This delicious and refreshing Butter Bean Salad is simple to make and packed with color and flavor! It’s the perfect light lunch or side salad for summer days or busy weeknights! With a tasty lemony and garlic dressing, tangy Sumac, and fresh herbs, this salad is inspired by Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors.

One thing my mom was always great at was making salads that were full of flavor, super refreshing, and satisfying. Like this Summer Pasta Salad she used to make, this Butter Bean Salad reminds me of those big summer picnics we used to have as kids. It takes just 10-15 minutes to prepare and is perfect for serving guests.

Butter beans are one of my favorite ingredients to add to salads and many other dishes - they have such a creamy, buttery texture. And the lemon and garlic dressing adds the perfect balance. Made with minced garlic, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and sumac, it adds a fresh and tangy kick! I make this recipe once a week on those hot summer days.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS BUTTER BEAN SALAD RECIPE

Very quick to make: This salad is an easy recipe that comes together so quickly! Just chop some veggies and toss everything in a bowl. No fancy steps or long prep needed.
Packed with nutrients: This is a healthy and well-balanced salad packed with nutrients. The combination of butter beans, fresh vegetables and the olive oil dressing means this salad is full of fiber, plant-based protein, and healthy fats. Plus, it’s light but still leaves you feeling satisfied, making it a great option when you want something wholesome without much effort.
Budget-friendly: Made with just a few simple ingredients, this is a very budget-friendly meal that doesn’t cost much to make. The butter beans and veggies are affordable and filling, and the rest of the ingredients are things you probably already have in your kitchen.

INGREDIENTS YOU'LL NEED

Here are the key ingredients:

Butter Beans: Creamy butter beans are one of the key ingredients in this salad. I use canned butter beans to save time. They are usually readily available in any grocery store, but if you can’t find them you can also cook them from dry if you prefer.
Tomatoes: I use fresh cherry tomatoes for their flavor and natural sweetness. Also brings a pop of color!
Cucumber: I like using crunchy cucumbers that are less bitter, like Persian cucumbers. You can also opt for English cucumbers. I like to keep the skin so it holds its shape in the salad.
Red Onion: Just a little bit will add sharpness and bold flavor to the salad, thinly sliced is best. If you find it too strong, you can soak them in a little dressing or cold water for 10 minutes before putting into the salad.
Parsley: Fresh parsley brings brightness and a clean, slightly peppery note that balances the richness of the beans and olive oil. Flat-leaf parsley works best here, but curly parsley is fine too.
Olive Oil: Use extra virgin olive oil for this recipe, or try infused olive oils like this Basil Infused Olive oil or even this Harissa Infused Olive Oil for a fun twist!
Fresh Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice keeps the salad bright and zesty. It helps tie everything together and balances the creaminess of the beans. Use a bit of lemon zest as well!
Garlic: A small amount of fresh minced garlic goes a long way here. It adds a nice depth to the dressing without overpowering the salad.
Dijon Mustard: Just a touch of Dijon Mustard for a peppery kick. It adds depth without overpowering the other flavors and gives the vinaigrette a nice, creamy texture.
Spices for the salad dressing: The seasoning is simple but is what really brings all the flavor - just salt, black pepper, paprika, and a good pinch of sumac. The paprika adds a gentle earthiness, while the sumac brings a citrusy and tangy flavor.

ingredients for butter bean salad on a table

HOW TO MAKE THIS BUTTERBEAN SALAD

Here’s a quick step-by-step to walk you through the recipe, for the full recipe card, please scroll to the bottom of this post.

tomatoes and cucumbers being chopped on a wooden chopping board

Step 1: Wash, dry and dice the cherry tomatoes and cucumber. Slice the onions thinly and finely chop the parsley.

Lemon and garlic dressing with sumac in a bowl

Step 2: In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice and zest, minced garlic, mustard, salt, pepper, paprika and sumac. Mix well until all combined.

onions marinating in a dressing with sumac

Step 3: In a separate bowl, toss the onions with ⅓ of the dressing and set aside for 5-10 minutes. This will soften the sharp flavor of the onions. This is an optional step, you can also toss the onions directly into the salad.

ingredients for butter bean salad placed in a bowl

Step 4: Rinse the can of butter beans well in cold water to remove excess salt. Add to a large mixing bowl along with the chopped tomatoes, cucumber, parsley and marinated onions.

Butter beans and other vegetables being mixed in a bowl

Step 5: Pour the leftover dressing over the salad and mix until well combined.

