crisp green beans with roasted shallots and walnuts

from vegan soul kitchen

this green bean dish is very similar to the one i just made from modern vegetarian kitchen, but this one is twice as good. the ingredients are nearly the same but the roasted onions and the balance of the flavors was really spot on. we devoured these.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Soundtrack: "Down Here on the Ground" by Grant Green from Alive! Art: "16 cowries/seeds" by Eesuu Orundide

Coarse sea salt

1 pound fresh green beans, snappedat each end

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons agave nectar or pure maple syrup

2 large cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon fresh thyme.

1/2 cup plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

Freshly ground white pepper

4 large shallots

1/4 cup walnut halves, toasted, skins removed and coarsely chopped (page 40)

Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot over high heat and add 1 tablespoon of salt. Add the green beans and cook 4 to 5 minutes, until tender but still al dente. Drain the beans into a colander and shock in a bowl filled with ice water to stop cook- ing. Drain again and place in a large serv- ing bowl.

In a blender, combine the lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, agave nectar, garlic, thyme, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Slowly pour in 1/2 cup of olive oil with the blender go- ing. Add white pepper to taste.

Toss the green beans with the vinaigrette to coat well and set aside. Preheat oven to 425°F.

In a small bowl, toss the shallots with 1 tea- spoon of olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake until the shallots are charred on the outside and tender on the inside. Re- move from the oven and allow to cool. Cut off and discard the blossom ends of the shallots, squeeze the shallots from their skins, and cut them into 1/2-inch pieces. Add the shallots and the walnuts to the green beans. Toss well, and immediately remove all the ingredients with a slotted spoon to a serving bowl. Season with white pepper to taste.