Tuscan White Bean Salad with Arugula

Posted By
A versatile Italian white beans, zucchini, and arugula salad with earthy sun-dried tomato and caper dressing.
View Recipe

Tuscan White Bean Salad - A meaty meatless white beans, peppery arugula, flat zucchini noodles, and radicchio salad with a zesty sun-dried tomato dressing. I call this a salad but actually it is a complete low-carb and filling meal which is also very versatile. You can pack it for a healthy lunch, serve as-is for dinner, or serve on side of grilled/roasted main course. Gluten free, vegan, and loaded with fresh crunchy vegetables.

This summer Tuscan Bean Salad is my favorite for lunch or dinner when I want break from complex carbs and still want to eat filling. Creamy meaty white beans with scallions and flat zucchini noodles coated in flavorful tomato dressing does not let me feel for a second that I'm eating healthy, and meatless.

So, let's make White Bean Salad today!

Classic Tuscan bean salad does not have radicchio or zucchini.. This is my take on this classic white bean salad. It brings in more crunch of veggies to the table and is healthier and loaded with summer colors. I had hard time naming this recipe because you can even call it Tuscan Bean and Radicchio Salad,  Tuscan Bean and Zucchini Salad, or Tuscan Bean and Arugula Salad which I decided to use after thinking for a long time.. :) 

Honestly, no matter what you call this... Result is a delicious and versatile meaty beans and greens salad which can work many ways - lunch, dinner or even a potluck favorite. This salad can be ALL. Just try it! Thank you for listening :)

I don't want to go all nerdy but just in few lines. Arugula and radicchio are good blood purifying vegetables. Plus are also good source of iron, potassium and vitamin K. Beans are good source of vegetarian protein. And zucchini! It such a delicious zero-carb alternative to any pasta. Plus it is in season. So so sweet and flavorful...

Dressing is also clean and has big punch of flavor from red wine vinegar, sun-dried tomato oil, agave, oregano, and capers.

..this week had tone of zucchini recipes. We started week with easy ratatouille stew loaded with zucchini, yellow squash and eggplant. Today's, bean salad is the delicious way to try something new with zucchini. In this recipe, I have marinated the zucchini noodles in sun-dried tomato caper dressing. Raw zucchini absorbs flavors very quickly so this simple step made it very flavorful. Trust me, it is not just a side on plate but a delicious crunch element.


Recipe for white bean salad comes together in just 10 minutes. I decided to use canned beans which makes this salad a mix-and-go kinda salad. By all means, you can even use fresh cooked beans for this recipe.

To prepare this bean salad, first of all, I prepare the sun-dried tomato dressing. This dressing is heart and soul of bean salad. It's sweet and tangy flavor with briny capers and little hint of chili flakes is my favorite. White beans and zucchini both absorb the dressing very well. So, I like to prepare this salad a day before and refrigerate overnight. As it sits in fridge, flavor gets better and better. Next day, meaty, sweet, sour beans taste amazing with peppery arugula. A complete home run.

Optional, you can also add some feta cheese or goat cheese on top for extra creaminess. I, however, love enjoying a bowl as-is. Healthy, fit and scrumptious.


Friends, enjoy your share of fresh greens - arugula, zucchini, scallions... while these are in season, fresh, and loaded with nutrients.

This Tuscan White Bean Salad is gluten free, clean, filling, and vegan. I hope it will make to your weekend dinner table. Don't forget to save some for lunch. It tastes even better the next day.

Enjoy! Have a wonderful weekend!

-Savita

Some main course ideas for complete meal:
Chicken Fajita Chicken Souvlaki Parmesan Crusted Chicken Caprese

Tuscan White Bean Salad with Arugula
Total Time: Prep Time: Cook Time:
Cuisine:    Italian Category: Difficulty: Easy
Yields: 4-5 Servings Serves: 4
Notes: No. of servings depends on serving size. SEE PRINTABLE RECIPE

Ingredients

  • White Bean Salad
  • 4 Cup Cannellini Beans (2 of 15 ounce can, drained and rinsed)
  • 3-4 Green Onion (scallions, thin sliced)
  • Bunch Arugula
  • 1-2 Zucchini (thin sliced or spiralized)
  • 1 Radicchio (small chopped)
  • Sun-dried Tomato Caper Dressing
  • 1/3 Cup Sun-dried Tomatoes (packed in oil, about 8-10 pieces, rough chopped)
  • 2 Garlic (cloves, minced)
  • 3 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil (plus 1 tsp sun-dried tomato oil for flavor)
  • 2-3 tsp Agave Syrup (adjust per taste)
  • 1 tsp Capers (rough chopped)
  • 1 tsp Oregano
  • Salt and Black Pepper (to taste)
  • 1/4 tsp Thyme

Directions

  • 1. To make dressing, mix all ingredients except tomatoes in a small bowl. Whisk to emulsify oil, and vinegar. Add small chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Mix in generous pinch or two of salt and black pepper. Taste and adjust.
  • 2. Slice or spiralize zucchini. Add to a bowl with a tablespoon sun-dried tomato dressing. Toss well. Set aside.
  • 3. In remaining dressing, add white beans (drained and rinsed). Toss well and set aside.
  • 4. To serve, toss in arugula, and chopped radicchio. Garnish with more scallions and serve.
    Additional Notes:
    Optional, add some feta or goat cheese. (not vegan)
SEE FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE

© Chef De Home. Post content including video and photos are copyright protected.

2 Responses

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Delicious!!! I get my sun dried tomatoes at dollar tree and they’re great. I didn’t have thyme or raddiccio or green onion and I subbed the red wine vinegar for champagne vinegar and it still came out great. It’s just a good concept.
Write Feedback Read More Reviews

We Think You'll Love

Three Swirls Breakfast Bread Rolls with Basil Pesto and Sun-dried Tomato
Sun-Dried Tomato and Walnut Garland Bread
Savory Waffle and Grilled Portobello Sandwich