Bean Salad A La Parisienne

We continue with our vegan and vegetarian recipes by learning how to prepare bean salad a la parisienne. As the name shows we are preparing this bean salad the French way. In order to prepare 8 servings we need the following:

• 1½ cups dry Great Northern beans
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 small cloves garlic (optional)
• 4 sprigs parsley tied with 1 bay leaf
• ½ teaspoon thyme (or 1 sprig tied with parsley and bay leaf)

MARINADE

• ½ cup minced fresh parsley
• 1 green onion with some tops, minced or thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1½ tablespoon lemon juice

How to prepare the bean salad a la parisienne

• Soak beans.
• Simmer beans, salt, onion, garlic, parsley-bay leaf bouquet, and thyme for 1½ hours or until bans are tender but still firm; discard garlic, parsley-bay leaf bouquet and drain bean liquid.
• Toss warm beans with Marinade.
• Chill 1 hour or longer.
• Combine all Marinade ingredients.

Note: In France these beans are served as hors d'oevres in a 4-sectioned dish with the following vegetables also  in the marinade (marinate hot and chill for one or more hours): steamed cauliflowerettes, mixed with cooked potatoes, cubed cooked beets, thinly sliced (marinate separately). Just before serving, slice fresh tomatoes and pour marinade over them too.