An ode to all the beautiful things spring brings our way. Fresh snap peas meet charred lemon-marinated beans, fresh herbs, thinly sliced onion, diced avocado, crumbled feta, and crunchy pistachios on a bed of spring lettuces. For a salad that sounds pretty fancy, it couldn't be simpler to make. You’ve never tasted a salad so crisp, bright, or refreshing until you’ve had this one.
I know this salad states that it serves for 3-4 people, but my husband and I devoured this entire salad in 20 minutes flat. It's a balanced meal, with lots of plant protein, but it's also a phenomenal side to serve with grilled chicken, fish, or another summery main course.
Let me set the scene, it was late morning on a warm Saturday when I waltzed out (well, I just walked) to the garden to see how things were looking. Luckily, a large handful of snap peas were ready to be picked, and I was elated. This is our first year growing these beauties, and I was determined to do more with them than eat them plain or toss into a stir fry. So, when I got back into the house, I started throwing together this salad. I gathered my inspiration from the legendary Justine from Justine Snacks, and I tweaked some things to make it my own and adapt to the ingredients in my pantry.
Once the salad was prepared and photos were snapped, I sat on the living room floor eating bites of it until I realized I should wait until my husband was back inside from outdoor work so he could have some. The second he walked inside, we stood at the kitchen island shoveling down the salad. My husband's reaction with his first bite: *eyes rolled back in his head* paired with a passionate "wowowwwwww, that is so gooood!!!!!" We sat down at the island and made quick work of polishing off the salad.
We're officially huge fans of this salad, and I know we'll be making this over and over as long as we have snap peas. From the first bite of this salad, I knew we had to share the recipe with you. Hopefully your stash of snap peas from the farmers' market, your own garden, or grocery store will be transformed into this phenomenal, fresh, bright, crunchy, flavorful, and unique salad.
Ingredients for a Marinated Bean and Snap Pea Salad
- lemon
- extra virgin olive oil
- garlic
- red pepper flakes
- kosher salt
- white beans (great northern beans or butter beans)
- fresh snap peas, sliced diagonally
- sweet onion, thinly sliced
- fresh basil, chopped
- fresh parsley, chopped
- feta cheese, crumbled (or goat cheese or mini mozzarella pearls)
- avocado, diced
- pistachios, chopped
- flaky salt
- spring lettuce mix or arugula
Steps to Make Spring Snap Pea Salad with Charred Lemon Marinated Beans
2. In a frying pan over medium heat, add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the chopped lemon and swirl. Be careful, as it will splatter some. Swirling occasionally, let the chopped lemon cook for 4-5 minutes, or until darkened and beginning to char. (See photo below)
3. Transfer the charred lemon and oil to a medium sized bowl and grate the garlic into the hot oil. Add red pepper flakes and salt and stir to combine.
4. To make the charred lemon marinated beans, add the drained and rinsed beans into the bowl with the dressing, stirring to fully coat the beans. Set aside while preparing the rest of the salad.
5. To make the snap pea salad, in a mixing bowl, add the sliced snap peas, thinly sliced onion, basil, parsley, feta cheese, and avocado. Squeeze the remaining lemon half over these ingredients and toss to combine. Add in the marinated bean and dressing mixture.
6. To serve, spoon the bean salad over a bed of spring lettuce mix or eat on its own. Sprinkle with flaky salt and a heavy sprinkling of chopped pistachios. Enjoy!
Favorite Tools and Ingredients To Making This Salad
Favorite Cutting Boards (dishwasher safe, long lasting, and doesn't contain any microplastics)
Microplane - for Zesting Citrus or Grating Garlic
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Other Fresh & Healthy Meal Ideas
Love Chinese Take-Out but you want something quicker, healthier, and much cheaper? This Honey Sesame Stir Fry with Chicken will be a new go-to recipe for you. It's so quick, delicious, and will satisfy all those cravings. It's packed with veggies and protein, plus you can make it with whatever fresh OR frozen veggies you have on hand.
This Nectarine Caprese Salad is packed with juicy nectarines (or peaches), heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, a drizzle of olive oil, some lemon juice, fresh basil and mint, and a heavy dose of balsamic glaze. It’s bright, fresh, and hydrating. SO delish.
One of the best weeknight meals or meal prep options will always be this Italian Grinder Pasta Salad. It’s loaded with all the traditional flavors and additions you’d find on a grinder sub but in a pasta salad format. This will forever be one of the best pasta salads to ever exist. Don’t just trust my word, try it for yourself!
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