White Bean Cilantro Chopped Vegetable Salad

Do you grow vegetables or even herbs in your window sill? Welcome to the gardening grub club.

As long as I can remember, we’ve had some sorts of vegetables growing out back in the garden. Tomatoes always did well in our hot Southern California gardens, as did zucchini and eggplant. During my college years, I didn’t have a vegetable garden, but I did have a “college bookshelf” (bricks and boards) laden with herbs and houseplants. It has always been nice to be able to grab the potted basil plant and pinch off a few leaves for the plate of pasta. Here’s my current window sill basil pot, ready for some dinner action.

I’ve always been a garden dreamer. One year I put in what I called a “salsa garden” – tomatoes, Jalapenos, tomatillos, onions, and cilantro. Another year I put in an edible flower garden, with pansies, violas, nasturtium and other pretty flowers that can be eaten. Every salad that summer was a riot of color and floral design.

Remember my monstrous chard leaves from a few years ago? (I don’t mind a few little bug holes. That just shows you it’s organic!)

And my gargantuan zucchini? I really have to harvest a bit earlier, eh?

I’m late putting in my summer garden this year, but I will not be deterred, and am planting tomatoes, eggplant, Jalapeno pepper, black zucchini and orange mint. I am dreaming big with plans for roasted vegetable medleys come July-August.  

I’d love for you to plant a garden, even if it is only in a pot on the patio or balcony, or a little herb on the window sill. The emotional rewards for being able to eat food that you have grown are huge. You feel like a million bucks when the tomato and herbs in your dinner salad came from out back.

I had to buy the grape tomatoes for this salad because mine aren’t ready yet, but the Italian parsley and cilantro came from my garden, as did the radishes.

Priceless! 

Today’s Sunday Supper recipes

Today our Sunday Supper cook’s club is celebrating Recipes from the Garden, sponsored by American Family Insurance, and hosted by Jennifer of Peanut Butter and Peppers. American Family Insurance invites you to follow their #Choose Dreams Pinterest board, and to connect with them on their website, or on social media at LinkedIn, Youtube, Google+, Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.

Join the grub club with us and muck around in the dirt, then pick something from the list below to grace your table!

• 3 Cheese Naan Pizza with Sausage, Mushrooms, and Arugula by Neighborfood
• Asparagus Penne with Bacon Cream Sauce by Country Girl In The Village
• Basil, Honey and Walnut Gelato by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
• Chimichurri Skirt Steak by Magnolia Days
• Garden Foccacia by The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
• Greek Stuffed Tomato by Yours And Mine Are Ours
• Grilled Shrimp with Grilled Sweet Peppers by Daily Dish Recipes
• Herbed Chicken Kabobs by Momma’s Meals
• Individual Indian Corn Pudding Souffles by Delaware Girl Eats
• Lemon Herb Slow Cooker Roast Chicken by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
• Quinoa Tabbouleh by Supper for a Steal
• Rosemary and Lemon Chicken Thighs with Asparagus by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
• Rosemary Cornbread by Alida’s Kitchen
• Salmon Peppers and Onions by Family Foodie
• Spinach Pasta with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Strawberry Basil Pasta Salad by Peanut Butter and Peppers
• Summer Pasta Puttanesca by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Summer Vegetable Lasagna by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Tortellini with Garden Fresh Pesto by The Foodie Army Wife
• White Bean Cilantro Chopped Vegetable Salad by Shockingly Delicious

Join us around the family table for #SundaySupper 

• Twitter how-to: Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag throughout the day on Twitter to see our recipes. To join the conversation anytime, simply use the #SundaySupper hashtag to share your favorite tips and recipes.
• Pinterest: Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more recipes and photos.
• Join: To join the Sunday Supper Movement, sign up by clicking here → Sunday Supper Movement.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by American Family Insurance. All opinions are my own.

Tagged as: bean salad, beans, big dinner salad, cilantro, grape tomatoes, Italian parsley, Kid-Friendly, lemon juice, lunch salad, main dish salad, olive oil, pine nuts, radishes, red bell pepper, Salad, scallions, vegan, vegetarian, vegetarian salad, zucchini