The Anti-Inflammatory ‘Dense Bean Salad’ Trend Is Still Going Strong—Here’s How to Put a Fall Twist on It

When you think of salads, ingredients like leafy greens and cherry tomatoes may first come to mind, but thanks to TikTok’s viral dense bean salad trend, we’re re-imagining what salads can look like: They don’t always need to include baby spinach or kale to be considered a bowl of nutritious goodness.

In case you aren’t familiar, dense bean salads are usually packed with chickpeas, cucumbers, bell peppers, red onion, cherry or sun-dried tomatoes, feta cheese, and fresh herbs, like parsley and cilantro. They’re all chopped into tiny bite-sized pieces that make the salad easy to pack into a pita pocket, top over a piece of sourdough bread, or eat on its own.

“Generally speaking, the [term] ‘dense’ indicates no lettuce,” explains Abbie Gellman, RD, dietitian and chef. This allows people to put together ingredients they like, such as beans, veggies, and cheese, and toss it with a vinegar-based dressing. “You and can keep it in the fridge for several days, where it will marinate and continue to develop flavor (versus lettuce and other veggies that will wilt or break down with vinegar-based dressing and time).”

But now that it’s officially autumn, you might wonder how to incorporate more fall seasonal ingredients into your dense bean salad. To help us embrace fall’s nutritious produce, Gellman shares her spin on this salad trend.

First, what’s so great about dense bean salads?

Because the base of this viral salad is beans, you’re getting plenty of plant-based protein and fiber. The bonus is that canned beans are highly accessible and affordable.

“Beans are a wonderful way to get plant-based protein, as well as fiber and several nutrients such as magnesium and plant-based iron. They add complex carbohydrates and really pump up the nutrition and taste of most dishes,” Gellman says. “Cherry tomatoes and cucumbers are generally well-liked vegetables. They’re also affordable, easy to find, and nutrient-rich,” she adds.

Additionally, things like crumbled feta cheese lend a salty, satiating flavor and more filling protein. Lastly, dressings with vinegar, oil, and Dijon mustard help you absorb all the nutrients in your salad (fats help you absorb antioxidants, per an April 2019 study in Molecules¹) and add a ton of flavor. Many TikTok creators who make dense bean salads also add meat—like steak, pepperoni, and chicken—and swap out feta cheese for mini mozzarella balls.

The beauty of dense bean salads is that you can make them with whatever ingredients you have on hand and the flavors you prefer. For example, TikTok creator @violet.cooks (whose videos have amassed more than 2 million followers) created a version with rotisserie chicken, marinated feta and olives, white beans, garbanzo beans, bell peppers, and a chimichurri-inspired dressing made with parsley, cilantro, red pepper flakes, and olive oil.

“As mentioned above, these ‘dense’ salads don’t have any ingredients—like lettuce—that will wilt or cannot sit long term in the refrigerator with dressing. These types of salads offer an option for people to plan ahead and have things ready to go during their week. They are also very ‘formulaic,’ so the user—or eater—can mix and match how they want. For example, one person may want pinto beans while another likes black beans and some people will try cucumbers, while others may try bell peppers. Or both!” Gellman says.

Fall ingredients to add to your dense bean salads

So how can we “fall-ify” this trend and make the most of the nutrient-dense fall produce the season has to offer? Gellman recommends adding some of the following produce to the mix:

• Roasted winter squash (think: butternut, acorn, delicata)
• Roasted potatoes or sweet potatoes
• Pickled red onions
• Apples
• Pears
• Nuts and seeds, like pumpkin seeds

Tips

“I recommend slicing and adding [apples and pears] right before eating so they don’t oxidize and turn brown,” she says.

She also recommends toasting nuts and seeds for a deeper, richer flavor. “Nuts and seeds add healthy fat, fiber, and nutrients, such as vitamin E and magnesium. These also add texture to the meal, which many people enjoy,” she notes.

If you want to spice up your dressing as the days get cooler, consider @violet.cooks’s chipotle chicken salad dressing, which is made of lime juice, olive oil, chipotle, cumin, and mayo.