Caramelized Onion and Balsamic Vinegar Bean Salad

April 3rd 013

I love Summer. More honestly I love cookouts, grilling, Summer foods, and ice cream weather, but it’s easier to just say “I love Summer”. This recipe reminds me of Summer foods. It’s good hot or cold, sweet with a little savory, and oh so easy to make. It kind of reminds me of baked beans that you spend all day cooking except the whole thing comes together in 20 minutes! Winner, winner, chicken bean dinner.

Caramelized Onion and Balsamic Vinegar Bean Salad

Ingredients:

  • 1 can chickpeas
  • 1 can pinto bean
  • 1 can cannellini beans
  • 1 onion, julienned
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon honey
  • 1/4-1/2 teaspoon salt to taste
  • 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil for finishing(optional)

April 3rd 001

Combine all of the different beans in a large bowl.

April 3rd 005

Caramelize the onion by cooking it over medium heat in a frying pan with 2 tablespoons of oil for 10-15 minutes. When the onion has turned translucent and slightly crusty, remove from the heat and add to the beans.

April 3rd 010

While the onions are caramelizing, reduce the balsamic vinegar to about half its original volume in a small sauce pan over another burner set to low-medium or medium heat. You want the vinegar to reduce to a molasses consistency but not overboil and turn into a taffy. If it does reduce too much, remove from the heat and stir in some hot water to thin.

Add the reduced vinegar, honey, salt and extra virgin olive oil if using to the beans and onions. Mix well until the sauce coats all of the beans. Serve hot or cold.

April 3rd 019

If this is any indication, it’s going to be a tasty Summer.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
27 Responses to Caramelized Onion and Balsamic Vinegar Bean Salad
  1. Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food
    April 6, 2011 | 9:03 am

    ohh man what a fantastic combo!

    I feel like I say this a lot around here but def need to give this a try! 🙂

  2. Meghan@travelwinedine
    April 6, 2011 | 9:05 am

    Yum! I love the flavors in this. I could eat caramelized onions on everything!

  3. Alayna @ Thyme Bombe
    April 6, 2011 | 9:09 am

    Oh man, onions are one of my favorite foods. This sounds great for a summer barbeque!

  4. Salah (My Healthiest Lifestyle)
    April 6, 2011 | 9:11 am

    mmm this looks amazing…definitely got it bookmarked!

  5. Kristina at spabettie
    April 6, 2011 | 9:15 am

    I could eat caramelized onions by themselves, and pinto beans are my favorite… I am all over this!

  6. Hannah
    April 6, 2011 | 9:16 am

    Oooh! Oooh! Who knew I could get so excited about something that isn’t dessert or a nut butter? This looks lovely!

  7. Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg
    April 6, 2011 | 9:31 am

    Sighhhh. Summer food.

  8. brandi
    April 6, 2011 | 9:43 am

    i love bean salads! this sounds like a great mix.

  9. Karen
    April 6, 2011 | 9:59 am

    I want to go home and make that right now!!!!

  10. Lauren at Keep It Sweet
    April 6, 2011 | 11:13 am

    I love bean salad but almost always make it the same way. This recipe looks delicious!

  11. sarah (sarah learns)
    April 6, 2011 | 11:42 am

    thank you for bringing this into my life. it looks amazing! i cannot wait to make it.

  12. janetha @ meals & moves
    April 6, 2011 | 12:02 pm

    BOOK. MARKED.

  13. Corey @ the runner's cookie
    April 6, 2011 | 12:21 pm

    Caramelized onions have the best flavor. I’m loving these recipes, Evan!

  14. Clare @ Fitting It All In
    April 6, 2011 | 12:50 pm

    Saving this to make as a good vegetarian protein option for hotdog and hamburger cookouts!

  15. Kate (What Kate is Cooking)
    April 6, 2011 | 4:51 pm

    I will eat anything with caramelized onions- fact 🙂

  16. Haley
    April 6, 2011 | 7:23 pm

    YUMM!!! I’m so going to try these in hopes that they’re a quick and easy sub for baked beans 🙂 THANKS!

  17. Cynthia (It All Changes)
    April 6, 2011 | 11:02 pm

    Anything with Balsamic Vinegar is perfect. I love to smell it reduce. Evan you need to come cook for me.

  18. Mandy - The Complete Cook Book
    April 7, 2011 | 4:44 am

    What a fabulous sounding salad.
    🙂 Mandy

  19. Cindy
    April 7, 2011 | 5:44 am

    Nice pictures!
    Making your food look even yummier!

  20. Kathleen @ Kat's Health Corner
    April 7, 2011 | 6:21 pm

    How do you julienne an onion? Is it the way you cut it?

    • Wannabe Chef
      April 7, 2011 | 6:30 pm

      You just do 2 cuts: Once to cut the onion in half and then, laying it flat-side down on a cutting board, cutting perpendicular to an imaginary line between the stems.

  21. Amy
    April 8, 2011 | 10:27 pm

    This recipe sounds delicious! I love that it is vegetarian as well, since so many bean recipes like this have bacon. The combination of the balsamic and caramelized onions must give this an incredible flavor! Love it :)!

  22. Lisa
    April 13, 2011 | 5:16 pm

    OH this looks soooo good. For some reason I’ve been cravings beans like crazy lately. I have no idea why.

  23. Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run]
    April 13, 2011 | 7:48 pm

    YUM! These look delish!

  24. Dani
    May 24, 2011 | 3:39 pm

    I just made this! I used only chickpeas (all I had) & added some sliced mushrooms, and used a fabulous espresso balsamic vinegar I got from the Filling Station in Chelsea Market, NYC. It is currently chilling in the fridge until dinner…I am thinking of adding in a bit of cooked pasta and tossing with spinach for a complete meal.

  25. Beth
    October 19, 2011 | 7:36 pm

    Wow. This sounds AMAZING. It’s going on my to-make list. I might make it tomorrow! Yummy.