Shaved Fennel White Bean Salad with Olive Vinaigrette

Shaved fennel white bean salad with an herby olive vinaigrette and lots of lemon. Vegan and gluten free. A simple and refreshing summer salad.

 ‘And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you. Because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it’


SHAVED FENNEL WHITE BEAN SALAD WITH  OLIVE VINAIGRETTE

I have had only what I can best describe as a serious love affair with fennel this winter. It has never really been apart of my meals until now. It started out slowly in a soup, and ever since it’s been thinly sliced into all the salads, or simply lightly dressed in lemon juice and olive oil. And here, we meet again. 

This salad lies somewhere between Greece and Italy. Crunchy, salty and fresh, sort of your not-quite-summer take on a greek salad. It is as good as the sum of its parts, so good quality olives and olive oil can make big difference. Let your own love affair begin. Serves 2 as a main, 4 as a side.

Ingredients

Salad

1 large or 2 small bulbs fennel
1 1/2 cup cannellini beans
1 lemon, halved
2 cups arugula

Olive Vinaigrette

1/4 cup kalamata olives, pitted
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 clove garlic
Juice of half a lemon
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoon flat leaf italian parsley
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
Black pepper

Instructions

Slice the fennel bulbs in half and remove a tough core. Using a mandolin or sharp knife thinly slice the fennel in rounds or half moons and place in a salad bowl.

Squeeze over the juice of 1/2 a lemon and add the white beans. Toss lightly together with your fingertips.

Add all the vinaigrette ingredients to a small blender and pulse until combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Add vinaigrette to the bowl and toss with beans and fennel. Add arugula and toss, then top with black pepper and lemon zest. Add extra flat leaf parsley or fennel fronds for more greens!


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4 Comments

  • Reply
    Carole
    March 26, 2014 at 7:23 pm

    Hi Jodi, just stopped by to let you know you’re featured on Carole’s Chatter today! Cheers

    PS Food on Friday will be doing fennel soon!

  • Reply
    Jodi Kay
    March 27, 2014 at 8:53 am

    Awesome! Thanks, Carole! Looking forward to fennel Friday :) x

  • Reply
    Cheri Savory Spoon
    March 28, 2014 at 4:48 am

    This sounds delicious, love fennel and white beans!

  • Reply
    Emily @ My Little Lasik
    March 29, 2014 at 8:42 pm

    Looks epic!

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