Bean salad facts for kids
Bean salad made with white beans, red and green bell peppers, and onions
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| Alternative names | Three-Bean Salad, Four-Bean Salad, etc. |
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| Type | Salad |
| Main ingredients | Beans (green beans, yellow wax beans), chickpeas, kidney beans, onions, peppers or other vegetables |
Bean salad is a popular cold dish. It is a type of salad made from different kinds of cooked beans. Common beans used include green beans, wax beans, kidney beans, and lima beans. These beans are mixed with a sweet and sour dressing called a vinaigrette.
Sometimes, other fresh or cooked vegetables are added. These can be raw onions, bell peppers, or chickpeas.
Bean salad can also be prepared to last longer, like a pickled dish. This makes it a good choice for home canning, which is a way to preserve food in jars. Salads prepared this way are best eaten within a year.
Many cultures around the world have their own special bean salads. For example, Balela is a Middle Eastern salad. It usually has chickpeas and black beans. It is mixed with tomatoes, herbs, parsley, and lemon juice.
In South America, bean salad often features poroto beans. It is served with tomatoes, parsley, and a dressing made of oil and vinegar. This salad is often eaten with grilled steak.
In the United States, this dish is often called "three-bean salad". Sometimes, bean salad might also include grains like barley, pasta, rice, or quinoa.
History of Bean Salad
People have been enjoying salads made with cooked beans for a long time. They were especially popular for picnics and outdoor trips. This tradition goes back at least to the 1800s.
How to Make and Store Bean Salad
The main ingredients in bean salad, the beans, are already cooked. The vinaigrette dressing also helps to keep the dish fresh for a while without needing a refrigerator right away.
If you keep bean salad in the refrigerator, it can stay good for about three to five days. It should be thrown away if it has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours. Most bean salad recipes do not contain meat or dairy products. This helps the dish stay fresh longer compared to foods that need constant refrigeration.
See Also
In Spanish: Ensalada de judías para niños
