Green Beans with Cranberry Pepita Pesto

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Green Beans with Cranberry Pepita Pesto

Fresh vibrant green beans are a versatile vegetable. They are crunchy, nutritious and can be very tasty too. These delicious, heart-healthy green beans are first blanched in salted water until crispy and tender, then jazzed up with a pesto that’s made with pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries.

Happy New Year! May your new year be blessed with peace, love and joy. I wish EVERYONE a safe and joyful 2013! If you make New Year's resolutions (I don't any more), stay firm, and don't give up.

70 g Pepita
50 g Dried cranberries
2 Garlic cloves
3 tbsp Garlic sprouts, chopped
1 tbsp Lemon juice
100 ml Olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
500 g Green beans, trimmed

Place the pepita, cranberries, garlic cloves, garlic sprouts and lemon juice into a food processor and process until very finely chopped. While the food processor is running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Blanch green beans in a large pot of well salted boiling water until bright green in colour and tender crisp, roughly 8 minutes. Drain and place in a bowl of cold water to stop from cooking. Arrange the green beans on a serving plate and spoon the pesto over.

106 comments:

Susan 1/1/13 06:14: Your dishes are so festive looking! I just drool all over the keyboard:-D Happy New Year, dear friend, XOXO
OohLookBel 1/1/13 06:24: Another brilliant dish from you. I may top it with bacon instead, is that bad? Have a great new year, Angie!
Unknown 1/1/13 07:04: Who would think that green beans could be so festive and delightful looking? Very pretty, can't wait to try this!
What's Baking?? 1/1/13 07:04: Perfectly done. I love the red against green.
Amy 1/1/13 07:41: Yum...this is such a wonderful and healthy dish to start the New Year right. ;) Wish you and your family a prosperous 2013!
Mich Piece of Cake 1/1/13 08:19: Hi Angie, your pesto looks so amazing! I love the use of pumpkin seeds and cranberries in your pesto sauce. Wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year!
Ana Regalado 1/1/13 09:42: You can never go wrong with this simple and nutritious salad ! The pesto sauce is just simply delectable by itself :D

I wish you and your family all the best in 2013 ! Here's to more awesome and scrumptious posts in the year ahead - Cheers
Rosa's Yummy Yums 1/1/13 10:37: A wonderful way of preparing green beans!

Happy New Year!

Cheers,

Rosa
Alicia Foodycat 1/1/13 12:10: How delicious - and such a beautiful colour!
Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen 1/1/13 12:40: Another beautiful creation Angie. We eat a lot of green beans and I'm always looking for new ideas to jazz them up. I will definitely be trying this one.

Happy New Year.
Sam
Bread and Companatico 1/1/13 12:47: happy new year to you!!! I could it green beans every day. original with this cranberry pesto, and of course healthy as always with you :) have a wonderful 2013, Barbara
My Kitchen Stories. 1/1/13 12:47: I love beans. I could eat the whole plate. This is an unusual recipe but it must be so tangy and nutty. The photos look so good!
StephenC 1/1/13 12:56: A new recipe for green beans - we all thank you. It's a home run.
ann low 1/1/13 13:21: I love green beans and the way you prepared them. Looks very pretty and delicious.
Happy New Year, Angie :)
Honey Bee Sweets 1/1/13 14:04: This dish is perfect for year end dinner parties! Love the red and green combo in colour. :) happy new year Angie!
Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake 1/1/13 14:29: Angie, what a delicious, beautiful way to make an ordinary veggie extraordinary!!! Happy New Year, my friend!!! xo
great-secret-of-life 1/1/13 14:50: Happy new year Angie.. Lovely way to start the year!
http://great-secret-of-life.blogspot.com
Joanne 1/1/13 16:49: I generally never get that into string beans but that pesto sounds delicious!
Belinda 1/1/13 16:50: That pesto looks awesome!
Gloria Baker 1/1/13 17:45: This look really delicious!!! Happy New Year!
Choclette 1/1/13 18:58: Oh how delicious. If I was eating today, which I'm not, a plateful of your beans would be fantastic. Happy New Year.
Kitcheninspirations 1/1/13 19:01: Thanks Angie Happy New Year to you too. The pesto sounds delicious, and such a pretty way to serve green beans.
fimere 1/1/13 20:05: UNE RECETTE ORIGINALE et fantastique
meilleurs voeux pour l'année 2013 avec plein de gourmandises
Suzanne Perazzini 1/1/13 20:06: What a great way to prepare ordinary old beans. It sounds like an interesting take on pesto. The colours are eye-catching as well.
Kelly Mulcair Registered Nutritionist. Content © 2011 Trinity Nutrition. 1/1/13 20:46: I love the unique presentation and delicious ingredients in this wholesome salad Angie - what a perfect way to start the new year! All the best to you in 2013. You are a continuing source of inspiration to so many of us. Cheers! xo.
SavoringTime in the Kitchen 1/1/13 22:16: These would be delicious any time of the year but how perfect for Christmas dinner with the red and green :)

