Three bean salad get’s spiced up with a zesty cilantro yogurt sauce. Black and Great Northern beans combine with black eyed peas to make a flavorful bean salad that is quick and easy for parties and barbecues. Lime juice, cilantro, and red onion make this a yummy side dish to add to any meal time menu.
Summer time is here, which means barbecues, picnics, and social gathering abound. This 3 Bean Salad is the perfect side dish to bring along. Spice it up with a cilantro yogurt sauce and you’ll wow them with an updated twist on a picnic classic. Perfect for making ahead of time and easy to take on the go, this a budget friendly option you should always have in your back pocket.
I have a bad habit of procrastinating about everything. Which usually means that I’ve promised to bring a dish to the party and only just remember that about an hour before I have to leave. This bean salad is so easy to whip up and I usually have most of the ingredients on hand in my pantry. It’s also great for parties in mixed company as it is gluten-free and vegan so most guests should be able to enjoy it.
I’ve seen several different kinds of beans used in this type of salad. I choose black, great northern, and black-eyed peas because of their contrasting flavors and textures that mix well together. If you are opposed or can’t source one of these types feel free to substitute it with another bean type. But I would recommend creating it as written first and then tweaking it as you see fit from there.
Tips for making this 3 Bean Salad:
I cook the large majority of everything from scratch, but beans are definitely an exception to this rule around my house. Ain’t nobody got time for that! If you do have time or enough cooking beans from scratch you are certainly more than welcome to do so. I would completely cook and cool the beans and drain off any liquid then use in the recipe as written.
For the crazy people that think cilantro tastes like soap, you can switch it out with some flat-leaf Italian parsley in both the sauce and the beans. Be sure that it is flat-leaf not curly as the curly parsley does not have the same flavor. I’ve learned this from personal experience!
If you don’t know how to tell the difference between cilantro and parsley just look at their leaves. The tips of cilantro’s leaves are curvy and parsley is pointy. See what I did there? Or you can just be a weirdo like me and give each bunch a whiff and it is pretty obvious which one it is. Cilantro has a powerful flavor while parsley is much more mild. I think both are terrific to have around!
Let me know in the comments if you are a cilantro lover or if you think it tastes like soap!
3 Bean Salad with Cilantro Yogurt Sauce
Perfect for cook-outs and potlucks this easy bean salad comes together in minutes and is sure to be a crowd pleaser. With the addition of the zesty cilantro yogurt sauce you have a fun twist on a classic summer barbecue side dish.
Ingredients
3 Bean Salad
- 1 15 oz. Can Black Beans Drained
- 1 15 oz. Can Great Northern Beans Drained
- 1 15 oz. Can Black Eyed Peas Drained
- 1/2 Medium Red Onion Finely Diced
- 1/4 Cup Cilantro Finely Minced
- 1 Tbsp Lime Juice Or juice of half a lime
- 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
Cilantro Yogurt Sauce
- 2 Cups Plain Greek Yogurt
- 1 Tbsp Lime Juice Or juice of half a lime
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1/4 Cup Cilantro Finely minced
- 1/2 Tsp Cumin
- 1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/4 Tsp Salt
- 1/4 Tsp Black Pepper
Instructions
3 Bean Salad
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In a large bowl combine all three cans of beans that have been drained. Mince the cilantro and dice the red onion and add to the bowl of beans.
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Add olive oil and lime juice and mix to combine. Place in the fridge to chill until it is time to serve.
Cilantro Yogurt Sauce
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In a small bowl combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly to combine. If you would like a thinner consistency add small amount of water, 1 tsp at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.
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Serve on top of bean salad!
Recipe Notes
Feel free to use dried beans if you have the time and follow instructions as written.
I love how different all of your meals are. I really don’t know what to expect when the next one rolls out! I dont think that I could feed Brett beans. I think he has a bean phobia. lol if thats a thing. However, I think this looks delicious! Can’t wait to see the next one!!
Bean phobia is completely a thing. Some people are just aggressively opposed! And I just like keeping you guys on your toes lol!
I am thinking of hosting a summer party soon and this sounds like the perfect side dish! Thanks for this tip! Pinning now for later cooking!
Yay! It’s so easy and cheap for big parties!