Many people think that during the winter months or when it is cold it is practically impossible to eat a Spanish salad.
If you are one of these we do not blame you, when we see a bowl of lettuce and it is snowing outside we want to run for a plate of pasta.
In any case, there are different recipes for warm salads that will save you during the winter. Say goodbye to always eating pure as a side of the main course with the help of this Spanish bean salad.

This blog is supported by you, dear reader. If you purchase through a link, we earn a small commission. As an Amazon Affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Continue reading this article to learn about the most innovative among traditional salad recipes, from how it is made, to all the changes you can make to it.
Background of the Dish

The Spanish bean salad was invented hundreds of years ago, and some people take it as the perfect marriage between Latin American and southern Spanish cuisine.
This is because its main ingredients are characteristic of each region.
Olive oil and parsley and garlic are staples of Andalusian cuisine, while white bean and tomato are ingredients from Latin America (Mexico and Central America especially).
White bean salad quickly became popular because it was easy to make, and it was a good alternative to vegetables and legumes during the winter months.
Today you can find it in any restaurant throughout the year.
Pin for later!

Things You’ll Need for Spanish Bean Salad
Unlike other Spanish salad recipes if you choose to make this one you don’t need a lot of ingredients or a lot of equipment (just a bowl and a pot).
So drop the excuses and give this Spanish bean salad recipe a try.

Ingredients
- 2 cups (300g) white beans ( hydrated or 2 cans)
- 2 onions
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 clove garlic
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
How to Make Spanish Bean Salad – Step by Step Guide

- To start making this Spanish beans recipe you have to soak the white beans the night before or for 12 hours. You have to put them in a bowl and cover them with water. If you bought canned navy beans, you can skip this step, since those are already hydrated (check the label just in case).
- Then wash them and put them in a pot covered with water. Boil them for an hour, or until when crushed it has a puree-like texture. Again, canned beans usually come pre-cooked, so if you buy that you can skip this step.
- In the meantime, chop the parsley and garlic and mix them with the oil. Cut the onion and tomato into small pieces.
- When the white bean is cooked and warm, put it in a bowl and mix it with the other ingredients. Also, season it to taste.
- The last step in this Ensalada recipe is to mix everything. It is ready to eat because it is a winter salad. However, you can take it to the refrigerator if you want the salad to be colder.
Substitution of Ingredients

The great part about making any type of salad is that you can play with the ingredients as much as you like. There are no written laws, and there is no way it can go wrong.
In the case of this bean recipe, you can take inspiration from other winter salad ideas, since they usually have ingredients that can be served hot.
For example, you can add pieces of seafood if you like, or cut chicken (although it can make the salad very heavy).
You can also follow other recipes with beans and change the white bean for any type of bean you like. From black beans to lentils, anything you can think of will serve.
Try the Spanish lentil salad if you’re a fan of lentils and, obviously delicious Spanish salad recipes.
This is a healthy recipe, but if you were looking for healthy bean recipes entirely, one thing you can do is minimize the amount of oil you season the salad with.
And if Spanish salads you’re after, make sure you try out our nutritious and easy ensalada rusa with potatoes, the iconic ensalada Malagueña recipe, and the refreshing Pipirrana salad.
Spanish tuna salad with eggs and potatoes and Spanish beans and tomatoes are a must-try as well.
Tips on Serving Spanish Bean Salad

This is truly one of the best bean recipes, as it can be served hot or cold. To serve it hot you just have to follow the step-by-step as it was listed.
You can eat it for lunch or dinner, and if you want to give it an extra touch, put chopped hard-boiled egg or cheese cubes.
As we said before in the article, it is one of the most popular warm salad recipes, however, you can serve it cold if you prefer it that way or if it is very hot.
You just have to leave it in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving it and that’s it.
Try the baked Spanish beans recipe if you like comforting dishes with beans.
How to Store Spanish Bean Salad

Perhaps one of the downsides of this white bean salad recipe is that there are not many ways to store it.
You can keep it in your fridge for 5 days and then heat it in the microwave or serve it cold.
Unfortunately, it cannot be frozen, since it is seasoned and has many raw vegetables. However, you can cook the white bean and freeze it on its own for 30 days.
Recipe Card: Spanish Bean Salad
Spanish Bean Salad Recipe

Many people think that during the winter months or when it is cold it is practically impossible to eat a salad.
If you are one of these we do not blame you, when we see a bowl of lettuce and it is snowing outside we want to run for a plate of pasta.
Say goodbye to always eating pure as a side of the main course with the help of this Spanish salad.
Ingredients
- 2 cups (300g) white beans ( hydrated or 2 cans)
- 2 onion
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 clove garlic
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Soak the white beans the night before or for 12 hours. You have to put them in a bowl and cover them with water. If you bought canned navy beans, you can skip this step, since those are already hydrated (check the label just in case).
- Then wash them and put them in a pot completely covered with water. Boil them for an hour, or until when crushed it has a puree-like texture. Again, canned beans usually come pre-cooked, so if you buy that you can skip this step.
- In the meantime, chop the parsley and garlic and mix them with the oil. Cut the onion and tomato into small pieces.
- When the white bean is cooked and warm, put it in a bowl and mix it with the other ingredients. Also, season it to taste.
- Mix everything. It is ready to eat because it is a winter salad. However, you can take it to the refrigerator if you want the salad to be colder.
Notes
If you want to make this winter salad recipe faster, you just have to buy canned Spanish beans.
Generally, it comes already hydrated and cooked (or you can buy one at the store that has those characteristics).
Also, we recommend parsley and garlic with olive oil as the main seasoning for the salad, but you can choose another such as vegetable oil and vinegar.
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 109Total Fat 0.5gSaturated Fat 0.1gCholesterol 0mgSodium 263mgCarbohydrates 25gFiber 5.4gSugar 10.3gProtein 4.9g



Hola, I’m Paulina! Together with my team, we are passionate about Southern Spain. Here we share all you need to know for great times in Southern Spain with the best places to visit, stay and, of course, the best food to eat.
Let’s dive in and explore Southern Spain’s outdoors, food and culture con pasión!