A bright Mediterranean-style salad with blanched green beans, cherry tomatoes, crumbled feta, toasted almonds and a lemon-Dijon vinaigrette. Ready in about 20 minutes and great as a side or light main.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the trimmed green beans and cook for 2–3 minutes until bright green and just tender. Immediately transfer the beans to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Drain and pat dry.
In a small dry skillet over medium heat, toast the sliced almonds for 2–3 minutes, stirring, until fragrant and lightly golden. Remove from heat and set aside.
Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, salt and pepper in a bowl or shake in a jar until emulsified. Taste and adjust seasoning.
For extra flavor, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the drained beans and sauté for 2–3 minutes until they develop a few charred spots. This adds smokiness but is optional.
In a large bowl, combine the green beans, cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, and half the feta. Toss with most of the dressing, reserving a little to finish, and taste for salt and pepper.
Transfer to a serving bowl, sprinkle with remaining feta, toasted almonds and chopped herbs. Drizzle any reserved dressing over the top and serve at room temperature or slightly chilled.
Notes
Make-ahead: Prepare dressing and blanch beans up to 24 hours in advance for fast assembly.
To keep it vegan: Replace feta with crumbled firm tofu or omit cheese and add extra herbs and lemon zest.
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days; keep nuts separate until serving for best crunch.