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White Bean and Tuna Salad

An easy recipe for a healthy White Bean and Tuna Salad dressed with a lemony Mediterranean dressing and loaded with ingredients high in protein and fibre.

This salad takes 15 minutes to make, uses pantry staples, fills you up and keeps you satisfied until your next meal.

Two bowls of white bean and tuna Salad with lemon and olive oil dressing served on the side.

My favourite salad recipes are those that are quick and easy to make, are filling enough for lunch and can even double as a light main meal.

This White Bean and Tuna Salad or even this Mediterranean Kale Salad are excellent examples of such salads.

And if you happen to be looking for tasty Mediterranean diet recipes, this bean and tuna salad is full of heart-healthy ingredients that are part of the diet.

Bowls of Bean and Tuna Salad served with a lemon and olive oil dressing on the side.
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What are Cannellini Beans

Cannellini Beans are white Italian kidney beans. They have a creamy, fluffy texture and a mild earthy taste. They absorb much of the flavour of the sauce they are cooked in or in the case of salads, the dressing they are tossed in. They are great for use in salads, soups and stews.

They are high in protein and fibre while remaining low in calories which makes them an excellent choice for keeping you feeling full longer. One serving of cooked kidney beans (about half a cup) contains about 125 calories, 8 grams of protein and 6 grams of fibre.

If you can't find canned cannellini beans in your grocery store, look for white kidney beans. And if you need a substitute, Great Northern beans are a good alternative.

And if you happen to have a can of chickpeas in your pantry you can use that instead because a chickpea and tuna salad would be just as delicious.

White Bean and Tuna Salad bowls served with a lemon and olive oil vinaigrette on the side.

How to Make it

Made with pantry staples, this healthy White Bean and Tuna Salad comes together quickly and easily. This recipe is made to serve two, but the ingredients can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more.

Ingredients Overview:

  • Mixed spring greens or salad greens of your choice.
  • Cannellini beans or white kidney beans, rinsed and drained. For convenience, I like to use canned cannellini beans. If you prefer to use dried beans, you'll have to plan ahead since you'll need to soak the beans overnight, cook and then allow them to cool before using in the salad.
  • Tuna packed in olive oil.  For the best flavour, use jarred or canned tuna that is packed in olive oil. Drain the oil from the tuna and reserve it to use in the salad dressing.
  • Tomato or a handful of cherry or grape tomatoes
  • Red onion
  • Parmesan cheese shavings. Use a peeler to make thin Parmesan strips
  • Fresh parsley (optional)

For the Mediterranean Salad Dressing:

  • Olive oil (this can include the oil from the tuna jar.
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Garlic
  • Salt, pepper, dried oregano or basil (if desired).

Steps Overview:

  1. Wash and dry your greens and split them between two salad bowls.
  2. Chop the tomatoes and red onion.
  3. Add the cannellini beans, tuna, chopped tomatoes and red onion to the bowls.
  4. I added freshly chopped parsley and Parmesan cheese shavings to finish the salad. You can also use Feta or goat cheese instead of Parmesan or leave out the cheese entirely.
A bowl of White Bean and Tuna Salad served with a lemon and olive oil dressing on the side.

Serving Suggestions

Serve the salad with the dressing on the side or if you prefer to toss the salad with the dressing, simply add all of the salad ingredients to one large bowl, add the dressing, toss and serve.

Storing Homemade Dressing

Any leftover salad dressing can be stored in a sealed mason jar in the refrigerator for up to a week. Remove from the refrigerator about 20 minutes before using and shake well before dressing the salad.

Enjoy!

More Filling Salads

Salad with white beans and tuna.

White Bean and Tuna Salad Recipe

An easy and healthy recipe for a White Bean and Tuna Salad that's loaded with good for you ingredients that will help fill you up and keep you satisfied until your next meal.
4.88 from 8 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Main, Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 2
Calories 256 kcal

Ingredients
  

White Bean and Tuna Salad

  • 4 cups mixed spring greens or salad greens of your choice.
  • 1 15 ounce cannellini beans or white kidney beans, rinsed and drained.
  • 1 6 ounce tuna packed in olive oil drain the oil and reserve it for the salad dressing.
  • 1 tomato chopped, or a handful of cherry or grape tomatoes
  • ¼ cup chopped red onion
  • 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese shavings use a peeler to make thin Parmesan strips
  • chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Mediterranean Salad Dressing (Lemon and Olive Oil Dressing)

  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil plus the reserved oil from the canned tuna (should have 4 tablespoons of oil in total)
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ½ small garlic clove crushed
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

Mediterranean Salad Dressing (Lemon and Olive Oil Dressing)

  • Combine the oil, lemon juice, crushed garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl and whisk together. Or put all the ingredients in a small jar, cover it and give it a good shake. Reserve or refrigerate if not using right away.

White Bean and Tuna Salad

  • Add the salad greens to a bowl.
  • Top the greens with the white beans, tuna, tomatoes and red onion.
  • Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley and top with Parmesan shavings.
  • Add the dressing and toss the salad.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

  1. Leftover salad dressing can be stored in a sealed mason jar in the refrigerator for up to a week. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 256kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 5gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 135mgPotassium: 407mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 8758IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 126mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Tuna and White Bean Salad, Tuna Bean Salad, White Bean Tuna Salad
Tried this recipe? Have any questions, comments or suggestions? Leave a comment below!Mention @sweetandsavourypursuits or tag #sweetandsavourypursuits!

This post wast originally published in May 2019. It has been updated. The recipe remains unchanged.

Recipe Rating




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vanyadhanya

Tuesday 28th of May 2019

This looks amazing....a quick and delicious side to any meal.

Sweet and Savoury Pursuits

Monday 3rd of June 2019

Thank you :). So glad you think so!

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