I’ve only recently dipped my toes into the world of Lebanese and Middle Eastern cooking (hello, Ottolenghi obsession 👋), but wow – what a delicious rabbit hole it is. And, considering warmer weather is just around the corner, I’ve been trialing and testing some delicious new salads that tie in with the fragrant, herby, fresh flavours that Lebanese cooking brings
Say ‘hello’ to this insane herby white bean salad, spiced with cumin, za’atar, fresh mint and parsley, with heapings of glorious olive oil!
She’s fresh, flavourful, and quick to make, all whilst being dense enough to make ahead of time, and to keep you full… does it get any better?! I had mine with a lemon-baked salmon fillet, but it would be dreamy alongside roast chicken or as part of a mezze-style spread with hummus, pitta, and a rainbow of roasted veg.
Read on for the full recipe!
Method
Follow these steps to make our Herby Lebanese White Bean Salad
Before you dive head-first into chopping up your salad ingredients, drain your beans over the sink and give them a quick rinse with water – set aside to drain. I’ve used a 50/50 mix of cannellini beans and butter beans in this recipe, mainly for some plant diversity, but you can use 4x 400g tins of any white beans you have to hand.
With a clean chopping board and sharp knife, finely dice your green pepper, slice your spring onions, and finely chop both the mint and parsley. Add these to a large mixing bowl, before tipping in your beans.
To the bowl with your veggies, herbs, and drained white beans, add 5 tablespoons of olive oil and za’atar, 1 tablespoon of cumin, the juice of 1 lemon, and a generous pinch of flaky sea salt. Toss everything well to combine. Taste and adjust your seasonings accordingly – I ended up adding a dash more cumin and another squeeze of lemon juice to mine!
Once the herby white bean salad is finished, add it to a pretty serving bowl or platter of your choice, before garnishing with a few extra herbs and spring onions. If you aren’t tucking in straight away, add your finished salad to an airtight container and pop it in the fridge. It will keep for up to 4 days.
What To Serve With Your Herby Za’atar Bean Salad
Because of how quickly this dense bean salad comes together, it is perfect for meal prepping. Either enjoy on its own (beans in general are super filling!), or with a side of:
- Roasted chicken
- Falafels
- Lemon & herb-baked salmon
- Grilled lamb koftas
- Charred flatbreads or warm pitta
- Or, go full mezze mode: think hummus, pitta bread, grilled halloumi, maybe some roasted aubergine or courgette on the side
Seasonal Salad Recipes From Savery Grazing
If you love this herby Lebanese white bean salad, why not explore more delicious make-ahead salad recipes from Savery Grazing? Explore the ‘recipes’ section on our blog. For more inspiration, find us on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest.
Have you tried this recipe? We’d LOVE to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Make This Salad Ahead of Time?
Absolutely! This is a dream meal prep salad ahead of a busy work week – just store it in an airtight container in the fridge, and it’ll keep well for up to 4 days. The flavours actually deepen and meld together over time, so it gets even tastier the next day.
Is This Salad Vegan?
Yep! This salad is 100% vegan and plant-based. Just pair it with other vegan mezze dishes like hummus, falafel, or roasted veg to keep the whole meal vegan-friendly.
FYI – this herby white bean salad is also suitable for those that are gluten or dairy intolerant, making it a great dish for feeding a crowd with different dietary requirements!
Can I Use Different Beans?
Yep, you can. You can even stick to one type of bean, rather than the mix of cannellini and butter beans we used in this recipe. Great alternatives could include:
- White kidney beans
- Chickpeas
- Navy beans (pea beans)
- Great Northern beans
Basically, whatever white beans you’ve got hanging around in the back of the pantry will do! Just aim for soft, creamy beans that’ll hold their own in a herby dressing.
Where Can I Buy Za’atar? (And Can I Make It Myself?!)
You’ll find za’atar in most large supermarkets these days (usually in the world foods aisle), or in Middle Eastern or Mediterranean grocery stores. It’s also easy to find online, and once you try it, you’ll be sprinkling it on everything – it’s an absolute cupboard staple for me now!
Can’t find it at your local supermarket? You can easily batch make some yourself. As it’s a dried spice mix, it stores well in a jar at room temperature. Simply combine cumin, sesame seeds, oregano, sumac, thyme and salt together. Find the full recipe on the BBC Good Food Website.
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