Sunday, November 15, 2009

Wacky Bean & Pasta Salad


If you love three-bean salad & if you also love pasta salad then you must try this salad. I have been making this for a couple years & I think it is the best of both worlds!

Ingredients
1# Tri-color rotini or Wacky Mac
2 cans green beans & wax beans mix (if you can only find them separate use 1 can of green beans & 1 can of wax beans), drained
1 can dark red kidney beans, drained
1 can garbanzo beans (optional, but a very good addition), drained
1 c sweet onion, chopped
3/4 c cider vinegar
1/2 c canola oil
2/3 c sugar
1 1/2 c cherry tomatoes, halved
Salt & pepper to taste

Directions
Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse with cool water. Meanwhile, combine drained beans & onion in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl, combine vinegar & oil; slowly add sugar to dissolve. It might seem like a lot of dressing, but it takes all of it. Add drained pasta & dressing to beans. Add tomatoes & salt & pepper to taste. Gently toss to combine. Refrigerate until ready to serve. A little secret: the longer it marinates the better it tastes. I usually make mine the day before I am going to serve it.

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