Butter-Glazed French Beans with Toasted Pine Nuts
These butter-glazed French green beans with toasted pine nuts come together in 10 minutes using Better Than Bouillon for rich flavor. An easy, elegant side dish for any meal.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Post-Hike Italian Salad
Serves: 4–6
Time: 15 minutes
Tags: Fresh, kid-friendly, post-travel, Italian-inspired
After more than 8 hours of driving, hiking, dodging bison, and weaving through Yellowstone traffic, we were completely wiped. Starving, exhausted, and running on fumes, we made one last stop at Whole Foods in Jackson before heading back.
My son had his heart set on tomato-sauce spaghetti. My dad wanted meatballs. And I needed vegetables—stat. This Italian salad came together fast and gave us something crisp, cool, and nourishing to dig into while the pasta boiled.
We ate the salad first, and honestly? That move saved us from inhaling a pound of spaghetti at 10 p.m. It bought us time, filled us up just enough, and brought a little balance to an otherwise carb-heavy comfort meal.
Ingredients
- 1 bag Whole Foods Italian Salad Mix
- 1 carrot, grated
- 1 cucumber, chopped small
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 small avocado, diced
- 6 oz fresh mozzarella, diced
- A handful of organic cherry tomatoes, halved
- A few fresh basil leaves, chiffonade
- A splash of red wine vinegar
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Optional Add-Ins
- Kalamata olives, chopped
- Pickled banana peppers
- White beans
- Freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano
- Homemade or store-bought croutons
Directions
- In a large bowl, combine the carrot, cucumber, red onion, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella.
- Add a generous pinch of kosher salt and a splash of red wine vinegar. Toss well and let the vegetables sit for 5–10 minutes to absorb the seasoning.
- Add the bagged salad mix, drizzle with olive oil, and toss thoroughly.
- Taste and adjust with more vinegar, oil, or salt as needed. Finish with black pepper and fresh basil.
Related Posts
Broccoli Spaghetti with Roasted Garlic Oil & Crispy Breadcrumbs
This weeknight broccoli spaghetti is tossed with roasted garlic oil, lemon, Pecorino Romano, and crispy golden breadcrumbs. A pantry-friendly pasta full of flavor and texture.
Snackable Caprese Remix – Easy No-Cook Mozzarella Salad Recipe
A quick and tangy no-cook mozzarella salad made with fresh cherry tomatoes, mini cucumbers, red onion, and creamy mozzarella pearls. Perfect for busy weekdays or lazy weekends.
Made with Bullet