Piyaz - Turkish White Bean Salad

Fasulye Piyaz (Turkish White Bean Salad) is a healthy and nutritious side dish and a perfect accompaniment to your meals.

It is made of beans, onions, tomatoes, and parsley then dressed with tahini, lemon juice, and olive oil.

Piyaz, a traditional Turkish White Bean Salad, is not only delicious but also very easy to prepare.

Ready in just 15 minutes, Piyaz can be served as a perfect side dish to any meal or as a light lunch option.

Jump to:

• What is Piyaz Salad?
• Why This Recipe Works?
• Ingredients You'll Need
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Top Tips From the Chef
• Recipe Variations
• How to Serve Fasulye Piyaz - Turkish Style?
• Recipe FAQs
• Related Recipes
• Fasulye Piyaz (Turkish Bean Salad)

This simple yet delicious salad is originally from the Antalya province of Turkey where it is considered the main dish.

The rest of the country typically serves it as a side dish with traditional Turkish recipes such as Inegol Kofte, Grilled Lamb Kofta (Izgara Kofte), or Cheesy Baked Shrimp (Karides Guvec).

What is Piyaz Salad?

Turkish Fasulye Piyaz is a delicious and healthy white bean salad made with sliced onions, fresh herbs, and tomatoes.

It is then flavored with a tangy dressing consisting of lemon juice, sumac, olive oil, and tahini.

You can find Piyaz on many Turkish restaurants' menus, especially served with Inegol Kofte or Baked Turkish Meatballs.

Fasulye Piyaz Salad can also be served as a mezze along with Muhammara - Acuka (Red Pepper Dip), Arnavut Cigeri - Turkish Liver, and Tirokafteri (Spicy Whipped Feta Dip).

Why This Recipe Works?

• Fasulye Piyaz Salad is a very easy recipe to follow and made with fresh & healthy ingredients.

• You can turn it into a vegan meal without the eggs along with some crusty bread and Bulgur Pilavi (Turkish Bulgur Rice Pilaf).

• This Piyaz Salad is gluten-free, dairy-free, and low-carb, ideal for most special diets.

• It is ready in just 15 minutes which makes it a perfect dish for weekday meals.

• Fasulye Piyaz (Turkish White Bean Salad) is an easy and tasty side dish that pairs nicely with many Mediterranean flavors.

Ingredients You'll Need

Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with measurements, complete recipe method, recipe notes, and nutritional information.

White Beans for Piyaz

The main ingredient for piyaz is the beans and you can either use cooked ones or cook the dried ones.

You can check my Kuru Fasulye recipe if you want to learn how to cook dried beans from scratch.

The best options are Cannellini beans, butter beans, or navy beans but any type of white beans can be used for that dish

Tahini

Tahini is a paste made from sesame seeds.

Always make sure to use good quality tahini and give it a good stir before using it as the oil accumulates on top of the sesame paste in time.

You can buy tahini from large supermarkets, and Middle Eastern shops or buy them online from Amazon.

Sumac

Sumac - It is a popular spice in Middle Eastern and Turkish cooking. It is a versatile seasoning that adds bright red color and tartness to a dish. 

In case you don't have any sumac on hand, simply add more lemon juice to substitute for its acidity.

You can buy it from the majority of large supermarkets as well as online from Amazon.

Other ingredients you will need for Piyaz Salad are:

• Red onions - I prefer red onions for the color and strong flavor but you can use any onions you like. Slice them thinly to add a bit of crunch to the salad. 

• Parsley - Parsley is one of my favorite herbs that add flavor and brightness to salads. It is very popular to use this aromatic herb in many Turkish salad recipes including Piyaz.

• Vinegar - Although the original piyaz recipe recalls grape vinegar, you can also use white wine or cider vinegar.

• Tomatoes - You can use any fresh tomatoes to garnish your salad. If you want to add them to your salad, use firm tomatoes with not much seed.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Making this healthy Turkish Bean Salad is quite simple.

