For as much as I love a good upside-down cake or multi-step vegetable pie, there are many times I’m rushing around and need to throw something together very quickly. I get a lot of emails from readers who need ideas for make ahead lunches and things they can pack to take with them to work or school. Today’s recipe comes straight from the pantry – all things you should have on hand already, and no trip to the grocery store required.
Three Bean Pantry Salad
Ingredients:
- 1 can black beans, drained
- 1 can kidney beans, drained
- 1 can garbanzo beans, drained
- 3 large carrots, diced
- 3 stalks celery, diced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
To Prepare: Start with the beans – you can use any three types of beans that you prefer. I wish I had red kidney beans on hand because they would have been prettier, but like I said above – this recipe is all about going with what’s in the pantry.
Open cans, drain, rinse, and add to a big mixing bowl.
Dice the carrots and celery (and any other good crunchy veggies you have on hand – peppers would be great!) and add to the bean bowl.
And just in case you didn’t know, your refrigerator’s veggie drawer should always always always have carrots and celery in them. They are (along with onions) the base for everything!
Next up, simple dressing. Mix olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, garam masala, and paprika in a small bowl. Whisk to combine!
Pour the dressing over the beans and veggies and stir to coat. Mmmmmmmm.
It isn’t gourmet and it isn’t complex. But it is simple, fast, and most importantly – healthy and delicious.
The great thing about this type of salad is that it gets better by the hour. The longer it sits (within reason), the more the flavors marinate and soak into the beans.
So there you go – super simple bean and vegetable salad that takes 5 minutes from start to finish. Because not every recipe has to involve turning on the stove or making a huge mess!
Enjoy!
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Calling all DC area readers and bloggers! The wonderful Lisa is organizing a fun blogger cookie swap on December 12th – I will be there and I’d love to meet and see more of you. You can email her for more info or to RSVP! Let me know if you’re planning on going!
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This is great! I usually make pasta salads for the week, but I think this would be another, healthier option. I love how the flavor gets better if you let it sit longer.
Too bad I’m not in the area for the cookie swap. Sounds fun. :)
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Aw, we’re having a cookie swap in Charlotte too. Wish you could be there! :)
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 8:46 pm
Oh man, me too. Believe it or not, I am actually missing Charlotte quite a lot these days. :(
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I make a bean salad like this (just whatever I have on hand) probably a couple of times a month for work lunches. But I never thought to add garam masala! And I loooove Indian food. Yum.
~
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I love bean salads! I think my favorite is chick pea, tomato , basil. Too bad it isn’ summer!
I think I am too busy for my own good. Looks like I am going to miss another great dc blogger meetup!
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I love simple salads, with food that you have on hand like this one! Brilliant! :)
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Bean salad rocks… I love using edamame in mine!
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Great salad. I make something similar but with onions and feta too. Great to take to work for lunch!!
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Looks like a great salad!!! Thanks for sharing!
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Cookie swap? Please do post the goodies once you attend! I love a cookie swap!
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I wish I lived there…I want to do a cookie swap! The salad looks perfect…I love pantry foods!
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I’ll be at the cookie swap! I just have to decide what to make :)
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That salad looks fantastic!
I wish I could make it to the cookie swap, but I am out of town that weekend. I’ve hosted on the past few years, but this year I am just too busy. Maybe someone will come up with a virtual cookie swap! I have no idea how the logistics of that would work though.
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
Boo we’ll just have to keep planning things until you can come!
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oops, I meant “I’ve hosted one…”
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This is right up my alley. I started keeping celery and carrots on hand for homemade veggie/bean burgers and I agree, they are a staple item!
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Ooh, I’m totally in for a cookie swap! I’m a little intimidated to be surrounded by real chefs and bakers though. Hope you like chocolate chip cookies :) Mmm, or ginger spice.
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This looks delicious. I am always on the lookout for easy quick recipes that work well in lunches I take to work. Since Sept 1 I have also had a daily lunchbox series on my blog because that seems to be of interest to many people :)
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Looks like I’ve got lunch for tomorrow planned with this recipe- I love that all the ingredients are already in my pantry/fridge! YES!
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Garam masala – what a great addition! Your salad looks fresh and nutritious, unlike many things produced from pantry staples.
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You had me at “simple” and “fast.”
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I’m in for the cookie swap! Planning on making some vegan truffles. And other things.
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
Awesome – can’t wait to meet yoU!
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Looks like a great recipe. I do like quick and easy stuff, even though I love to cook.
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There are always carrots and onions in our house, but never celery–I can’t stand it! Occasionally I buy it to put in soup, but that that’s it. :)
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
I don’t like celery either – only IN things!
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Looks good. How many servings would you say this makes?
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Probably 6 normal person servings. More like 4 Emily and Casey servings. :)
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I LOVE the 3 Bean Salad that they have on Salad Bars but this looks so much better.
Aww, what a great idea to have a cookie swap. I wish I could make it.
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Ooh, I must try this one time! Evernoting now! :)
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I love salads like these. Great to see your flavour additions to mix up my normal routine. Thanks!
Heidi xo
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Looks yummy!
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I love how easy this looks! Sometimes it’s the simple things that taste the best.
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i’ve been adding ground flaxseed meal to my salads lately and it gives them this great nutty flavor – this might be a candidate for that too! (I might be too close to writing the “Why You Should Add Ground Flaxseed Meal to Everything” book, but it’s so tasty!) – thanks for the idea, looks great!
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this looks amazing! so simple and quick, definitely going to be a lunch sometime soon, i love beans as a base!
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I actually have a can of canellini beans open currently– and this is a perfect on the go/ take to school or work meal. That’s what my meals consist of presently :)
I’d love to see more of these quick and easy meal ideas!
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I always love your recipes! They are so colorful and healthy! :)
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Love simple recipes like this – I am constantly makign dishes like this (most likely in the summer) to eat for lunch or bring to school.
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This looks a lot like the lunch I had today. I love pantry salads. :-)
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I made this a lot this summer….going to have to whip up a another batch! I’ve never put Garam Marsala in it.
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I have a bean salad on my menu for this week. They are so easy and yummy! This one looks great, too!
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Awesome! I’ve been on the lookout for a quick & easy bean-salad recipe – this looks delish.
Thanks Emily!
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this is perfect, simple yet tasty
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How funny, I am making my own three-bean salad today. Funny to me, because I am using those same three beans (except I do have red kidney beans!) It definitely tastes the best when it has had time to marinate!
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Thanks for mentioning the cookie swap! I’m game!
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