French String Beans, Tomato and Basil Salad

5.00 (4)
⏱ 50 mins 🍽 4 serving(s) 🏷 Beans

This colourful vegetarian salad makes a vibrant side dish. It features crisp green beans tossed in a vinaigrette, arranged on a platter with fresh tomato slices and a garnish of sliced onion and basil. The careful preparation results in a beautiful presentation of green, white and red. It is a family favourite recipe that is packed with fresh flavours and vitamins.

French String Beans, Tomato and Basil Salad

Ingredients

  • 1 lb thin string bean
  • 2 tablespoons good quality red wine vinegar (preferably Italian or French)
  • 3 tablespoons peanut oil or 3 tablespoons grapeseed oil
  • salt and pepper
  • 3 large fresh tomatoes
  • 1/3 cup virgin olive oil
  • 1/3 cup thinly sliced onion, for garnish
  • 15 -20 basil leaves

Method

  1. Put around 1/2 inch of water into a medium stainless steel saucepan with roughly 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
  2. Heat the water until it boils.
  3. Put the string beans into the boiling water.
  4. Cover the pan and let it boil strongly for 5 minutes.
  5. The beans should become crunchy, cooked and a bright green colour.
  6. Use a skimmer to remove the beans from the pan and spread them out on a large plate to cool.
  7. Toss the cooled beans with 2 tbsp of the red wine vinegar and the peanut or grapeseed oil.
  8. Add salt and pepper to taste, then set the beans aside.
  9. You may peel the tomatoes, though this step is optional.
  10. Cut the tomatoes into very thin crosswise slices.
  11. Place the seasoned string beans in the middle of a large serving platter and arrange the tomato slices around them.
  12. Sprinkle the tomatoes liberally with salt and pepper.
  13. Tomatoes require a good amount of seasoning.
  14. Next, drizzle the tomatoes with the remaining vinegar and the virgin olive oil.
  15. Rinse the fresh basil leaves and separate them from the stems.
  16. Gather the largest leaves into a pile.
  17. Roll the leaves tightly into a bundle and slice them into very thin, long strips.
  18. Slice the onion very thinly and separate the slices into individual rings.
  19. With the beans in the centre, scatter the onion rings on top, surround the beans with the tomato slices, and arrange the basil strips around the edge to form a border.

Nutrition (per serving)

Sodium14800 mg

Recipe details

CategoryBeans
AuthorPolar Bear