Three Bean Salad with Vinegar Dressing (Oil-Free)

A healthier take on an old classic! This easy Three Bean Salad recipe with a sweet + tangy vinegar dressing is oil-free and made with no refined sugar. So fresh and flavorful!

This is an old-fashioned bean salad but made lighter and healthier.

The classic recipe is typically made with quite a bit of oil and refined sugar.

However this salad combines three types of beans with a sweet and sour dressing that is made with no refined sugar and no oil.

Plus it is full of plant-based protein and fiber.

Ingredients for Three Bean Salad

For the salad portion you will need:

• Red kidney beans
• Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
• Fresh green beans: Typically this salad is made with canned green beans, however I like the taste of fresh beans much better. I have not tested it with frozen green beans.
• Red onion
• Fresh parsley: Or you can substitute fresh cilantro.
• Fresh dill

It's versatile! Other beans could work too such as wax beans, black-eyed peas, black beans, cannellini beans, etc.

Ingredients for Dressing

For the sweet and tangy oil-free dressing you will need:

• Apple cider vinegar
• Dijon mustard: This adds a really nice tangy, sharp flavor to the dressing.
• Pure maple syrup: Or other sweetener of choice.
• Garlic cloves: I really enjoy the taste of fresh garlic best in the dressing, but you could substitute garlic powder if needed.
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Note: Be aware the dressing runs thinner than the traditional versions because there is no olive oil that solidifies and thickens in the fridge. But the flavors are delightful!

Serving

Make ahead: This recipe is great made 4 hours to 24 hours ahead of time so it can marinate in the fridge. (You can also serve it immediately if desired, however.)

It is a great side dish to toss together for picnics, potlucks, take along lunches, and meal prep.

Storing

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. We find it keeps well in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days.

For more inspiration, also browse all bean + legume recipes or dill recipes.

Three Bean Salad with Vinegar Dressing

A healthier take on an old classic! This three bean salad with a sweet & tangy vinegar dressing is made lighter with no oil or refined sugar.

5 from 5 votes

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Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Author: Kaitlin - The Garden Grazer

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: Gluten-Free, Oil-Free, Vegan

Servings: 5 (1 cup servings)

US CustomaryMetric

Ingredients

• 8 oz. fresh green beans (about 2 cups cut)
• 15 oz. can garbanzo beans
• 15 oz. can kidney beans
• 1/3 cup red onion
• 3 Tbsp. fresh parsley (or cilantro)
• 1 Tbsp. fresh dill

For the vinegar dressing:

• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (or up to 1/3 cup)
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1/4 tsp. salt (more/less to taste)

Instructions

• Prepare green beans: Trim and cut green beans into about 1-inch pieces. Cook green beans for 3-5 minutes until crisp-tender.* Then rinse with cold water. Drain and pat dry.
• Add green beans to a large bowl. Add garbanzo beans and kidney beans (rinsed and drained). Finely dice red onion, and roughly chop herbs. Add to bowl.
• Make the dressing: combine all dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk.
• Pour dressing over salad and stir well to combine. Adjust flavors as desired. (More salt, herbs, sweetness, vinegar, etc.)

Notes

*To cook green beans: I steam/sauté mine in a covered skillet over medium-high heat with a little water. (Or you can simply boil them.)

Serving: You can serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours for best flavor. Be sure to stir again before serving as some dressing will settle at the bottom.

Yield: Recipe makes about 5 cups salad.

Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)

Nutrition Facts

Three Bean Salad with Vinegar Dressing

Amount per Serving

Calories

183

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

2

g

3

%

Saturated Fat

 

1

g

6

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

1

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

1

g

Potassium

 

495

mg

14

%

Carbohydrates

 

33

g

11

%

Fiber

 

10

g

42

%

Sugar

 

7

g

8

%

Protein

 

10

g

20

%

Vitamin A

 

535

IU

11

%

Vitamin C

 

11

mg

13

%

Calcium

 

86

mg

9

%

Iron

 

3

mg

17

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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If you are enjoying this healthy (oil-free) three bean salad recipe with vinegar dressing and no refined sugar, also check out:

• Vegan Greek Salad
• Cucumber Salad
• Mediterranean Three Bean Salad

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