Life is perfect when I gather together with the people I love. We barbecue sensational food, catch up on each other’s lives – and for us Seattleites, celebrate the warm weather.
Green Bean Salad with Fresh Basil
As much fun as these barbecues are, if you’re watching your weight it’s not often that low calorie options are on the menu.
This can be a problem for a chip loving – potato salad loving – crackers and cheese loving – burger loving – fiend like myself!
My solution to this weight watching dilemma is to make an appetizing salad everyone can enjoy. This easy salad recipe uses the season’s freshest green beans, spicy basil, fruity olive oil and nutty Parmesan cheese to make a satisfying alternative to the typical potato salad.
Green and Wax Bean Salad
Healthy cooking tip . . .
Salads like this are perfect for warm weather buffets. They can sit on the table a bit longer than salads that contain mayonnaise, eggs and meats – however, that doesn’t mean that they should sit for hours while everyone is playing badminton. About.com has valuable advice when it comes to keeping your family and friends healthy at your next gathering. Be sure to take a look at what they have to say.
Happy Labor Day!
Green Bean Salad with Basil
Serves 4
1 cup green beans, cut in 1″ pieces
1 cup wax beans
1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
¼ cup sweet onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, shredded
¼ cup basil, fresh and finely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Steam beans until crisp-tender. Allow to cool and then add remaining ingredients. Serve immediately, or chill if desired.
Nutrition Per Serving
Calories: 77, Weight Watchers PointsPlus 2
Total Fat: 4.78g
Cholesterol: 3mg
Sodium: 97mg
Total Carbs: 6.29g
Dietary Fiber: 1.80g
Sugars: 2.72g
Protein: 3.36g
Sounds wonderful.
Christine recently posted..Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes
Hey there Mother Rimmy! What a PERFECT summer salad! Not only is it healthy, but it has some of my favorite ingredients! I would pass over a lot of the heavy calorie dishes to get to this one! Buzzed!
Ann recently posted..Bourbon Chicken….GRILLED
Thanks Ann. That Bourbon Chicken looks delicious. Perfect for the holiday weekend!
Love this salad! The green beans look like they add such a nice crunch!
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. recently posted..Buffalo Chicken Tenders
I’m just getting beans coming on, Seattle has been so late with the weather. We sure are enjoying them though!
Such pretty colors!
Sandi recently posted..March of the Penzeys
Absolutely mouth-watering and nutritious! I loved this post. Looking forward to your next post now. Great pictures!
Thank for visiting!
I’m the same way – I love cookouts but always have a hard time with all the mayonnaise laden salads and sauce smothered foods on the menu. I too like to bring a dish that I know I’ll like and won’t leave me feeling like I wish I’d stayed home!
Jen at The Three Little Piglets recently posted..Dark Chocolate and Hazelnut Biscotti
So true!
it looks great alternative for the people who do diet, i need start on monday:)
The only problem with taking a salad like this along is then you feel obligated to eat it instead of the stuff you shouldn’t eat.
I think I’d eat this anyhow though. I love bean salads.
The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time recently posted..Tacoritos from Taste of Home, Southwest Cooking, September 2011
I like to compromise. A burger and bean salad, instead of a burger and chips and potato salad. That way I get a little of both!
This salad looks great! I’ve been trying to cut back after a summer filled with too many hot dogs and potato salad– will be saving this recipe! Have a great Labor Day
We’re obsessed with basil these days. Can’t seem to get enough of it! We’ll have to give this recipe a try tonight with our bowlful of veg. Hope you’re having a great long weekend
That salad has summer written all over it. I agree with not using mayonnaise for most outdoor meals.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..When Life Gives You Tomatoes…Make Sauce
It makes life a bit easier not having to worry about spoilage. Enjoy the weekend!
This is a colorful and wonderful salad – And thank you for add the calorie count – That is very useful to know – because we can even binge on salad thinking it is not so caloric to eats greens and beans even if they are good calories!
Cheers priya
Priya Mahadevan recently posted..Fig Mascarpone
You’re so right!
Happy to follow you
Priya Mahadevan recently posted..Fig Mascarpone
Thank you so much!
Thanks for the like on Facebook , you are so sweet!
Sandi recently posted..March of the Penzeys
My dad is in town for the weekend and he LOVES bean salad…and yours is more inviting than the dump 3 cans of beans in a bowl version…looks wonderful with the addition of tomatoes and basil.
Liz recently posted..Corn Soup~
Enjoy your visit with your dad! You’ll have to let me know if you make the salad and if you made improvements to the recipe. I always love to hear how people make my recipes their own.
I think you’ve summed it up perfectly Kristi – “Life is perfect when I gather together with the people I love” (and feed them wonderful food) This is a gorgeous side, bursting with flavour.
This is the perfect salad. I love green beans & basil
http://su.pr/1bZ8fp
I would love if you linked this and any of your favorite summer blog posts to my “Happy Post” Help spread the cheer
I think you’ve summed it up beautifully, Kristi – “Life is perfect when I gather together with the people I love” (and feed them wonderful food). Love this super side!
Great and healthy salad!!! The boys will love this one!
chandra recently posted..Pomme Frite Crisps
You right! Perfect late summer salad! So glad I visited today, K! I haven’t been here in so long! You’re still posted such terrific foods! Hope your Labor Day weekend is great fun!
Thanks Susan. I’m glad you visited today too. There are so many wonderful food blogs that it takes me a some time to visit all my favorites like yours!
This looks like the perfect salad for summer! The basil just puts it over the top. Yum!
Kristen (swanky dietitian) recently posted..Ready For Reno
Seattle’s gardening season is late this year, but it hasn’t been such a bad thing since I now have some very nice basil.
What a great and yummy way to get rid of that extra basil in my garden. Thanks for sharing.
veronica gantley recently posted..Sweet Pickles
love this recipe oh my 4 weeks late thats unreal
rebecca subbiah recently posted..Halibut Fish Stew over Polenta
Unreal but true.
What a pretty salad and that parmesan cheese is winking at me!
Perfect summer salad, my daughter will love this!
Suzi recently posted..Spinach Stuffed Garlic Bread
It does look like a perfect warm weather salad
Hope you are having a lovely holiday weekend…
Magic of Spice recently posted..What’s on the side? Baked Asparagus Fries
This salad is perfect for my summery days coming here!
Wonderful colorful shots and I need one for my BBQ meat, right now
Cheers,
Gera
Gera recently posted..Blog Commenting and Social Networking Policy. Do You Have One? Here It’s Mine!
Thank you Gera! We are finally getting some summer and it’s sure wonderful.
look at that beautiful salad… it’ one I enjoy from time to time and it is so good with BBQ foods, I love marinated salads and this one is tops
What a great salad! I am a big fan of bringing healthy food to potluck events. Then at least you know there is one thing you can eat guilt free!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts recently posted..Fougasse Stuffed with Roasted Red Peppers