Lip-smackin’ Yum! When I tried this salad at a recent family picnic, I knew I had to get the recipe. Of course, it was something I knew I could almost replicate by intuition and experimentation, but when you’ve found something good, you might as well go straight to the source – which I did.
This recipe traces back to our one-and-only Aunt Konnie – a classy example of rural refinement – who adapted it from a Gooseberry Patch cookbook. Besides being known for her yummy home-style cooking, Aunt Konnie can’t hold back how much she treasures family. Check out this sweet photo I snapped of her with her farmer-husband and their two sweet grandbabies.
When Konnie emailed me the recipe (with her notes) and I stirred these lovely ingredients together for the first time, I couldn’t resist adding a splash of feta cheese (my favorite!) so I’ve given it my own twist as well… and I ALWAYS encourage my readers to adapt and play with recipes to hone them to satisfy their own unique tastes and preferences.
So here you have it, a wonderful starting place for adding zing to your next meal – which should really be hosted outdoors if you can swing it. You just can’t beat this early autumn weather when even in the Midwest it feels like you’re in SoCal with highs in the 80s, lows in the 60s and bright sunshiny days!
- 15-oz. can Cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 small zucchini squash, diced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved (or whole if they are small)
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
- 3 Tbs olive oil
- 2 Tbs lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper and garlic powder
- Combine all “chunky” ingredients in a large bowl.
- Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice (or vinegar), any spices and the fresh chopped herbs.
- Pour the homemade dressing over the bean, veggie and cheese mixture.
- Cover and refrigerate.
- Let stand at room temperature 20 to 30 minutes before serving.
- Aunt Konnie uses Tuscan infused olive oil in salads like these for extra amazing flavor.
- Great White Northern beans may be substituted for the Cannellini beans if desired.
- Remember to make this salad your own by adjusting amounts and adding or subtracting ingredients to suit your taste.
Sounds great. I love feta and tend to think it makes just about everything better.