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ThaiAuthentic Cuisine

Thai Bean Salad

Serves 4 to 6 Salad vegetarian, Salads

Thai Bean Salad

Thai Bean Salad is a staple at family tables across Thailand, where home cooks craft it with an intuitive touch, adjusting salt by hand and embracing generous amounts of oil. This dish captures the essence of everyday Thai cooking, where recipes are passed down through practice rather than written instructions. It’s a dish grounded in simplicity, yet it celebrates the communal joy of sharing food among family and friends.

The salad is a vibrant mix of tender beans and crisp onion, dressed in olive oil and vinegar, then brightened by fresh parsley. Each bite should be a harmonious blend of creamy beans and tangy dressing, punctuated by the subtle warmth of onion. It’s a dish meant to be enjoyed without fanfare, just a simple, satisfying addition to the table.

Ingredients

  • 400 gcooked beans
  • 1onion
  • 80 mlolive oil
  • 2 tbspvinegar
  • parsley — chopped
  • to tastefine sea salt

Method

  1. Begin by finely chopping 1 onion. Use a sharp knife to ensure even pieces, which will blend well with the beans and provide a consistent texture throughout the salad. Place the chopped onion in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Add 400 g of cooked beans to the bowl with the onion. Ensure the beans are well-drained and cooled to room temperature to maintain their firmness and prevent the salad from becoming mushy.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together 80 ml of olive oil and 2 tbsp of vinegar until they are well emulsified. This will create a balanced dressing that clings to the beans and onions, enhancing their flavors.
  4. Pour the dressing over the beans and onions in the large mixing bowl. Sprinkle fine sea salt to taste, starting with a small amount and adjusting as needed after tasting. The salt should enhance the flavors without overpowering them.
  5. Gently toss the salad using two large spoons or your hands. Lift and fold the ingredients rather than stirring vigorously, to keep the beans intact and evenly coated with the dressing.
  6. Chop a handful of fresh parsley and sprinkle it over the salad. The parsley should be finely chopped to distribute its fresh, herbal flavor throughout the dish without overwhelming the other ingredients.
  7. Serve the Thai Bean Salad immediately with fresh bread. The salad should be vibrant and aromatic, with the parsley's freshness complementing the savory beans and tangy dressing.
Cover of Authentic Thai Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic Thai Cuisine

This recipe is from Authentic Thai Cuisine by Yassine Sbiti — the Thai volume in the ComidaTime International Cuisines series.

Available soon on Amazon…

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