Description

This Holiday Green Bean Salad with Feta, Cranberries & Walnuts is a vibrant and festive side dish perfect for the holiday season. Featuring crisp-tender green beans, tangy feta cheese, sweet dried cranberries, and crunchy toasted walnuts, all tossed in a flavorful honey balsamic dressing, this salad combines fresh, sweet, and savory flavors for a delightful and colorful addition to any meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup toasted walnuts, roughly chopped
1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Dressing Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
Salt and pepper to taste

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Instructions

Prepare the green beans: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. This will ensure the green beans cook evenly and retain their bright color.
Blanch the green beans: Add the trimmed green beans to the boiling water and cook for 3-4 minutes until they are bright green and tender-crisp, providing a crisp texture ideal for the salad.
Cool the green beans: Immediately transfer the blanched beans to a bowl of ice water to halt the cooking process. Let them cool for about 5 minutes, then drain well and pat dry to avoid watering down the salad.
Combine salad ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, mix the cooled green beans with crumbled feta cheese, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, and thinly sliced red onion.
Make the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
Toss the salad: Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly with the flavorful dressing.
Adjust seasoning: Taste the salad and add additional salt or pepper as needed to balance the flavors.
Garnish and serve: Transfer the salad to a serving platter or individual bowls and garnish with chopped fresh parsley for a pop of color and freshness.
Refrigerate if desired: Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to one hour to allow the flavors to meld together for an even tastier salad.

Notes

Toasting the walnuts enhances their flavor—toast in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until fragrant.
Blanching the green beans helps maintain their vibrant color and crisp texture.
This salad can be served chilled or at room temperature.
For a vegan version, substitute feta cheese with a plant-based alternative and replace honey with maple syrup.
For extra crunch, consider adding toasted almonds or pecans in place of walnuts.