Name: White Bean Salad with Toasted Almonds and Blue Cheese
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Ingredients: 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil; 4 garlic cloves , peeled and smashed; Salt and pepper; 3 (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans , rinsed; 1/4 cup sherry vinegar; 1 shallot , minced; 2 ounces blue cheese , crumbled (1/2 cup); 1 red bell pepper , stemmed, seeded, and cut into 1/4-inch pieces; 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley; 1/2 cup sliced almonds , toasted; 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives

Why This Recipe Works

We take ordinary canned beans and turn them into the rightful stars of this salad. The key is steeping the beans in a garlicky broth first. This affords us time to tame our raw shallots in vinegar, and pull together the other ingredients. Once the beans are steeped, and the shallots soaked, this salad comes together in a minute.

Before You Begin

This recipe will also work with other types of canned beans. It’s important to let the salad sit for 20 minutes before serving so the beans absorb the flavors of the other ingredients.

Instructions

Heat 1 tablespoon oil and garlic in medium saucepan over medium-high heat until just beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Add 2 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt and bring to simmer. Remove from heat, add beans, cover, and let sit for 20 minutes. Combine vinegar and shallot in large bowl and let sit for 20 minutes.

Drain beans and discard garlic. Add beans, remaining oil, blue cheese, bell pepper, parsley, almonds, and chives to shallot mixture, and toss until thoroughly combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let sit for 20 minutes. Serve.