Dense Bean Salad Sleepy Girl (Printable Version)

Protein-rich bean salad tossed with fresh vegetables and a unique tart cherry vinaigrette for a soothing meal.

# Components:

→ 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 and 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, 100% 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

# Method 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 together tart cherry juice, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the bean and vegetable mixture and toss gently to coat evenly.
04 - Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
05 - Transfer to a serving platter or bowl and top with feta cheese and nuts or seeds if using.
06 - Serve immediately, or refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's substantial enough to be dinner but light enough to eat before bed without feeling heavy.
  • The tart cherry dressing is tangy and complex, making you forget this is technically wellness food.
  • Everything comes together in 20 minutes with zero cooking—perfect for nights when turning on the oven feels like too much.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the canned beans, or you'll end up with a grainy, starchy texture that makes the whole salad taste flat.
  • The dressing gets better the longer it sits—make it a few hours ahead if you can, and the cherry flavor will be more pronounced and the emulsion more stable.
03 -
  • Toast your own walnuts in a dry pan for two minutes—the difference between store-bought toasted and freshly toasted is the difference between good and unforgettable.
  • If you're making this vegan, nutritional yeast sprinkled on top gives you that savory, umami hit that feta usually provides.
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