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French-Style Potato and Green Bean Salad Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.4 from 79 reviews
  • Author: Kimberly
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Total Time: 27 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings
  • Category: Salad, Side Dish
  • Method: Boiling
  • Cuisine: French
  • Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Description

A refreshing French-style potato and green bean salad featuring tender baby potatoes and crisp green beans tossed in a tangy Dijon mustard vinaigrette, garnished with fresh herbs and capers. Perfect as a light side dish or picnic salad that’s gluten-free and vegetarian.


Ingredients

Main Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds baby potatoes (halved or quartered)
  • 8 ounces green beans (trimmed)
  • ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
  • 2 tablespoons capers (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

Dressing

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 small garlic clove (minced)


Instructions

  1. Cook Potatoes: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the halved or quartered baby potatoes and cook for 10–12 minutes until they are just fork-tender.
  2. Add Green Beans: In the last 2–3 minutes of potato cooking, add the trimmed green beans to the boiling water to blanch them.
  3. Drain and Cool: Drain the potatoes and green beans and immediately rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Pat them dry and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
  4. Prepare Dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and minced garlic until the dressing is emulsified and smooth.
  5. Combine Salad: Add the finely chopped red onion, optional capers, chopped fresh parsley, and dill to the bowl with the potatoes and green beans.
  6. Toss with Dressing: Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and gently toss everything together until evenly coated.
  7. Rest and Serve: Let the salad sit for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve at room temperature or chilled as desired.

Notes

  • This salad is ideal for picnics and potlucks because it contains no mayonnaise, keeping it light and fresh.
  • You can substitute white wine vinegar or champagne vinegar for the red wine vinegar to vary the flavor profile.
  • For added protein, consider adding sliced hard-boiled eggs or flaked tuna to the salad.