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    Home » Recipes » Beans

    Italian Butter Bean Salad

    Published Mar 16, 2023, modified Mar 16, 2023 by Nicole Shroff / This site uses cookies. See the privacy policy linked in my footer. This site generates income via ads/ Leave a Comment

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    This Italian butter bean salad is creamy and refreshing, delicious on its own with fresh bread or alongside a juicy steak, stews and grilled food.

    Butter beans salad in red bowl.

    As days grow warmer our Italian butter bean salad makes a wonderful refreshing light meal or side.

    Its made with creamy butter beans, finely sliced sweet red onion and fresh parsley tossed in a tangy, garlic-y, creamy dressing.

    We like to serve it with fresh bread or alongside steaks, stews, grilled meats and vegetables.

    It only takes 10 minutes to make but we recommend making it at least an hour before serving so flavours develop fully.

    Fresh butter beans can be difficult to find as the season is so short (only a few weeks in summer), so we use canned or frozen for this recipe which are easily available in supermarkets.

    Try it with our eggplant parmesan, lamb ribs, mini frittatas, or meatballs.

    And if you’d like more bean salads check out our tuna and cannellini bean salad, Italian two bean salad, and this cowboy salsa.

    Click the subscribe button above to get more recipes like this to your inbox.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Helpful tips
    • Optional extras
    • Make ahead and storing
    • FAQ
    • Related
    • Pairing
    • 📋 Recipe

    Ingredients

    Ingredients in small bowls.

    The ingredients you will need:

    • butter beans – also known as lima beans, canned or frozen are fine.
    • red onion – (not shown) small
    • fresh parsley – for fresh flavour
    • olive oil – forms the base of the creamy dressing
    • vinegar – white wine vinegar
    • lemon juice – for tanginess
    • garlic – for flavour
    • seasoning – salt and freshly ground black pepper

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Helpful tips

    Ingredients for the dressing.

    Ingredients for dressing on wooden board.

    The dressing can be prepared in advance and kept in a sealed jar. It is a temporary emulsive dressing which means it will separate after resting so shake well before tossing in the salad.

    Whisked dressing in glass bowl with whisk.

    Whisk together the ingredients for the dressing to make a creamy emulsion.

    Butter beans and parsley in blue bowl.

    Pour the dressing over the beans, parsley and sliced red onion (not shown) and mix till well coated.

    Tip: We recommend covering and setting the dressed salad aside in a cool area/in the fridge for at least an hour before serving for the flavours to fully develop.

    Optional extras

    These are some extra ingredients you could add:

    • make it spicy – sprinkle over some chili pepper flakes for extra heat.
    • seafood – mix in some tuna, garlic shrimps , smoked fish or anchovies.
    • for color – add sliced roasted red peppers, a sprinkling of gremolata or capers.

    Make ahead and storing

    This bean salad improves in flavour after resting. For best results prepare an hour before serving.

    Keep in a sealed container and keep in the fridge for 2-3 days.

    FAQ

    What are butter beans?

    Butter beans also known as lima beans are larger than cannellini or black beans. They are high in protein and rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre.

    Related

    Looking for more recipes like this? Try these:

    • Cowboy salsa in a red bowl surrounded by ingredients.
      Cowboy Salsa
    • Black bean stew with sour cream, tomatoes herbs, jalapenos
      Black Bean Stew
    • Minestrone soup in a white bowl
      Authentic Minestrone Soup
    • Pinto beans in small black bowl on table
      Easy Pinto Beans

    Pairing

    Some of our favorite dishes to serve with Italian butter bean salad:

    • Baked frittata in a cast iron wedge pan.
      Mini Frittatas
    • Spaghetti with gorgonzola sauce and mushrooms in blue bowl.
      Pasta Al Gorgonzola
    • Two assembled spicy chicken wraps on a blue platter.
      Spicy Chicken Wraps
    • A white bowl containing Scottish smocked haddock soup topped with fresh parsley and parsley in the background.
      Cullen Skink Recipe

    Did you like this recipe? Please take a moment to rate it in the recipe card below, leave a comment, and if you are sharing it on social media please tag us @endofthefork. Thanks!

    📋 Recipe

    Butter beans salad in red bowl.

    Italian Butter Bean Salad

    Nicole Shroff
    This Italian butter bean salad is creamy and refreshing, delicious on its own with fresh bread or alongside a juicy steak, stews and grilled food.
    5 from 1 vote
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    Prep Time 10 mins
    Resting time (recommended) 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 10 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 295 kcal

    Ingredients

    • 800 g canned butter beans 2 x 15.5 oz cans, or thawed from frozen
    • 1 small red onion thinly sliced
    • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped

    Dressing

    • 60 ml olive oil ¼ cup
    • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    • 1 medium clove garlic chopped small
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Drain and rinse 800 g canned butter beans then add to a medium mixing bowl with 1 small red onion and 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, mix and set aside.

    Dressing

    • In a small bowl whisk together 60 ml olive oil, 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, and 2 tablespoons lemon juice to make an emulsion then whisk in the 1 medium clove garlic, ½ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon black pepper.
    • Pour the dressing over the beans and mix well till all ingredients are well coated. Ideally cover and let it rest in a cool place for an hour then stir before serving for best flavour.

    Notes

    The dressing can be prepared in advance and kept in a sealed jar. It is a temporary emulsive dressing which means it will separate after resting so shake well before tossing in the salad.
    Make ahead and storing – This bean salad improves in flavour after resting. For best results prepare an hour before serving. Keep in a sealed container and keep in the fridge for 2-3 days.

    MEASUREMENT NOTES

    The ingredients here on EOTF are set out in grams & milliliters and in US cups & spoons.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 295kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 10gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 965mgPotassium: 500mgFiber: 10gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 86IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 4mg
    Did you make this recipe? I’d love to know how it turned out! Let me know by leaving a review below, or snap a photo and share it on Instagram tagging me @Endofthefork.
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