French Green Bean-Pea Salad
A vibrant and crunchy salad featuring tender French green beans, sweet peas, and colorful vegetables, all coated in a tangy Italian dressing. Topped with crispy bacon, it offers a perfect balance of freshness and savory flavors, ideal for summer gatherings or as a flavorful side dish.
Ingredients
- 2 cans French green beans ⓘ
- 1 can peas ⓘ
- 1/2 to 2/3 cup onion, chopped or green onions ⓘ
- 1/2 to 2/3 cup green pepper, chopped ⓘ
- 1 small can mushrooms, chopped ⓘ
- 1/2 to 2/3 cup stuffed green olives, sliced ⓘ
- Italian (garlic) dressing as desired ⓘ
- 1/2 cup olive oil ⓘ
- 1/2 cup wine vinegar ⓘ
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar ⓘ
- 2 medium garlic cloves, crushed ⓘ
Instructions
- Drain the canned French green beans and peas.
- Chop the onion, green pepper, and mushrooms.
- Slice the stuffed green olives.
- In a bowl, combine the green beans, peas, chopped onion, green pepper, mushrooms, and olives.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together the Italian dressing, olive oil, wine vinegar, sugar, and crushed garlic cloves to make the dressing.
- Pour the dressing over the vegetable mixture and toss to coat evenly.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Before serving, crumble 5 or 6 slices of well drained bacon over the top.
Tips & Substitutions
To enhance flavor, consider adding fresh herbs like parsley or dill. If you prefer a lighter dressing, substitute half of the olive oil with Greek yogurt. For a vegan option, replace the stuffed green olives with capers and omit the bacon. This salad is versatile, so feel free to switch up the veggies based on what you have on hand.
Serving Suggestions
This salad makes a great side dish for grilled meats like Mint-Wine Lamb Chops or can be served at a picnic alongside Mediterranean recipes. For a heartier meal, add some cooked quinoa or chickpeas. Garnish with crumbled bacon right before serving for added crunch and flavor.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To serve, simply toss the salad again to redistribute the dressing. If the salad seems dry after refrigeration, drizzle a bit of olive oil or vinegar to refresh its flavor before serving.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of French Green Bean-Pea Salad contains roughly 564 calories, with 12g protein, 39g carbohydrates, and 41g fat. It is an excellent source of vitamin A (78% of the Daily Value), vitamin C (65% of the Daily Value), and dietary fiber (41% of the Daily Value), and a good source of potassium. Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 530mg per serving (23% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use fresh green beans instead of canned?
Absolutely! Fresh green beans can be blanched and then used in place of canned. Just trim and chop them, then boil them in salted water for 3-4 minutes until tender-crisp. Drain and cool before adding them to the salad.
How can I make this salad spicier?
To add some heat, consider mixing in sliced jalapeños or a pinch of red pepper flakes into the dressing. You can also add diced hot peppers or use a spicy dressing variant. Adjust to your taste for a delightful kick!
What can I serve this salad with?
This French Green Bean-Pea Salad pairs beautifully with grilled chicken or fish. It also complements lighter dishes like Avocado And Tomato Salad. For a complete meal, serve it alongside crusty bread or a simple pasta dish.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).