Green Bean Salad with Walnuts, Feta, and Lemon-Mint Vinaigrette Recipe
A refreshing and vibrant Green Bean Salad featuring crisp blanched green beans, crunchy walnuts, tangy feta cheese, and red onion. Tossed in a zesty homemade lemon-mint vinaigrette, this salad is perfect as a light side dish or a healthy lunch option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Green Bean Salad:
- 1 1/2 pounds green beans, trimmed and cut into 1.5” pieces
- 1 cup raw walnuts, chopped
- 2/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 2/3 cup red onion, chopped
Lemon-Mint Vinaigrette:
- 1 cup grapeseed or olive oil
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 lemon, zested
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the lemon-mint dressing: Add the grapeseed or olive oil, apple cider vinegar, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, roughly chopped fresh mint leaves, minced garlic, and kosher salt to a small blender. Blend the ingredients until smooth. Pour into a sealed container and refrigerate for up to 10 days until ready to use.
- Blanch the green beans: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the trimmed and cut green beans to the boiling water and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until they turn bright green and are tender-crisp.
- Shock and dry the green beans: Immediately transfer the cooked green beans to an ice bath to stop the cooking process and preserve their vibrant color and texture. Once fully cooled, drain the green beans in a colander and gently pat dry with a towel to remove excess moisture.
- Assemble the salad: In a large serving bowl, combine the blanched and dried green beans, chopped walnuts, crumbled feta cheese, and chopped red onion. Drizzle with the desired amount of lemon-mint vinaigrette and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly. Adjust salt to taste if needed.
- Serve: Serve the green bean salad chilled or at room temperature alongside your favorite entrée or as a standalone light dish.
Notes
- Blanching the green beans briefly preserves their bright color and crisp texture.
- The dressing can be made ahead and stored refrigerated for up to 10 days.
- Raw walnuts add a pleasant crunch and depth of flavor to the salad.
- Adjust the amount of dressing to taste to avoid overpowering the salad’s fresh flavors.
- To make salad preparation faster, prepare the dressing and chop ingredients in advance.
