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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1. Place the green beans, orange segments and water chestnuts in a bowl.

2. Drizzle the vinegar over the ingredients and toss well to combine. You want just enough to coat the ingredients but not drench them in the vinegar.

3. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon over each serving of salad.


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Quick Meals - Menu Planner:

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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