Butter bean salad (Lebanese style)

Name: Butter bean salad (Lebanese style)
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 3 cups cooked butter beans (around 350 grams); 1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut into half; 1 medium-sized Persian cucumber (finely chopped); 1 medium-sized red onion (thinly sliced); 2 garlic cloves (minced); 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice (adjust to taste); ½ cup fresh parsley (finely chopped); 8-10 fresh mint leaves (finely chopped); ½ tablespoon sumac; 1 tablespoon Za'atar; ½ teaspoon red chili flakes (adjust to taste); ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper (adjust to taste); Salt to taste; 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

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This butter bean salad is a simple yet delicious Lebanese salad recipe that is enjoyed in many countries of the Middle Eastern as well as the Mediterranean region. It has some very basic ingredients that are popped up with the delicious seasonings of these regions like za'atar and sumac. This protein-rich salad gets ready in just 10 minutes and is vegan and gluten-free.

Butter bean salad in a bowl with a bowl of za'atar and parsley in the background.

Though Middle Eastern cuisine is mainly dominated by non-vegetarian dishes, it also has many great options for vegans and vegetarians too.

Like this simple butter bean salad recipe from Lebanon.

It's made with some very basic ingredients but the Middle Eastern seasonings used to flavor it brighten up the dish.

This simple butter bean salad gets ready in just 10 minutes.

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What's needed to make Lebanese butter bean salad?
Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions
How to make (step-by-step instructions)?
Serving butter bean salad
How to store the leftover salad?
Recipe tips and tricks
Frequently asked questions
More vegetarian Middle Eastern recipes
Recipe

What's needed to make Lebanese butter bean salad?

To make this butter bean salad you will need the ingredients shown below:

Ingredients for Lebanese butter bean salad, labeled.

Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions

Butter beans: Butter beans are also known as lima beans. You can use canned as well as home-cooked beans. If using canned beans, drain the liquid and rinse the beans before adding them to the salad. You can make a similar Lebanese bean salad by using other ingredients too.
Cherry tomatoes: If you don't have cherry tomatoes, use regular tomatoes. However, remove the seeds of regular tomatoes if using them in the salad.
Onion: Use red onion.
Cucumber: I have used Persian cucumber, you can other varieties too. If using Indian cucumber, peel it and if the seeds are hard, remove them.
Parsley: Cilantro can be used too if you don't have parsley.
Za'atar: It's a blend of Middle Eastern herbs and spices which is used to flavor a lot of recipes from this region. It has dried herbs like marjoram, oregano, thyme, cumin, salt, sumac, and toasted white sesame seeds. Za'atar is a key ingredient in this recipe so don't skip it. If you could not find za'atar use seasonings of your choice to flavor the salad but then you won't get that delicious authentic Middle Eastern taste that comes from it.
Sumac: Sumac is also a Middle Eastern seasoning that is used to add color and a sour taste to the dish. Sumac comes from the Arabic word summaq which means dark red. Skip it if you could not find it as Za'atar also has some sumac in it.
Olive oil: Olive oil is also one of the key ingredients in most Middle Eastern salads s0 use a good quality extra virgin olive.

How to make (step-by-step instructions)?

Collage of images of steps 1 to 4 of butter bean salad.

Step 1: Put minced garlic, za'atar, sumac, red chili flakes, salt, pepper, minced garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil in a bowl. Mix and keep the dressing aside.

Step 2: In a large bowl, put cooked butter beans, onion slices, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, fresh parsley, and mint leaves.

Step 3: Add salad dressing.

Step 4: Gently toss.

Your quick and easy Middle Eastern-style butter bean salad is ready to be served.

Serving butter bean salad

Lima bean salad can be served as a side dish in any Middle Eastern-style meal.

You can even stuff it in these falafel wraps.

Or, pair it with a Middle Eastern soup like this quinoa lentil soup, or red lentil soup.

You can also serve grilled vegetables or these Moroccan roasted potatoes with this Middle Eastern bean salad.

How to store the leftover salad?

Transfer the leftover butter bean salad to an airtight container and refrigerate. It will be fine for up to 3 days.

Recipe tips and tricks

You can use canned butter beans as well as home-cooked beans to make this salad.
If using canned beans, rinse them and then gently pat them dry with a kitchen towel before adding them to the salad.
Be careful not to overcook the beans if cooking them at home. Overcooked beans will turn mushy and it will not be possible to use them in the salad.
Be gentle while tossing the salad ingredients otherwise the beans will break.
Non-vegans may also add crumbled feta to this butter bean salad.
Za'atar also has a little salt in it so add extra salt carefully.

Frequently asked questions

Are lima beans and butter beans the same?

Yes, they are.

Is za'atar gluten-free?

Yes, za'atar is gluten-free.

How to cook butter beans from scratch?

To cook butter beans at home, wash them and soak in water for at least 7 hours.

Put the soaked beans in a large cooking pot with around 7-8 cups of water. Cover the pot and cook on a medium flame until the beans are cooked well. They should be cooked but also retain their shape. It will take around 1 hour to cook these beans like this. However, keep checking in between and make sure not to overcook them. Mushy beans can't be used in a salad.

Can cooked butter beans be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze cooked butter beans. But it's better to use thawed beans in a curry or soup instead of using them in a salad.

More vegetarian Middle Eastern recipes

If you liked this recipe and want to explore more easy vegetarian Middle Eastern recipes at home then, don't miss checking the following links:

A bowl of Middle eastern lima bean salad.

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