Smoky Paprika Green Bean Salad

Today I have the honor of sharing a beautiful recipe from Kathy Patalsky’s NEW Healthy Happy Vegan Kitchen cookbook!

Many of you already know Kathy, but if you don’t, here’s a quick intro. Kathy blogs at Healthy. Happy. Life. This is her second published cookbook, she released 365 Vegan Smoothies in 2013.  Kathy is incredibly talented, not only as a recipe developer but also as a food photographer. You can count on Kathy to bring striking, vibrant food photos to every post. She captures the beauty that is vegan food – its vitality and abundance! Reading Kathy’s book, it’s apparent why this is characteristic in her work. She writes:

Why vegan? I believe that there is no diet on earth more uplifting to one’s body, mind, and soul than a vegan one. Plant-based foods are the ultimate path toward total body and spirit enlightenment. A vegan diet consists of foods that are rich in life, rather than death. Vegan foods are energizing, healing, kindness-infused, sunshine-filled, and overflowing with vitality-enhancing nutrients, enzymes, and phytochemicals…. embracing a vegan diet is a worthy starting point for positive changes in your life!

Well said.

Kathy is also quite a visionary. She is the mastermind behind FindingVegan.com, which in my opinion has revolutionized vegan recipes online. Just this year, Kathy launched the Finding Vegan App.

This newest project by Kathy, Healthy Happy Vegan Kitchen, is a beautiful compilation of 220 vegan recipes, with all these chapters:

Breakfast; Bakery; Sandwiches; Burgers; Veggie Sides; Cakes, Balls & Fritters; Salads; Bowls; Appetizers, Sides, Snacks, & Party Platters; Entrees; Soups; Desserts; Drinks, Sips, and Smoothies; For the Kids; Holiday Favorites; Happy Life Menus.

That’s some serious recipe content! And the recipes themselves are diverse and enticing. It was hard for me to select a recipe to feature for this post. Naturally, I wanted to choose a dessert, but I thought I’d try being a little less predicable. 😉 Kathy’s recipe for this green bean salad really stood out to me. It’s the perfect combination of flavors and textures. Smoked paprika and tahini mingle in the sauce to coat the tender green beans, and then topped off with crunchy, candied walnuts. Right?!! It’s the ideal spring and summer potluck or picnic salad.

SMOKY PAPRIKA GREEN BEAN SALAD WITH CANDIED WALNUTS

recipage link to print/share

If you do not consider yourself a fan of green beans, keep reading! Even those who snarl at the classic “holiday green bean casserole” will love the spicy, lively, smoky-sweet flavors of this colorful green bean salad. Candied walnuts, soaked with maple flavor, mingle with crisp golden carrots, a smoky paprika-tahini-maple dressing, and perky boiled green beans. The green beans retain a slightly crisp texture from a quick cooking time. Serve as a veggie-filled lunch or at your next holiday gathering, and watch your guests actually get excited to try the green bean dish! Serves 6.

4 cups green beans, trimmed and cut into halves or thirds
2 medium carrots, cut into rounds ¼ cup chopped sweet onion
DRESSING
1 small lemon, juiced 2 heaping tablespoons tahini 2 tablespoons grade B maple syrup 1½ teaspoon smoky Spanish-style
paprika
¼ teaspoon sea salt
1⁄8 teaspoon garlic powder
A few dashes freshly ground black pepper
A few dashes cayenne (optional)
CANDIED WALNUTS
1 cup walnuts 2 tablespoons grade B maple syrup Coconut oil spray (optional)

Rinse the green beans in a large colander under cold water. Set aside. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the beans and boil for about 5 minutes; do not overcook the beans or they will become too soft. For crisper (almost raw!) beans, do a very quick boil of just 1 to 3 minutes. Drain the beans and thoroughly rinse under cold water. Let the beans drain completely. Place the green beans, carrots, and onion in a large bowl. Set aside. For the Dressing: In a cup, whisk together the dressing ingredients. Pour the dressing over the veggies and toss until all the veggies are well coated. Pour the salad into a serving bowl and set aside. For the Candied Walnuts: Heat a small saucepan over high heat. Add the walnuts and maple syrup and cook for about 1 minute, tossing the walnuts with the maple syrup. (For less sticking, add a spritz of coconut oil spray, if desired, before adding the nuts.) Remove from the heat and let cool for a few minutes.

Text excerpted from HEALTHY HAPPY VEGAN KITCHEN, © 2015 by Kathy Patalsky. Photos © Kathy Patalsky.

Treat yourself to a copy of Kathy’s book, you’ll love it! I must mention that Kathy is hosting one heck of a book launch giveaway, and stellar blog tour. So, hop over for the details.

Also, Kathy has offered a giveaway of her book for YOU! This contest is open to US residents, enter below by telling us which recipe by Kathy you love the most (if you can pick just one), or which recipe from her new book you want to try first? Good luck!

Plant-Powered Kitchen Housekeeping: Reminder that if you’ve ordered PPF, you are eligible for the free ebook. I get emails daily about if the offer is open to other countries, or if the order was back in November… YES! See this post for details.

a Rafflecopter giveaway