Step 6: Serve immediately and enjoy!

TOP TIP

Make sure you dry the vegetables well. Tomatoes and cucumbers release a lot of water, so make sure you dry them with a clean towel before chopping them. Extra moisture can water down the dressing. A little water is natural though.

EXTRA TIPS AND VARIATIONS

Mix up the ingredients. This salad is so versatile, you can customize to your own liking. Try adding other ingredients for your own twist! Some ideas include green onions, red bell peppers, feta cheese, other fresh herbs like basil or mint, or even these pickled red onions. You can also add a drizzle of honey or this delicious maple syrup for a bit of sweetness.

Try other kinds of beans. Butter beans have a great texture, but you don’t have to stick to just these. Cannellini beans work really well too, and black beans can add a nice contrast in both color and flavor. A mix of beans gives the salad more texture and variety.

Adjust the seasoning. Taste as you go and don’t be shy about adjusting the salt, pepper, or lemon to suit your preference. Everyone’s palate is a bit different! Add a little extra sumac or a pinch of chili flakes if you like a bolder flavor.

Mix in the dressing right at the end. To keep the salad fresh and the veggies crisp, add the dressing about 10 minutes before serving. Give it a few minutes for the dressing to coat the veggies and then serve!

Add another vinaigrette. You can also experiment with different dressings. A balsamic vinaigrette, tahini-lemon dressing, or even a simple yogurt-based one can give this salad a new feel!

HOW TO SERVE

You can serve this salad in several ways, here are a few ideas:

Serve on top of a layer of greek yoghurt and eat with some crusty bread for a delicious meal.

It can be served on its own, but it’s also a great side dish if serving a larger meal.

close up of butter beans mixed with vegetables

FAQs

Are Lima beans and Butter Beans the same?

Butter beans and lima beans come from the same Phaseolus Lunatus plant species and are native to South America, so essentially they are the same bean! The main difference is that they are sometimes referred to differently depending on their maturity levels. For example, most people will call Lima Beans the younger green variety while the larger, more mature white beans are called Butter Beans.

Are butter beans healthy for you?

Yes! They're high in fiber, plant-based protein and a great source of carbohydrates. making this simple salad a healthy and balanced meal!

STORAGE

You can store leftover butter bean salad in an airtight container for a maximum of 2 days. Because this recipe has raw onions, I wouldn’t recommend keeping it for longer.

This salad is not ideal for freezing, as the vegetables will get mushy when defrosted.

If you want to meal prep this salad, I would suggest leaving out the onions and parsley until the day of serving. Store the dressing separately as well or make it on the day. You can keep the butter beans, tomato and cucumber in an airtight container (up to 4 days), and mix in the onions, parsley and dressing when serving.

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Fresh Lemon and Garlic Butter Bean Salad with Sumac

Name: Fresh Lemon and Garlic Butter Bean Salad with Sumac
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 can butter beans (400g); 3/4 cup cherry tomatoes; 3/4 cup cucumber; 1/4 cup red onion; 1/2 cup chopped parsley (stems removed); 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil; 3 tbsp lemon juice; 1/2 tsp lemon zest; 2 clove garlic; 1/2 tsp dijon mustard; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp pepper; 1/2 tsp paprika; 2 tsp sumac

This delicious and refreshing Butter Bean Salad is simple to make and packed with color and flavor. It’s the perfect light lunch or side salad for summer days or busy weeknights!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Total Time 15

Cuisine Mediterranean Fusion, Middle Eastern Fusion

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

For the Salad

1 can butter beans 400g
¾ cup cherry tomatoes
¾ cup cucumber
¼ cup red onion
½ cup chopped parsley stems removed

For the dressing

2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon lemon zest
2 clove garlic
½ teaspoon dijon mustard
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon paprika
2 teaspoon sumac

Instructions

Wash, dry and dice the cherry tomatoes and cucumber. Slice the onions thinly and finely chop the parsley.
In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice and zest, minced garlic, mustard, salt, pepper, paprika and sumac. Mix well until all combined.
In a separate bowl, toss the onions with ⅓ of the dressing and set aside for 5-10 minutes. This will soften the sharp flavor of the onions. This is an optional step, you can also toss the onions directly into the salad.
Rinse the can of butter beans well in cold water to remove excess salt. Add to a large mixing bowl along with the chopped tomatoes, cucumber, parsley and marinated onions.
Pour the leftover dressing over the salad and mix until well combined. Serve immediately and enjoy!

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