Name: Tomato Feta White Bean Salad with Arugula
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 can white beans (drained and rinsed); 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved); ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes (sliced); ⅓ cup feta cheese (crumbled); 1 cup fresh arugula; ¼ cup fresh basil (to garnish); 1 clove garlic (minced); ½ teaspoon kosher salt; 6 grinds fresh black pepper; 2 Tablespoons white wine or champagne vinegar; 2 Tablespoons olive oil

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Tomato Feta White Bean Salad is a protein-packed yet light summer salad with both garden fresh cherry tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes. Tossed with spicy arugula, feta cheese and a simple vinaigrette, it's ready in just 10 minutes! It makes the perfect dinner side dish with grilled chicken, burgers, or sausages and is a great meal prep lunch!

The finished Tomato Feta White Bean Salad mixed with dressing in a white bowl.

Ingredients & Substitutions

White Beans - Beans are such a great healthy pantry staple, packed with fiber, vitamins and protein, and not to mention delicious! I used great northern beans, but you can use any type of white beans, including garbanzo beans (chickpeas). Love white beans? Try my White Bean Bruschetta!

Fresh Cherry Tomatoes and Sun-dried Tomatoes - Using both fresh summer tomatoes and jarred sun-dried tomatoes gives this white bean arugula salad a flavor packed contrast! However, a white bean tomato salad is extremely versatile and easily adaptable. Either kind of tomato could be left out, and you could also substitute other veggies like sliced fresh or roasted red pepper, cucumber, kalamata olives, artichokes, or red onion. You could also add ALL of these veggies to really bump up the nutrition!

Feta Cheese - Again this white bean feta salad is super versatile! Crumbled feta is my favorite, but you could also use shaved Parmesan, goat cheese or the mini balls of fresh mozzarella for a white bean caprese salad variation!

Arugula and Basil - Fresh greens and herbs add bright flavor to your salad! Don't substitute dried herbs, it won't be the same! You could also use sliced spinach, oregano, or even a combination of cilantro and mint for an all new flavor!

The Dressing - This is a super simple vinaigrette with just a few ingredients. You can shake it all up in a jar and you can make it ahead of time if you like. The vinegar could be substituted with red wine vinegar or fresh lemon juice. You could also really use any basic store-bought or homemade vinaigrette dressing that you have!

Labeled ingredients for Tomato Feta White Bean Salad with Arugula.

Instructions

This White Bean Tomato Feta Salad couldn't be easier! It can be thrown together in just 10 minutes for a quick summer side dish! You can easily double the recipe to feed more people. Just add all the salad ingredients to a large bowl.

Adding all ingredients to a bowl including white beans, cherry tomato, sun-dried tomato, feta cheese, and arugula.

Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a bowl or shake them in a mason jar with a lid. Add the dressing to the salad and toss well to combine.

A close up of white bean tomato feta salad.

Make Ahead & Storage Instructions

Storage - Leftover arugula white bean salad can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.

Make Ahead and Meal Prep - The dressing can easily be made ahead and will keep in the fridge for a couple weeks. The salad can also be made a day in advance and kept in an airtight container in the fridge. Wait to add the dressing and toss just before serving. This recipe can be doubled or tripled to feed a crowd!

Tips

Look for a jar of sun-dried tomatoes that is packed in oil versus the bag of dried tomatoes, although these are fine too. Sometimes they come sliced, or you may have to slice them yourself, but the oil they are packed in just adds extra flavor to the salad. If the jar has been refrigerated, the oil will be solidified. This is fine, just slice them up, the oil will thaw as you toss the salad.

For the best flavored feta cheese, I like to buy a block of feta that comes in a tub of liquid, versus the dry crumbles. Then just crumble it with your fingers or a fork. You can usually find this at a co-op or the deli counter at the grocery store.

You can make this White Bean Salad Vegan by omitting the feta cheese or using a vegan cheese substitute. This is also a gluten-free bean salad.

What to Serve with White Bean Salad

This Mediterranean flavored tomato white bean salad is an excellent summer side dish for grilling and a perfect "what to bring" option for a gathering! Serve it with: