Green Bean and Tomato Salad
This page contains affiliate links. For more information please read my Disclosure Policy.
This fresh, crisp Green Bean and Tomato Salad is the perfect side dish on hot summer days. Blanched fresh green beans, sweet cherry tomatoes, and a tangy lemon dill vinaigrette make a refreshing addition to any meal.
Enjoying summer produce is one of the few reasons I can endure the blistering heat of California. Green beans are one of my family’s favorites and we’re always looking for ways to enjoy them that don’t require us to turn on the oven for roasting in the middle of summer.
Lately we’ve really been enjoying them blanched and crisp, and this green bean and tomato salad is one of our favorites. It uses my simple lemon dill vinaigrette to transform green beans and sweet summer cherry or grape tomatoes into a cool side dish that is satisfying, but healthy and easy.
Ingredients and Substitutions
There’s nothing complicated about making this! It’s just 3 ingredients total – the veggies and the dressing.
I use my lemon dill vinaigrette which is made with lemon juice, dill, garlic, honey, Dijon, and oil. But, feel free to use your favorite oil based vinaigrette, something like a fresh basil balsamic dressing or anything with tang would be great.
When it comes to green beans, use the freshest variety available to you. Farmer’s markets often have different types to try, from classic green to purple or long beans. I don’t recommend frozen or canned for this, instead choose firm, unblemished beans that are a vivid color.
For cherry tomatoes, use whatever small variety that’s fresh. I’ve used grape or cherry varieties from my local market and as long as they’re ripe, juicy, and sweet, the salad will be great.
In a pinch you could even dice a larger tomato, just be sure to choose a local, fresh, summer one for best overall flavor!
Cooking Tips
The secret to this salad is blanching and shocking the green beans. It’s very easy to do.
Just fill a pot with salted water and bring it to a boil. Then drop in your trimmed and halved green beans for 2-3 minutes. When they’re bright green but still firm, transfer them into a large bowl of ice water.
While you’re working on that, it’s super easy to add all the dressing ingredients into a jar and shake them up. The tomatoes require just a quick slice.
Once the green beans are cool to the touch, transfer them to a towel and gently pat them dry. Then toss everything together and bam, a fresh, cool green bean and tomato salad is ready to serve. It can hang out at room temperature, or go into the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
Serving and Storage Suggestions
It’s not hard to find yummy things to serve with this. I often make this salad when we’re grilling up things like our lemon soy chicken or grilled steaks with chimichurri. But it could definitely be a nice healthy side for hot dogs, burgers, or anything else you want.
If you’re looking for another side or two to add to the meal, try out a classic potato salad, garlic bread rolls, or a summer squash pasta salad.
A green bean salad with tomatoes like this one will keep for 2 days in the fridge, but the texture of the sliced tomatoes tends to change the longer it’s chilled. I prefer to eat it the day I make it, or the next day at most.
However you choose to serve it, I hope you enjoy this veggie focused summer side as much as we do. Don’t forget to check out my other seasonal sides while you’re here, and Happy Eating!
- Grilled Summer Squash
- Fresh Corn Salad with Roasted Red Peppers and Avocado
- Cornbread Muffins with Fresh Corn
Green Bean and Tomato Salad
Equipment
- 1 Pot
- 1 Mason Jar
- 1 Large bowl
- 1 serving bowl
Ingredients
- 3 cups green beans trimmed and halved
- 3 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup lemon dill vinaigrette *See Notes
Instructions
- Bring well salted water to a boil in a pot over high heat while you trim and halve your green beans.
- Prepare a large bowl with ice water.
- Slice your cherry tomatoes and make the dressing by shaking the ingredients together in a jar.
- Drop the green beans into the boiling water and cook for 2-3 minutes or until bright green and barely tender.
- Transfer quickly to the ice water to stop the cooking (shock them). When cool to the touch, remove from the water to a towel and gently pat dry.
- Combine tomatoes, dressing, and green beans in a serving bowl and toss to combine. Serve immediately or chill up to 2 days.
Notes
- 1/4 teaspoon of finely minced garlic,
- 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
- 1.5 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon of finely minced dill
- 1/2 tablespoon of honey
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- pinch of salt
Nutrition
Nutrition information and cooking times are provided as a best estimate. Values may vary based upon ingredients and equipment.
In the summer, I always say the simpler the better with recipes. Can’t wait to make it again during tomato season, we always have so many cherry tomatoes in our garden!
Veronika, I love that my salad will grace your table again and again this summer!
I love how colorful this salad looks. It’s not only beautiful but also tasty to eat!
Thanks DK, bright color and taste, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I made this green bean tomato salad, and it was fresh and flavorful! The tomatoes and green beans paired perfectly, and I loved it!
Elaine it is a good one, and light and refreshing, glad you loved it!
This green bean and tomato salad is fantastic ! I love all the fresh flavors and that lemon dill vinaigrette really makes this special. I will be making this again!!
Thanks Debbie, it is a regular at our table this time of year!
I had some extra green beans and tomatoes and decided to make this with it! It came out so good. Such a great recipe for summer. My family loved it too.
Julie, thanks so much, so happy your family loved it as much as mine does.
This is the perfect salad for summer bbq parties. Simple ingredients with delicious results. It holds up well too so it can be made ahead of time.
Thanks Gloria, you are right it is easy to make ahead and enjoy at a BBQ.