Bean Salad
with
Bacon

This quick salad can be served with a simple side, made into a wrap or turned into a quick meal with seafood or a simple grain dish. The menu planner below will give you some great, quick meal ideas.

2-3 servings

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5 Ingredients Needed:

fresh green beans – 3 cups cut into 1” pieces and lightly
steamed and cooled

mandarin oranges – 1 cup of individual sections
(if using canned – drain)

Sliced water chestnuts – 1/2 cup cut into half-moons

balsamic vinegar – enough to moisten ingredients

bacon – 3 slices cooked until crispy and crumbled
(use regular or vegetarian style)

Make Ahead:
- Cook three slices of bacon (regular or vegetarian style) until crispy, cool and crumble

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Light Meal Ideas:

** Scoop this simple bean salad into Bibb lettuce leaves and add a side of rye toast slices spread with hummus.

** This quick salad makes a flavorful stuffing for a wrap style sandwich. Place a thin slice of smoked salmon on a soft tortilla shell, top with the salad and roll up the wrap. Serve along with a side of baked sweet potato chips.

Quick Dinner Ideas:

** For a simple seafood meal just place each serving of salad on a plate and top with cold, cooked and shelled shrimp. You could also serve a simple and light dessert like lemon sorbet.

** Another easy meal idea is to slice some pre-cooked polenta (sold in tubes in the grocery store), brown each slice in a little oil in a non-stick pan and serve this quick bean salad over the polenta. Add thick tomato slices sprinkled with lemon pepper on the side.

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Here are some simple ingredient changes for a little variety.

* Instead of Mandarin Oranges: try Pineapple Chunks or Cooked Sweet Potato Chunks.

* Instead of Water Chestnuts: try Cubes of Cucumber or Cubes of Jicama.

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