Caprese Dense Bean Salad

Close-up of chickpeas, white beans, tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and torn basil in Caprese Bean Salad.

5 from 1 vote

Caprese Dense Bean Salad

This easy Caprese Dense Bean Salad combines chickpeas and creamy cannellini beans with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, fresh basil, and a sweet-tangy balsamic vinaigrette. Ready in 10 minutes, it makes a hearty lunch, colorful side dish, or make-ahead salad for any time of year.

Prep Time10

Total Time10

Course: light lunch or dinner, Salad

Cuisine: American, Italian, Mediterranean

Servings: Servings

Calories: 515kcal

Author: Marisa Franca @ All Our Way

Equipment

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 15-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
1 8-ounce package mozzarella pearls
½ cup torn basil leaves

Instructions

Whisk together oil, balsamic glaze, vinegar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add chickpeas, cannellini beans, tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil; toss to coat. Let sit 5 minutes before serving.
Make ahead
Store salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.

Notes

👩🏻‍🍳 Tips

Use quality olive oil. Since the vinaigrette is so simple, the flavor of your extra-virgin olive oil really matters. Choose a good-quality one for the best results.
Don't skip the rest time. Letting the no-cook bean salad sit for just 5 minutes gives the chickpeas and beans time to soak up the vinaigrette and allows the flavors to meld beautifully. It's a small step that makes a big difference.
Make your own balsamic glaze. If you don't have store-bought glaze, make your own. I've listed the ingredients below in the FAQ section.
Rinse your beans well. Thoroughly rinse and drain the canned beans and chickpeas to remove excess sodium and any metallic taste, letting the fresh flavors of the two-bean salad come through.
Tear, don't chop the basil. Tearing the basil leaves by hand releases more of their aromatic oils and prevents the bruising that can occur with chopping.

Nutrition