Enjoy a refreshing and flavorful salad with this simple recipe for Green Bean and Blue Cheese Salad. This dish combines crisp green beans with creamy blue cheese, crunchy almonds, and tangy lemon vinaigrette. It's the perfect side dish for a summer barbecue or a light meal on its own. With just a few ingredients and minimal prep time, this salad is sure to impress your guests and satisfy your taste buds.
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
- 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Drain and immediately transfer the green beans to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Once cooled, drain well.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper to make the vinaigrette.
- In a large serving bowl, combine the green beans, crumbled blue cheese, and sliced almonds.
- Pour the lemon vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat all the ingredients.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Before serving, give the salad a final toss and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- Garnish with additional sliced almonds and crumbled blue cheese, if desired.
- Serve chilled and enjoy!
Interesting Facts
Green beans are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin K, and manganese.
Blue cheese is a type of cheese that has veins of blue mold running through it, giving it a distinct flavor and aroma.
The lemon vinaigrette adds a tangy and refreshing element to the salad, balancing the richness of the blue cheese.