Artificial Food Coloring Free Three Bean Salad with Turmeric-Lemon Vinaigrette
This vibrant, hearty salad is proof that bold color and flavor don't need anything artificial to make an impression. The golden turmeric-lemon vinaigrette does all the heavy lifting, coating chickpeas, kidney beans, and crisp-blanched green beans in a warm, tangy glow that's entirely from real ingredients. Fresh lemon juice, raw honey, garlic, and a pinch of ginger round out the dressing with layers of brightness that no synthetic additive could improve on. Canned beans are a common source of hidden dyes and additives in processed foods, but rinsing them well and building your own dressing from scratch keeps everything clean and straightforward. The quick blanch on the green beans locks in that satisfying snap and vivid color — no food coloring required. A 30-minute rest in the fridge lets the beans soak up every bit of that fragrant vinaigrette, so the flavors deepen beautifully before it even hits the table. It works equally well as a make-ahead lunch, a potluck side, or a protein-packed addition to a weeknight spread.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
For the salad
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 8 oz fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
For the vinaigrette
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 large lemon)
- 1 tbsp raw honey
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook for 3–4 minutes, until bright green and just tender with a slight snap when bitten. Drain in a colander and immediately rinse under cold running water until cool to the touch.
- 2
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, garlic, turmeric, ginger, black pepper, and salt until the dressing is smooth and uniform in color.
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