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Italian Grinder Bean Salad Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 66 reviews

This Italian Grinder Bean Salad is a vibrant and zesty dish combining beans, deli meats, fresh vegetables, and a tangy Italian dressing. Easy to prepare and perfect for a light lunch or a picnic, this salad offers a delightful balance of flavors and textures, featuring hearty chickpeas and kidney beans, savory salami and turkey, creamy bocconcini, and crisp vegetables.

Ingredients

Scale

Italian Dressing

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 Tbsp mayonnaise (use light if desired)
  • 1 Tbsp brine from banana peppers (optional)
  • ½ Tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic (minced)
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
  • Black pepper (to taste)

Salad Ingredients

  • 1 can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
  • 1 can red or white kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
  • 2 oz sliced salami (sliced into ¼-inch strips)
  • 2 oz deli turkey (sliced into ¼-inch strips)
  • 1 cup mini bocconcini pearls (or cubed fresh mozzarella)
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes (quartered)
  • 1 medium bell pepper (diced small)
  • ¼ medium red onion (sliced thin)
  • ½ cup pickled sliced banana peppers (drained and chopped)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Dressing: To the bottom of a large mixing bowl, combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, grated parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, banana pepper brine (if using), Dijon mustard, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Whisk everything together until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
  2. Add Salad Ingredients: Add the chickpeas, kidney beans, sliced salami, deli turkey, mini bocconcini pearls, quartered cherry tomatoes, diced bell pepper, thinly sliced red onion, and chopped pickled banana peppers to the bowl with the dressing.
  3. Toss the Salad: Gently toss all the ingredients together until they are evenly coated with the dressing. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper as desired. Serve immediately and enjoy your flavorful Italian Grinder Bean Salad!

Notes

  • For a vegetarian version, omit the salami and turkey and add extra beans or vegetables.
  • Chilling the salad for 30 minutes before serving allows flavors to meld beautifully.
  • Use fresh mozzarella if bocconcini pearls are unavailable.
  • Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to control the spiciness.
  • Mayonnaise lightens the texture of the dressing, but can be omitted for a lighter salad.

Keywords: Italian salad, bean salad, deli meat salad, easy salad recipe, no-cook salad, bocconcini salad, hearty salad, healthy lunch

Find it online: https://tastybynova.com/italian-grinder-bean-salad-recipe/