AI-generated image
Three-bean salad
Driebonteslaai: South African sweet-sour green, butter and kidney bean salad for the braai
No Heritage Day braai is complete without a row of salads on the table, and the sweet-sour three-bean salad is one of the oldest, handed down in Afrikaner and Cape kitchens and usually made the night before. Crisp green beans, creamy butter beans and red kidney beans soak in a sharp vinegar and sugar dressing with thin onion rings until they pickle lightly. It cuts through rich grilled meat or a vegetarian braai of mielies and halloumi. Chef's tip: dress the beans while the green beans are still warm so they drink up the dressing.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
For the salad
- 9 oz green beanstrimmed and cut into 3 cm lengths
- 14 oz tinned butter beansdrained and rinsed
- 14 oz tinned red kidney beansdrained and rinsed
- 1 small red onionsliced into thin rings
For the dressing
- ½ cup white wine vinegar
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 3 tbsp sunflower oil
- ½ tsp mustard powder
- ¾ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Shop this recipe on Amazon
Spices & pantry
Fresh ingredients (2)
Links open Amazon in a new tab. As an Amazon Associate, WhatToEat.Today earns from qualifying purchases.
Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Boil the 9 oz green beans in salted water for 4 minutes until bright green and just tender with a little bite, then drain.
5 minStep 2: Whisk the ½ cup white wine vinegar, 3 tbsp sugar, 3 tbsp sunflower oil, ½ tsp mustard powder, ¾ tsp salt and ¼ tsp black pepper until the sugar dissolves.
3 minStep 3: Put the warm green beans in a bowl with the 14 oz tinned butter beans, 14 oz tinned red kidney beans and 1 small red onion, pour over the dressing and toss gently.
3 minStep 4: Cover and chill for at least 4 hours, or overnight, stirring once. A common mistake is serving it straight away: it needs time for the beans to turn tangy and the onion to soften. Keeps 3 days in the fridge.
5 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 150 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 24 g
- Fat
- 3 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does three-bean salad take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of tinned butter beans?
- Cannellini or haricot beans, same amount.
- What can I use instead of small red onion?
- White onion or shallots, same amount (soak raw onion in cold water for 10 minutes to soften it).
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to cook it.
Rate this recipe
Sign in to rate and review this recipe.
You might also like
Mix capsicum peanut salad
A crunchy salad of red, yellow and green peppers with roasted peanuts, cucumber, carrots and celery, dressed with lemon, dill, mint and celery leaves. Just before serving, olive oil mixed with sesame seeds is poured over the top. It's colourful, filling and full of protein.
Pepper, beans and fruit salad
A big, bright salad of red, green and yellow peppers, boiled peanuts, sweet corn, grapes, apple and coconut, tossed in a sweet-sour passion fruit and mint dressing. It is very popular at big parties: it looks festive, keeps its crunch and is easy to double. Serve it on a bed of crisp lettuce.
All-way potato salad
Warm new potatoes boiled in their skins and tossed in one of three dressings: creamy parsley sour cream, a tangy basil vinaigrette, or a fresh 'greeny' dressing of cottage cheese and herbs. Each dressing is enough for 500 g of potatoes, so make one, or make all three for a party. Serve the salad chilled on a bed of lettuce with a spoonful of single cream on top.
Perfect for:Picnic & travel