Recipe: Four Bean Salad with Variations

Four Bean Salad with Variations
From: calliope,.NY

1 box frozen green beans
1 box frozen wax beans
obviously fresh is better, if available!
1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1- green bell pepper, very thin slices....you could use red bell pepper if that's what you have!
1-medium red onion, paper-thin slices

1-Tbsp. or more, sugar
1/4 cup, or more, red wine vinegar...or white...or cider vinegar
1/3-cup olive oil
1- tsp. salt
1- tsp. pepper
oregano or basil or Savory...I like savory, its the "bean" herb!
* optional...Worcestershire sauce, and/or mustard....use it!

Whisk dressing together thoroughly. Mix all ingredients together and toss. Chill.

* I'm going to make this adding some boiled new potatoes cut in half, some roasted beets. whole roasted garlic cloves and 3-cans of tuna, flaked, for a very complete one dish meal
for one of this holiday's dinners. *......since I'm adding all the extras, I will undoubtedly double the dressing. **I did this and it was wonderful!*Today, sat. Nov. 6, I'm going to try another variation. I'll do up the beans, but this time use bulgur ...( note to yourself!!!...don't trust the box of bulgur for the amount they say...i.e., if it says 3 cups water and 1 cup bulgur...then it will make at least...3 cups bulgur!!!).....(if you don't like the chewy texture, try couscous instead) then use tuna again and this time some chopped black olives. Think I'll try spiking the dressing with horseradish and will also use the mustard and some lemon juice as well as the red wine vinegar and go for either the savory or oregano for the herb....note...this too was a nice variation!

*Both these variations are pretty darned healthy and a complete one-dish meal.

One last thing to try is adding some beets you have roasted with thyme, cloves and garlic in the oven then sliced and added at the end so they don't bleed all over everything.