Zesty Three-Bean Salad with Walnuts and Pomegranates

Name: Zesty Three-Bean Salad with Walnuts and Pomegranates
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 1/2 cup cooked kidney beans/rajma (or used canned, but rinse thoroughly); 1/2 cup cooked black eyed peas; 1/2 cup cut green beans; 2 tablespoons pomegranate pearls; 1/4 cup chopped green onions; 1/4 cup chopped red onions; 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper/capsicum; 1/3 cup olive oil (or any salad oil); 2 tablespoons vinegar (white or red); 1/2 tsp salt; 1 tsp sugar; 1 tsp prepared mustard/Dijon mustard; 1/4 tsp Italian seasoning/dry oregano leaves; 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated; To taste Black Pepper powder (optional)

Vanitha Bhat @cook_10017275

Chock full of vegetables and high-protein beans along with crunchy heart- healthy walnuts and sweet and colorful pomegranate in a tangy, sweet vinaigrette, this is a perfect make ahead salad for any picnic, party or as an everyday side dish!

Vanitha Bhat @cook_10017275

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Ingredients

4 servings

1/2 cupcooked kidney beans/rajma (or used canned, but rinse thoroughly)
1/2 cupcooked black eyed peas
1/2 cupcut green beans
2 tablespoonspomegranate pearls
1/4 cupchopped green onions
1/4 cupchopped red onions
1/4 cupchopped bell pepper/capsicum
1/3 cupolive oil (or any salad oil)
2 tablespoonsvinegar (white or red)
1/2 tspsalt
1 tspsugar
1 tspprepared mustard/Dijon mustard
1/4 tspItalian seasoning/dry oregano leaves
2 clovesgarlic, minced or grated
To tasteBlack Pepper powder (optional)

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Steps

1

Boil a pot of water and once it comes to a boil, toss in 1 tsp salt and stir in the green beans. Boil for 3 to 4 minutes until crisp tender (do not overcook). Immediately, drain and place in a bowl of ice cold water with ice. This stops the cooking process and maintains the bright green colour of the green beans.
2

In a glass jar with a tight fitting lid, combine all the dressing ingredients: oil, vinegar, salt, sugar, mustard, Italian seasoning and garlic. Add pepper if desired. Shake well for at least 20 seconds to allow the mixture to emulsify into a tangy, sweet and salty vinaigrette. Taste and adjust seasonings according to how sweet, tangy or salty you want it!
3

Transfer the green beans to a large bowl along with kidney beans, black eyed beans, green onions, bell pepper, walnuts and red onions.
Drizzle the dressing over and stir in some pomegranate pearls. Toss well to coat the salad. Do a taste test and add more dressing if needed.
4

Cover the bowl and place in the fridge to chill thoroughly for at least 2 to 3 hours or even overnight. Toss in between to distribute the dressing and add more seasonings or salt if needed.
Serve chilled or at room temperature with additional dressing.
5

Note: You can use any kind of beans like northern beans, garbanzo beans or chickpeas, black beans etc. and add as much or as little as you want. Fresh green beans is a must.
Add some grated carrots or any other vegetable you like for more colour and nutrition.
If you like a sweeter salad, you can add more sugar or even honey.
Substitute with any seasoning you like; oregano, roasted cumin powder, black salt etc.
Another option is to add chopped dates instead of pomegranate.