Mediterranean White Bean Salad

Featured in: Light & Bright Bowls

This Mediterranean dish blends creamy white beans with crisp cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper, and olives. Tossed in a zesty lemon and herb dressing, it’s finished with crumbled feta for a balance of tangy creaminess. Perfectly light and protein-rich, it’s ready in just 15 minutes, ideal for a refreshing lunch or side. Flavorful and simple, it invites customization like arugula or vegan cheese alternatives.

Updated on Mon, 24 Nov 2025 08:04:00 GMT
Creamy white beans and feta mingle in this colorful Mediterranean white bean salad. Save
Creamy white beans and feta mingle in this colorful Mediterranean white bean salad. | basilrise.com

A vibrant, protein-packed salad featuring creamy white beans, crisp vegetables, tangy feta, and a zesty lemon-herb dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or side, all for under 10&euro.

This salad quickly became a staple in my kitchen for busy weeknights, offering fresh flavors with minimal effort.

Ingredients

  • Beans & Dairy: 2 cans (400 g each) white beans (such as cannellini or butter beans), drained and rinsed, 120 g feta cheese, crumbled
  • Vegetables: 1 medium cucumber, diced, 200 g cherry tomatoes, halved, 1 small red onion, finely diced, 1 small red bell pepper, diced, 50 g pitted black olives, sliced, 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
  • Dressing: 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, Juice of 1 lemon, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 small garlic clove, minced, Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Step 1:
In a large salad bowl, combine the white beans, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper, olives, and parsley.
Step 2:
In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until well emulsified.
Step 3:
Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently to combine.
Step 4:
Add the crumbled feta cheese and toss lightly, just to distribute without breaking up the cheese too much.
Step 5:
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately or chill for 30 minutes to allow flavors to develop.
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This salad has become a family favorite, often served at weekend lunches where everyone enjoys the fresh and zesty flavors together.

Notes

Pairs well with grilled fish or chicken. Best enjoyed fresh but can be refrigerated (airtight) for up to 2 days.

Required Tools

Large salad bowl, small bowl or jar for dressing, whisk or fork, cutting board and knife

Allergen Information

Contains dairy (feta cheese). Check feta and mustard labels for possible allergens. Gluten-free, but always verify labels if gluten is a concern.

Fresh Mediterranean white bean salad with feta, bursting with bright tomatoes and zesty lemon dressing. Save
Fresh Mediterranean white bean salad with feta, bursting with bright tomatoes and zesty lemon dressing. | basilrise.com

This salad is perfect for a quick, healthy meal that doesn’t compromise on flavor or nutrition.

Mediterranean White Bean Salad

A fresh salad combining white beans, crisp vegetables, feta, and zesty lemon-herb dressing.

Getting Ready Time
15 min
0
Time Required
15 min
Created by Claire Hastings

Recipe type Light & Bright Bowls

Skill Level Easy

Cuisine Mediterranean

Serves 4 Portions

Dietary guidelines Meatless, No Gluten

What You Need

Beans & Dairy

01 2 cans (14.1 oz each) white beans (cannellini or butter beans), drained and rinsed
02 4.2 oz feta cheese, crumbled

Vegetables

01 1 medium cucumber, diced
02 7 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
03 1 small red onion, finely diced
04 1 small red bell pepper, diced
05 1.8 oz pitted black olives, sliced
06 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Dressing

01 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
02 Juice of 1 lemon
03 1 tsp dried oregano
04 1 tsp Dijon mustard
05 1 small garlic clove, minced
06 Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Steps

Step 01

Combine salad ingredients: In a large salad bowl, combine the white beans, diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, finely diced red onion, diced red bell pepper, sliced black olives, and chopped parsley.

Step 02

Prepare dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified.

Step 03

Dress the salad: Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently to combine evenly.

Step 04

Incorporate feta cheese: Add crumbled feta cheese and toss lightly to distribute without breaking the cheese.

Step 05

Adjust seasoning and serve: Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes to enhance flavors.

Kitchen Essentials

  • Large salad bowl
  • Small bowl or jar for dressing
  • Whisk or fork
  • Cutting board and knife

Possible Allergens

Go through ingredients for allergens. Reach out to a health expert if you're unsure.
  • Contains dairy (feta cheese). Verify feta and mustard labels for allergens.
  • Gluten-free, but confirm ingredient labels if sensitivity exists.

Nutrition details (per portion)

Nutrition info is for reference only, not a substitute for specialist advice.
  • Calorie Count: 340
  • Fats: 16 g
  • Carbohydrates: 33 g
  • Proteins: 13 g