Ingredients
1 tsp. kosher salt
Juice of 1 lemon, plus more as needed
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, grated
1/4 c. chopped fresh parsley
1 tbsp. chopped fresh mint
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 c. full fat Greek yogurt
1/2 c. tahini
1 tbsp. honey
1 tsp. lemon zest
8 oz. string beans, chopped
1 (15.5-0z.) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15.5-oz.) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 (15-oz.) can white hominy, drained and rinsed
1 red bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 c. roasted salted peanuts, roughly chopped
Preparation
Step 1Make the dressing: In a large bowl, stir together salt, shallots, and lemon juice, then add in garlic, parsley, and mint.Step 2In a small pan over medium-low heat, toast pepper, cumin, coriander, and red pepper flakes until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Transfer toasted spices to the large bowl, then add in yogurt, tahini, honey, and lemon zest and stir until smooth, adding 1 to 2 tablespoons more lemon juice or water as desired to loosen the consistency.Step 3Optionally, blanch string beans in a pot of salted water or microwave until vibrantly green, 1 to 2 minutes. Add to the large bowl all beans, hominy, and bell pepper, and stir to coat evenly with the dressing. Step 4Top with peanuts right before serving.
Now that I’m an adult by most accounts, I get to remake bean salad in a way that makes me love it the way it deserves to be loved. Beans are wonderful: creamy, full of fiber and protein, and so gosh darn cute. I’ve kept all OG beans in this case, but you’re free to use whatever kinds you want! Color, flavor, and texture are all bound to be a little different if you make swaps, but that’s what makes cooking and eating exciting! I’ve also added a can of hominy for meatiness, but if you have leftover brown rice, farro, lentils, quinoa, tofu or even meat, any could be an excellent substitute too! For extra brownie points, toast your spices before they go into the dressing for an added layer of depth of flavor. If you’ve made this recipe, let us know down below in the comments how you liked it!
