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Three-Bean Salad with Cumin, Cilantro, and Oranges

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 22, 2007

Time

45 minutes, plus 12 hours chilling and 30 minutes standing

Yield

Serves 8 to 10

Three-Bean Salad with Cumin, Cilantro, and Oranges

Ingredients

¾ cup red wine vinegar ¼ cup lime juice ¾ cup granulated sugar ½ cup canola oil 2 medium cloves garlic, minced1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon table salt Ground black pepper 8 ounces green beans, cut into 1-inch-long pieces8 ounces yellow wax beans, cut into 1-inch-long pieces2 medium oranges, separated into segments, membranes removed from each, then cut in half lengthwise1 can red kidney beans (15.5-ounce), rinsed and drained½ medium red onion, chopped medium¼ cup minced fresh cilantro leaves

Instructions

  1. Heat vinegar, lime juice, sugar, oil, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper to taste in small nonreactive saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large nonreactive bowl and cool to room temperature.
  2. Bring 3 quarts water to boil in large saucepan over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon salt and green and yellow beans; cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, fill medium bowl with ice water. When beans are done, drain and immediately plunge into ice water to stop cooking process; let sit until chilled, about 2 minutes. Drain well.
  3. Add green and yellow beans, orange segments, kidney beans, onion, and cilantro to vinegar mixture; toss well to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight to let flavors meld. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving. (Salad can be covered and refrigerated up to 4 days.)
Three-Bean Salad with Cumin, Cilantro, and Oranges

Three-Bean Salad with Cumin, Cilantro, and Oranges

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Time

45 minutes, plus 12 hours chilling and 30 minutes standing

Yield

Serves 8 to 10

Ingredients

¾ cup red wine vinegar
¼ cup lime juice
¾ cup granulated sugar
½ cup canola oil
2 medium cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon table salt
Ground black pepper
8 ounces green beans, cut into 1-inch-long pieces
8 ounces yellow wax beans, cut into 1-inch-long pieces
2 medium oranges, separated into segments, membranes removed from each, then cut in half lengthwise
1 can red kidney beans (15.5-ounce), rinsed and drained
½ medium red onion, chopped medium
¼ cup minced fresh cilantro leaves

Ingredients

¾ cup red wine vinegar
¼ cup lime juice
¾ cup granulated sugar
½ cup canola oil
2 medium cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon table salt
Ground black pepper
8 ounces green beans, cut into 1-inch-long pieces
8 ounces yellow wax beans, cut into 1-inch-long pieces
2 medium oranges, separated into segments, membranes removed from each, then cut in half lengthwise
1 can red kidney beans (15.5-ounce), rinsed and drained
½ medium red onion, chopped medium
¼ cup minced fresh cilantro leaves

Ingredients

¾ cup red wine vinegar
¼ cup lime juice
¾ cup granulated sugar
½ cup canola oil
2 medium cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon table salt
Ground black pepper
8 ounces green beans, cut into 1-inch-long pieces
8 ounces yellow wax beans, cut into 1-inch-long pieces
2 medium oranges, separated into segments, membranes removed from each, then cut in half lengthwise
1 can red kidney beans (15.5-ounce), rinsed and drained
½ medium red onion, chopped medium
¼ cup minced fresh cilantro leaves

Why This Recipe Works

Our updated, fresher-tasting three-bean salad recipe used a combination of canned kidney beans and fresh yellow and green beans. For the dressing, we used canola oil for mildness and red wine vinegar for tang. Heating the oil and vinegar with sugar, garlic, salt, and pepper intensified the flavor and sweetness of our three-bean salad recipe.

Instructions

  1. Heat vinegar, lime juice, sugar, oil, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper to taste in small nonreactive saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large nonreactive bowl and cool to room temperature.
  2. Bring 3 quarts water to boil in large saucepan over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon salt and green and yellow beans; cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, fill medium bowl with ice water. When beans are done, drain and immediately plunge into ice water to stop cooking process; let sit until chilled, about 2 minutes. Drain well.
  3. Add green and yellow beans, orange segments, kidney beans, onion, and cilantro to vinegar mixture; toss well to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight to let flavors meld. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving. (Salad can be covered and refrigerated up to 4 days.)

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