| | | |

My Favourite Farmers Market Summer Salad

Recently I came a cross a farmers market in the centre of the bustling old city part of Strasbourg, France. Oh what a find! It was in a grassy knoll, with vendors speaking German, French and English if you were lucky. I felt like I was in heaven, I love me a good farmers market. The summer brings so much bounty that I’m always trying to come up with flavourful bright salads, all concocted with the fresh produce I find from my friends the farmers.

Just a few weeks ago Vandenbroek Farm offered a one time special if you purchased their Garlic Scape Vinaigrette and I took them up on it. Oh, and I’m so glad I did. This dressing made with their very own garlic scapes grown on their farm is wickedly delicious! Rumour has it one lady bought a jar and took it home to try right away. That same day she returned to buy three more jars. A testament of yumminess I think.

I love this vinaigrette so much that I thought I should come up with an easy to make salad with all farmers market produce, with the exception of the canned bean medley and parsley from my own garden. When you consider that the fresh vinaigrette is already made for you through the kitchen wizardry of Kathryn Gordon, I think this salad will delight anyone who is looking for something easy, local, vibrant and beyond tasty.

salad dressing

Farmers Market Summer Bean Salad

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 – 19oz can of mixed bean medley
  • 1 cup each fresh green and yellow string beans
  • 1 green pepper
  • 1 orange pepper
  • 1/2 red onion chopped
  • 1/4 cup Vandenbroek Farm Garlic Scape Vinaigrette
  • 1 T white wine vinegar
  • 2 T chopped parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste

METHOD

Rinse and drain the can of beans and put in a large bowl.

Boil the string beans in a pot of salted boiling water for 4 minutes. Run cold water over beans until they are just warm.

Cut string beans into 1” slices.

Chop green and orange peppers into chunks.

Slice and chop red onion coarsley.

Put all chopped veggies into bowl with beans.

Mix garlic scape vinaigrette and white wine vinegar well with all ingredients.

Add chopped parsley, salt and pepper to taste and mix well.

Marinate in refrigerator for at least two hours. Stirring frequently.

Visit your local farmers market to bring this crowd pleaser to life. If you live in Puslinch, Guelph or thereabouts the Aberfoyle Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays from 8am to 1pm at the Optimist Recreation Centre until the last Saturday in October. Say hey to the Vandenbroeks for me!

facebookShare on Facebook
TwitterTweet