English English
Home Articles Recipes About

Vital Bean Salad with Crunchy Vegetables and Walnuts

Ingredients for 2 servings:

  • 250g (8.8oz)beans
  • 80g (2.8oz) radishes
  • 200g (7.1oz) bell pepper
  • 125g (4.4oz) tomatoes
  • 50g (1.8oz) carrots
  • 50g (1.8oz) walnuts
  • 25g (0.9oz) arugula (rocket)
  • 40g (2.8 tbsp) olive oil
  • 15g (1tbsp) balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1tsp mustard
  • 1 pinch of salt
  1. Cook the beans in lightly salted water for 10–15 minutes until tender but still firm. Drain and rinse briefly with cold water for extra freshness.
  2. Wash the radishes, bell pepper, tomatoes, and carrots thoroughly. Slice the radishes into thin rounds, cut the bell pepper and tomatoes into bite-sized pieces, and slice the carrots into thin strips or slices.
  3. Coarsely chop the walnuts and add them to the salad. They add a pleasant crunch and a delicate nutty flavor.
  4. Prepare the dressing by mixing olive oil, mustard, honey, balsamic vinegar, and a pinch of salt until all ingredients are well combined into a creamy vinaigrette. Toss the salad with the dressing and serve fresh.

Sources:

Amir Gull, Gulzar Ahmad Nayik (2020). Antioxidants in Vegetables and Nuts - Properties and Health Benefits. (2020). Germany: Springer Nature Singapore.

Arballo, J., Amengual, J., & Erdman, J. W., Jr. (2021). Lycopene: A Critical Review of Digestion, Absorption, Metabolism, and Excretion. Antioxidants, 10(3), 342. Source

Basrowi, R. W., & Dilantika, C. (2021). Optimizing iron adequacy and absorption to prevent iron deficiency anemia: the role of combination of fortified iron and vitamin C. World Nutrition Journal, 5(S1), 33-39.

Bracht, D. m. P., Leitzmann, P. D. C. (2020). Klartext Ernährung: Die Antworten auf alle wichtigen Fragen - Wie Lebensmittel vorbeugen und heilen - von den Bestsellerautoren. Germany: Penguin Random House Verlagsgruppe GmbH.

Del Bo' C, Bernardi S, Marino M, Porrini M, Tucci M, Guglielmetti S, Cherubini A, Carrieri B, Kirkup B, Kroon P, Zamora-Ros R, Liberona NH, Andres-Lacueva C, Riso P. Systematic Review on Polyphenol Intake and Health Outcomes: Is there Sufficient Evidence to Define a Health-Promoting Polyphenol-Rich Dietary Pattern? Nutrients. 2019 Jun 16;11(6):1355. doi: 10.3390/nu11061355. PMID: 31208133; PMCID: PMC6627994.

Vital Bean Salad with Crunchy Vegetables and Walnuts
Green beans provide plant-based non-heme iron, the absorption of which is enhanced by vitamin C found in bell peppers, radishes, and tomatoes. Ascorbic acid increases the bioavailability of iron by promoting its solubility and absorption in the intestine (Basrowi & Dilantika, 2021). Carrots and tomatoes contain fat-soluble carotenoids such as beta-carotene and lycopene, the absorption of which is enhanced by olive oil, as dietary fats support the formation of micelles and thus their transport in the intestine (Arballo et al., 2021). Walnuts complement the amino acid profile of beans by providing additional sulfur-containing amino acids such as methionine and cysteine (Brach & Leitzmann, 2020; Gull & Nayik, 2020). Together, arugula, tomatoes, walnuts, and olive oil provide various bioactive plant compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (Del Bo’ et al., 2018).

Related recipes