Tuscan Bean Salad

This Italian Tuscan bean salad is perfect for any season, but we especially love it in the summer months. The creamy and bold flavors of the cannellini beans, garlic, and red onions are perfect for a hot summer day.

cannellini bean salad in a white bowl with forks beside it and some choppes tomatoes, cucumber, another bowl of salad, gray cloth, and a bowl of feta, in the background

It’s a delicious and healthy salad to bring to any potluck or picnic.

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Reasons to Love White Bean Salad

Perfect Italian salad for any season, thanks to the bold flavors.
Because there are no greens and it has a light vinaigrette dressing, you don’t have to worry about the lettuce wilting or the dressing spoiling in the heat.

a white bowl of tuscan bean salad with silverware to the right and a striped napkin on the left with the corner of another bowl of white bean salad showing on the top left

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Lemon juice – adds brightness and acidity to the dressing. You will need about 1 lemon to get ¼ cup of lemon juice. Fresh lemon juice is highly recommended for this recipe.
Dijon mustard – helps emulsify the dressing and adds a slight tang.
Garlic – adds an earthy bite to the dressing and pairs perfectly with Tuscan vegetables.
Dried Italian seasoning – adds a subtle herbal flavor to the creamy dressing. You can also use fresh herbs if you have them on hand.
Thyme – adds a bright herby flavor and pairs well with lemon. If you don’t have fresh thyme, feel free to swap it for parsley.
Extra virgin olive oil – adds substance and richness to the dressing. I recommend high-quality, flavorful olive oil.
Beans – For this recipe, we use canned cannellini beans. They’re a quick shortcut, and they’re delicious. You can use any other small white bean if you want. Just be sure to drain and rinse them very well.

Cannellini beans are a type of white kidney bean that is common in Tuscan cuisine. This variety is larger than other types of white beans, like Lima and Navy, and the consistency is very creamy.
Vegetables – We use Persian cucumbers (they’re a seedless variety) and cherry tomatoes, as they add freshness and crunch to the salad.

Another seedless cucumber that may be easier to find is English cucumbers. You’ll find them in the regular produce section of most stores, and they’re easy to identify because they are almost always sold individually, wrapped in plastic.

As for the tomatoes , diced heirlooms, or Roma tomatoes are good options as well.
Feta – adds a creamy, salty flavor to the salad. If you want a vegan version, you can leave this out. For a little extra flavor, you can use marinated feta.
Chopped parsley and flakey sea salt – for garnish, but totally optional.

Small bowls filled with chopped cucumber, cherry tomatoes, Italian seasoning, feta cheese, and white beans for salad.

Recipe Tips for the Best Bean Salad

Use fresh herbs for a brighter flavor.

This isn’t completely necessary, but the flavor difference between fresh and dried herbs is eye-opening!

Homemade creamy vinaigrette dressing in a small bowl.

Whisk the oil into the dressing very slowly.

You want to add the oil in a slow, steady stream. Otherwise, it may not fully incorporate, and you’ll have an oily consistency rather than a creamy one.

cannellini beans, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and feta cheese all placed in a white bowl

Add the beans, sliced cucumbers, and halved tomatoes to the dressing. Stir to coat the vegetables with the dressing.

Bowl full of white bean salad tossed in creamy vinaigrette dressing.

Top the salad with crumbled feta cheese. You can also add chopped parsley and flakey sea salt if desired. Enjoy!

Salad Variations

If you are looking for a gluten-free and dairy-free salad, the Panera green goddess salad is a great option. If you are looking for a tasty pasta salad, you’ll definitely want to check out our recipe for zesty Italian pasta salad!

A serving of Tuscan salad with cannellini beans and garden vegetables.

White Bean Salad Recipe FAQ

Do you have to cook cannellini beans from a can?

No, you don’t have to cook them. Just make sure to rinse them well first.

Do all white beans taste the same?

Although the flavors of most white beans are similar, each variety has a unique texture and size.