Sunday, June 5, 2011

Bean Salad - aka Cowboy Caviar

Summer - the season of cold foods and salads! In the heat of summer, we need the refreshing coolness of fruits and vegetables. Oh, you know I like the grill and the smoker, but I also love the cool foods of summer.


My family's favorite has to be one of the simplest summer salads you can make, a bean salad. It is very flexible, is open to almost any interpretation, and can be a meal unto itself.  You could cook all the beans from scratch but why? Unless you have some put up from last year, store bought canned will work just fine though I suspect home canned would be that much better!

Ingredients:
15.5 oz can drained and rinsed Red Kidney beans
15.5 oz can drained and rinsed Garbanzo beans (also known as Ceci or chickpeas)
15.5 oz can drained and rinsed Black Beans
15.5 oz can  drained and rinsed White beans
11 oz can drained Corn with chili's
Red onion diced
Celery Diced
Sweet pickle chips - chopped
1 handful minced Cilantro (or to taste (optional))
Salt to taste
1/4 - 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing - or make your own oil and vinegar based dressing






















Dice the celery and onion. Put into a large bowl. Add chopped sweet pickles.




















Open and drain rinse all the beans. Just drain the corn, no need to rinse it. Add to bowl.





















Add the minced cilantro and gently fold to combine.  Add the dressing and combine again.




















You may serve immediately or chill it before serving.  It will keep 3-4 days. This is great picnic / BBQ fare. Feel free to add minced garlic, hominy, chopped sweet peppers, diced cucumber or ....?

Until next time, Eat Well & Keep Digging!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
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4 comments:

  1. Looks great - very colourful - and I know it would taste great. However, the cilantro in it would probably kill me! (I'm very allergic to it). I'd add parsley instead.

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  2. Thanks Mark! That's the beauty of it, it can be modified in so many ways!

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  3. hey! i took your advice and sauteed my radish tops in garlic - with some scapes. wow! what a taste sensation! thanks for the tip!
    :-)

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  4. OFG - Great! - I love using all the plant! my freinds radishes also bolted, and she is w/i 2miles of me - I don't know why! Mine are lovely (through luck not skill).

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