French Bean Refrigerator Salad
Jan 14, 2021, Updated Jan 30, 2023
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This recipe is sponsored by North Bay Produce.
Busy days require quick and easy meals. But that doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice flavor or nutrition! Ditch the bland and boring and forget the fast and greasy — French Bean Refrigerator Salad is a flavorful and wholesome replacement for your old packed lunches.
With unlimited pairing potential, you’ll never get tired of it! Our partners at North Bay Produce have brought us some tasty ideas for meal prepping with this unique salad.
Every Season is Bean Season
When you buy produce that’s in season, you’ll find it’s tastier and more nutritious than fruits and vegetables grown out of season. Unfortunately, farms can only grow your favorite produce during certain months of the year. But what if you want to buy some blueberries, figs, or French beans when they’re out of season? North Bay Produce has you covered!
North Bay fruits and vegetables are in season all year long. Spread throughout the Western Hemisphere in the United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America, their growers experience different climates and seasons at the same time. So while the French beans you need for this recipe may not be in season at one farm, another will be able to grow them!
From its headquarters in Traverse City, Michigan, North Bay coordinates the shipping of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, apples, asparagus, snow peas, sugar snaps, pomegranates, and figs from far-flung farms to your local grocery store. Each member of the North Bay grower cooperative commits to sustainable practices and utilizes modern agricultural innovation. When you see the North Bay logo in your produce section, you’ll know you’ve found fresh, safe, environmentally-friendly produce.
Learn about North Bay’s commitment to food safety with Director of Food Safety and Compliance Jennifer Pulcipher in Episode 101 of The Produce Moms Podcast!
Nutritional Benefits of French Beans
French beans are a favorite legume for families around the world. And it’s popular for good reason! Not only are they delicious and useful addition to the pantry, but they also provide many nutritional benefits.
French beans are high in protein and good for your digestive system. They’re also high in fiber and low in fat, making them heart-healthy. What’s more, they provide a good source of potassium and Vitamins A and C.
This French Bean Refrigerator Salad uses both yellow and green French beans. It also includes chickpeas, which add texture and extra protein. Onion, basil, and balsamic vinegar round out this salad’s garden-fresh flavor.
Versatile French Bean Refrigerator Salad
When you’ve finished prepping this salad, put it in the refrigerator to make it cool and crisp and to allow the flavors to marinate. But you don’t have to stop there: this versatile salad can be mixed and matched with more ingredients to add some variety to your meals.
Try these flavorful combinations with your French bean salad:
- over a bed of spinach or salad greens
- over a bed of wild rice
- with a side of seasoned chicken breast
- with a side of scrambled eggs and avocado slices
- with a side of pita bread and avocado slices
We’ve given you a few ideas to get started, but there are many ingredients you can add to this salad to transform it into a full meal.
French Bean Refrigerator Salad
Ingredients
- 1 package North Bay Produce French Beans washed in collander
- 1 package North Bay Produce Yellow French Beans washed in collander
- 1 can chickpeas drained & rinsed
- 1 red onion julienned
- 1 oz fresh basil julienned
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinaigrette
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Toss beans, chickpeas, onion & basil into a large mixing bowl.
- Pour vinaigrette over ingredients, add salt & pepper, and toss to mix. Salad can be eaten right away, but for optimal flavor, let it marinate in the refrigerator for several hours.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What are you adding to your French Bean Refrigerator Salad? Has it become a meal-prepping mainstay in your kitchen? Let us know in the comments or tag us on Instagram @theproducemoms and @northbayproduce.
Related: North Bay Farm Tours 2020 and North Bay Farm Tours 2019
