drained chickpeas, white beans, and black beans. Add the minced red onion, crushed or minced garlic, quartered cherry tomatoes, lemon zest, and minced fresh basil to the beans.
  2. Prepare Dressing and Season: Pour the juice of two lemons over the salad mixture. Add the extra virgin olive oil, red pepper flakes if using, garlic powder, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper to taste.
  3. Toss and Marinate: Toss all ingredients together thoroughly until well combined. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least one hour to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to marinate fully. For best flavor, marinate overnight.
  4. Serve: After marinating, give the salad a final gentle toss before serving chilled. Optionally, add tomatoes just before serving if preparing in advance to maintain freshness.

Notes

  • Allow your beans to fully marinate for at least 1 hour in the fridge; overnight marination produces the best flavor.
  • Thoroughly rinse and drain canned beans to prevent sogginess in the salad.
  • To keep the salad freshest, add cherry tomatoes on the day of serving if you prepare the salad in advance, storing the rest refrigerated separately.

Keywords: lemon basil salad, three bean salad, vegan salad, Mediterranean salad, no-cook salad, healthy salad, chickpeas, black beans, white beans