Dense Bean Salad Dressing (Printable)

Protein-packed bean and vegetable salad tossed in a tart cherry vinaigrette dressing.

# Ingredient list:

→ Beans

01 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
03 - 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed

→ Vegetables & Herbs

04 - 1 cup (150 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 small cucumber, diced
06 - 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
07 - 1/4 cup (8 g) fresh parsley, chopped
08 - 2 tbsp (6 g) fresh dill, chopped

→ Sleepy Girl Mocktail Dressing

09 - 1/4 cup (60 ml) tart cherry juice, unsweetened
10 - 2 tbsp (30 ml) extra virgin olive oil
11 - 1 tbsp (15 ml) apple cider vinegar
12 - 1 tsp (5 ml) maple syrup or honey
13 - 1 tsp (5 g) Dijon mustard
14 - 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
15 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Optional Toppings

16 - 2 oz (60 g) feta cheese, crumbled
17 - 1/4 cup (30 g) toasted walnuts or pumpkin seeds

# Cooking steps:

01 - In a large bowl, combine chickpeas, cannellini beans, kidney beans, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, parsley, and dill.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk tart cherry juice, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
03 - Pour dressing over bean and vegetable mixture; toss gently to coat evenly.
04 - Taste the salad and adjust seasoning as desired.
05 - Transfer to serving plate or bowl and top with feta cheese and nuts or seeds, if using.
06 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes to meld flavors.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • Three kinds of beans mean serious protein and fiber without any animal products if you skip the cheese.
  • The tart cherry dressing is genuinely unique—it's tangy, slightly sweet, and tastes like you spent way more time on it than you actually did.
  • It's naturally gluten-free and comes together in under half an hour, making it perfect for meal prep or last-minute dinner guests.
  • There's something almost spa-like about eating something specifically designed to help you wind down before bed.
02 -
  • Don't skip the rinsing step for canned beans—that starchy liquid is what prevents the dressing from coating everything properly.
  • If you make this more than a couple hours ahead, the vegetables will release water and dilute the dressing; dress it fresh if you can, or make extra dressing to adjust the balance.
  • The Dijon mustard isn't about mustard flavor; it's about holding the oil and vinegar together, so don't substitute or skip it.
03 -
  • Make a double batch of dressing and keep it in the refrigerator—it's the secret weapon for any grain or vegetable salad you make for the next week.
  • If tart cherry juice isn't available or you want to switch things up, pomegranate juice or even a mixture of cranberry and raspberry juice will give you similar tartness and those same gorgeous deep colors.
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