FOOD NEWS
For The Best Bean Salad, You Need A Bit Of Crunch
By Dena J. DiOrio
Bean salads are a great addition to summer picnics or backyard barbecues, but adding a few extra ingredients to this side dish wouldn't hurt if you want a little extra crunch.
The key is to look for highly textured and flavorful options. You should also consider using in-season vegetables whenever possible.
For a texturally unique composition of flavorful summer ingredients, throw in some okra, green or red bell peppers, and diced carrots.
Other additions to consider if you want a crunchy bean salad are toasted almonds, pumpkin seeds, jalapeños, fennel bulbs, lentils, and celery.
You can also look beyond the traditional three-bean salad and mix up your choice of beans with non-traditional ones that will add more crunch and depth to your salad.
Pintos, black beans, garbanzos, butter beans, navy beans, cannellinis, and favas are all great options to consider, but the sky's the limit when it comes to bean combinations.