Description
A refreshing Holiday Green Bean Salad featuring tender-crisp green beans tossed with tangy feta cheese, sweet dried cranberries, crunchy toasted walnuts, and a vibrant balsamic-honey dressing. Perfect as a festive side dish that combines crisp textures and bold flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup toasted walnuts, roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Green Beans: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil to prepare the green beans for blanching.
- Blanch Green Beans: Add trimmed green beans to the boiling water and cook for 3-4 minutes until bright green and tender-crisp, preserving their crunch and color.
- Cool Beans: Transfer the blanched green beans immediately to ice water to halt cooking. Let them cool for 5 minutes, then drain thoroughly and pat dry to remove excess moisture.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the cooled green beans with crumbled feta cheese, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, and thinly sliced red onion.
- Make Dressing: Whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl or jar until fully emulsified.
- Toss Salad: Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and gently toss to ensure all ingredients are well coated with the flavorful dressing.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste and add more salt or pepper if needed for balance.
- Garnish and Serve: Transfer the salad to a serving platter or individual bowls and sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley for a vibrant finish.
- Chill if Desired: Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to one hour to allow flavors to meld and deepen.
Notes
- Blanching the green beans helps retain their crispness and bright color.
- To toast walnuts, place them in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until fragrant.
- This salad can be made ahead and chilled for up to 1 hour for better flavor integration.
- For a vegan version, omit feta or substitute with a plant-based cheese alternative.
- Adjust honey amount or substitute with maple syrup for a different sweet note.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: green bean salad, holiday salad, feta cheese salad, cranberry walnut salad, healthy side dish, festive salad