However, to achieve the best results, you need to follow a few simple tips:

Prepare the Beans

If you want to use dried beans, soak 1 cup of them in plenty of water overnight.

Drain and place them in a pan with plenty of fresh water.

Cook for about 1 hour or until they are soft but not mushy.

The cooking time depends on the type of beans you are using.

Let the beans cool down in the cooking water and then drain before using.

If you want to use tinned beans, drain them using a colander and set them aside while preparing the dressing.

Prepare the Piyaz Dressing

For the dressing, take 3 tablespoon of white beans in a bowl and turn it into a paste with a fork.

Add the lemon juice, tahini, olive oil, vinegar, and salt then whisk.

Add water if the sauce is too thick, check the seasoning, and set it aside.

Alternatively, you can use a food processor for a smoother finish.

Simply put all the sauce ingredients in the food processor bowl and blitz until smooth.

Assemble and Garnish

Finely slice the onions and place them in a bowl along with the beans.

Finely chop some parsley and add to the beans along with the chili flakes, paprika, freshly ground black pepper, and salt.

Add the sauce to the salad and give it a gentle stir just enough to combine.

Place the salad in a large serving bowl or individual bowls.

Garnish with chopped tomatoes and boiled eggs.

Top Tips From the Chef

• Use high-quality ingredients. Since Piyaz is a simple salad, the quality of the ingredients is important. Choose fresh vegetables and herbs for the best flavor and texture.

• Red onions have a strong flavor and can be bitter sometimes. This recipe requires plenty of raw red onions and you might want to mellow out their pungent flavor. Simply rub them with salt, lemon juice, and a bit of sumac to soften them and make them much more palatable.

• This salad tastes better when served freshly made. If you want to make it ahead, don't add the dressing and the garnishes to the salad, and keep them in a separate container.

• Taste the salad before serving and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Add more salt, pepper, or vinegar if needed to enhance the flavor.

Recipe Variations

While the traditional Piyaz recipe is made with white beans, red onions, tomatoes, and fresh herbs, there are many variations of this popular Turkish Salad that you can create by adding or substituting different ingredients.

Here are a few of my favorite Piyaz variations to try:

• Olive Piyaz - Add sliced black or green olives to the salad for a salty and briny flavor. The olives also provide a nice contrast in texture to the soft white beans and vegetables.

• Spring Onion Piyaz - Replace the red onions with thinly sliced spring onions for a milder and sweeter flavor. Spring onions also provide a crunchier texture to the salad.

• Turkish Chili Piyaz - Add diced Turkish green chilies to the salad for a spicy kick. Turkish chilies have a moderate level of heat and a slightly fruity flavor. If you prefer a milder spice, you can use milder chilies or reduce the amount used in the recipe.

How to Serve Fasulye Piyaz - Turkish Style?

Turkish White Bean Salad is a perfect side dish to many kebabs and kofte dishes.

Try them alongside Grilled Lamb Kofta - Izgara Kofte, Adana Kebap (Adana Kofte), Tas Kebabi - Turkish Beef Stew, Lamb Beyti Kebab, or Orman Kebabi.

You can also serve Piyaz as a part of a meze spread along with Russian Salad (Olivier Salad), Saksuka (Turkish Vegetable Meze), Sigara Boregi (Turkish Cheese Rolls), and Mucver - Crispy Zucchini Fritters.

In the Antalya region, where this salad originates from, Piyaz is also served as a main meal alongside some bread.

Why not try it with Turkish Pide Bread - Ramazan Pidesi, Keema Naan Bread, or Pitka (Bulgarian Christmas Bread)?

Recipe FAQs

Related Recipes

For other great healthy salad recipes why not try:

Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.

I hope you enjoy the process of making this classic Turkish White Bean Salad "Fasulye Piyazi" as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂 

Bon appétit! / Afiyet olsun!

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