Even though it is not officially summer on the calendar, the weather says otherwise here in Maryland–we are having a heatwave! I made this recipe as part of my demo for Savory, Herb of the Year 2015 at the USBG and everyone loved it–so I am posting the requested recipe below. It is time to cut your savory back to use and dry or make vinegar now and it will encourage new summer growth.

White Bean Salad

This simple recipe is quick and easy and can be used like tuna fish or chicken salad on sandwiches or a salad plate. It is delicious as a sandwich spread or served on bagels, pitas, or crackers. For a cool summer meal, I also like to make a salad plate with lettuce underneath and a generous dollop of bean salad surrounded by sliced tomato, cucumbers, radishes or carrot sticks, maybe even a deviled egg or two; serve with bread or toast, perhaps rubbed with a little garlic.

Add 1 jalapeño, stemmed, seeded, and diced, if you like it spicy. Sometimes I use chickpeas instead of white beans for an equally tasty salad. Serve with a glass of iced tea garnished with lemon and mint, cold beer or white wine.

For those who do not prefer mayonnaise, substitute 2 to 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil and about 1 generous tablespoon balsamic vinegar or fresh-squeezed lemon juice.

Makes about 2 cups; enough to fill 4 sandwiches or make 3 to 4 salad plates

1 1/2 to 2 cups cooked cannellini or 15-ounce can cannellini or other white beans, drained

About 1/2 cup finely chopped celery (1 stalk)

About 2 to 3 tablespoons finely diced onion

2 to 3 tablespoons minced sweet pickles

1 to 2 tablespoons pickle juice

1 large clove garlic, pressed

3 to 4 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard

1 /4 teaspoon Hungarian paprika

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground pepper

About 1 to 2 teaspoons fresh minced savory leaves or 1 teaspoon dried, crumbled savory leaves

About 2 tablespoons fresh minced parsley

Put the beans in a bowl and mash about half of them with a fork or potato masher. If you don’t mash some of them to make a paste–the beans have a tendency to bounce out of your sandwich. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine. Blend well and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Taste for seasoning before serving; you may need to add a bit more salt, mayonnaise, or a little pickle juice. This will keep in the refrigerator, tightly covered, for 3 or 4 days.

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