Uncle Larry Adventures

Italian Classics · Italian-inspired home cooking

More italian salad recipes

Cannellini Bean Salad

Cannellini Bean Salad: Well-drained beans keep the dressing bright instead of watery. Follow the quantities, method and troubleshooting below. Original home formulation; not kitchen-tested. Times are estimates; image is illustrative.

Last updated

Cannellini Bean Salad

Well-drained beans keep the dressing bright instead of watery.

Illustrative cannellini bean salad

The short version

Cannellini Bean Salad: Well-drained beans keep the dressing bright instead of watery. Follow the quantities, method and troubleshooting below. Original home formulation; not kitchen-tested. Times are estimates; image is illustrative.

Prep
15 min
Cook
0 min
Total
15 min
Serves
4 servings

Ingredients

4 servings
  • 2 cans cannellini beans, 15 oz each, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/4 small red onion, finely sliced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
View list

Instructions

  1. 01

    Drain and rinse. Rinse beans and let drain thoroughly. Wash tomatoes and parsley and slice the onion thinly.

  2. 02

    Dress gently. Whisk oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Fold beans, tomatoes, onion and parsley with the dressing without crushing the beans.

  3. 03

    Taste and serve. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve chilled or immediately; refrigerate promptly rather than leaving it on a warm buffet.

Larry’s rule: Well-drained beans keep the dressing bright instead of watery.

Quoting or citing this recipe? Credit “Uncle Larry Adventures” andlink to this page.

Before you cook

What to know about Cannellini Bean Salad

What it is

Cannellini Bean Salad is a salad recipe rooted in Italian home cooking. This version makes 4 servings in 15 min and focuses on the technique that gives the dish its characteristic texture and flavor.

Why this method works

The method builds flavor in a deliberate order: drain and rinse, then dress gently, then taste and serve. Following that sequence keeps the main ingredients distinct while bringing the finished dish together.

Key ingredients and what they do

  • 2 cans cannellini beans, 15 oz each, drained and rinsed — supports the dish's balance, texture and regional character.
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved — supplies acidity, sweetness and the recipe's tomato base.
  • 1/4 small red onion, finely sliced — provides the aromatic character; use it at the stage specified so it stays distinct.
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley — provides the aromatic character; use it at the stage specified so it stays distinct.

Smart substitutions

For the most reliable result, keep the main ingredient and technique unchanged. Swap only like for like, then adjust salt, moisture and cooking time to taste.

Make ahead and leftovers

Wash and prepare the components ahead, but keep them dry and add the dressing shortly before serving.

What to serve with it

  • Serve as a side or a light first course.
  • Dress close to serving time so the leaves keep their texture.

Ways Larry changes it up

Swaps, shortcuts and regional versions of cannellini bean salad.

Serving and substitutions

Well-drained beans keep the dressing bright instead of watery. Follow the measured recipe first; substitutions change texture and timing. Review all ingredients for allergies. Serve rice as a main, bread and salad alongside a main, and sauces in quantities suited to the dish.

Preparation and storage

Refrigerate perishable ingredients promptly and use cooked leftovers within 3–4 days at 40°F or below. Reheat cooked leftovers throughout to 165°F; cold salads and yogurt bowls are served cold, not claimed to reheat well.

Cannellini Bean Salad: common questions

Can I use dried beans?
Yes, if fully cooked and cooled safely first. Dried-bean cooking time and quantities are separate from this canned-bean recipe.
How long does cannellini bean salad take?
Allow 15 min. These are estimated home-cooking times, not measured kitchen-test results. Follow the texture and doneness cues in the steps.
Can I scale this recipe?
Use the serving control to adjust ingredient amounts. A larger batch does not automatically cook in the same pan or time; use appropriate equipment and check doneness.
Can I prepare it ahead?
Refrigerate perishable ingredients promptly and use cooked leftovers within 3–4 days at 40°F or below. Reheat cooked leftovers throughout to 165°F; cold salads and yogurt bowls are served cold, not claimed to reheat well.

Did you make this?

Rate Cannellini Bean Salad — real votes from real cooks only.

Be the first to rate it.

Questions Larry gets asked

Can I use dried beans?
Yes, if fully cooked and cooled safely first. Dried-bean cooking time and quantities are separate from this canned-bean recipe.
How long does cannellini bean salad take?
Allow 15 min. These are estimated home-cooking times, not measured kitchen-test results. Follow the texture and doneness cues in the steps.
Can I scale this recipe?
Use the serving control to adjust ingredient amounts. A larger batch does not automatically cook in the same pan or time; use appropriate equipment and check doneness.
Can I prepare it ahead?
Refrigerate perishable ingredients promptly and use cooked leftovers within 3–4 days at 40°F or below. Reheat cooked leftovers throughout to 165°F; cold salads and yogurt bowls are served cold, not claimed to reheat well.

Sources & further reading

Sources support technique or safety guidance, not a claim that this formulation was kitchen-tested.

Share or cite this recipe

Last updated

Written recipe guidance, not a measured Test Kitchen result. Photos may illustrate the dish; they do not establish that a batch was tested. Only recorded experiments in the Test Kitchen count as measured comparisons. Sources and evidence labels.

Save to Pinterest

Free to use with credit and a link back. Quote up to 100 words, or embed the recipe card below.

Credit “Uncle Larry Adventures” and link to this recipe page.

Citation

“Cannellini Bean Salad” — Uncle Larry Adventures, https://unclelarryadventures.com/recipes/cannellini-bean-salad

Link (HTML)

<a href="https://unclelarryadventures.com/recipes/cannellini-bean-salad">Cannellini Bean Salad recipe from Uncle Larry Adventures</a>

Embed recipe card

<iframe src="https://unclelarryadventures.com/embed/recipe/cannellini-bean-salad" title="Cannellini Bean Salad — Uncle Larry Adventures" width="600" height="760" loading="lazy" style="width:100%;max-width:600px;border:0;"></iframe>
<p><a href="https://unclelarryadventures.com/recipes/cannellini-bean-salad">Cannellini Bean Salad recipe</a> by Uncle Larry Adventures</p>

Next up

Keep going — a recipe to try, a film to watch, and an answer to the question you were about to search.

Try this recipe

Tortellini in Brodo

Stuffed pasta floating in a clear, golden meat broth.

Try this recipe

Pasta e Ceci

Pasta and chickpeas with rosemary and garlic.

Next watch

Monkey Business

Sally comes home to find Larry relaxing with two unexpected houseguests, and an ordinary night on the couch turns into complete monkey business.

Quick answer

How long do you grill Italian sausage?

Grill fresh Italian sausage 12 to 16 minutes over medium direct heat (about 350–400°F), turning every 3 to 4 minutes, until the centre reads 160°F. On a two-zone fire, cook 10 to 12 minutes on the cool side, then finish 2 to 3 minutes over the flame for colour.

The gear Larry uses →Where to eat sausage & peppers →What to drink with it →This week on the blog: Labor Day Cookout: The Sausage Lineup That Never Fails →

Contact Larry

Recipe questions, restaurant tips, gear ideas, press and collabs — send it here.