Happy New Year, Angie!
Medeja- CranberryJam 2/1/13 00:00: I actually always make green beans the same boring way..just because we like them that way so much :D
Your dish looks really yummy and lovely!
Usha 2/1/13 00:50: What an interesting pesto, looks delicious !!
chow and chatter 2/1/13 01:09: this looks great would have been good for christmas happy new year
Baking Diary 2/1/13 01:23: That is one great dish to start the new year with...healthy and colorful....happy new year to you too Angie:)
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies 2/1/13 02:34: WOW! I love green beans and I'm always looking for new things to do with them--so many recipes are just variations of the same thing. This looks absolutely amazing and different too!
Anonymous 2/1/13 04:46: What a beautiful presentation! Wow! How could you not like this dish :) Sounds terrific Angie...Happy New Year!!
kitchen flavours 2/1/13 05:04: This is a beautiful dish of greens! Love it, never thought of using pepitas and cranberry for the pesto dressing!
Happy New Year to you too, Angie!
Gina 2/1/13 05:47: Happy New Years!!!! Thanks for sharing all your healthy goodies with us. I love these beans, they sound tart and refreshing.
-Gina-
Lite Home Bake 2/1/13 06:57: Love the vibrant colors, this looks like something that would be fit for the Chinese New Year reunion dinner too :)
Koko 2/1/13 07:17: I love this dish! I would never think to pair green beans with cranberries and pepitas, but what an amazing looking combination it makes! Happy New Year!!! All the best to you in 2013!
Sokehah cheah 2/1/13 10:13: Happy New Year to you and your family, Angie! This is a very light and nutritious dish not forgetting the great clicks!
Beau Pace 2/1/13 12:10: That looks absolutely delicious!

Happy New Year!!!
Sprigs of Rosemary 2/1/13 14:10: I can picture this as a great side for a Christmas dinner. (Anytime for that matter!) How creative you are, Angie!
Claudia 2/1/13 14:34: What a pleasure to wake up after the holidays and see a tasty vegetable calling to me. Perfect! Wishing you all good things in 2013!
Stephanie @ henry happened 2/1/13 15:15: cranberries are good on anything! this sounds delish and so light after all that holiday food!
Mother Rimmy 2/1/13 15:45: Perfect timing for this recipe. I have a pile of steamed beans waiting in the frig and I'd run out of ideas as to what to do with them!
Tricia @ saving room for dessert 2/1/13 18:23: Happy New Year to you Angie! I love green beans - they are my favorite green vegetable. I adore them roasted, boiled, steamed - whatever! This pesto sounds and looks pretty terrific. Thanks for all those beautiful recipes in 2012 - hope you and your family have a wonderful, fun filled, exceptional 2013~
Katerina 2/1/13 18:36: Happy New Year to you too Angie! I love the combination of green beans and the red cranberry pesto!
The Squishy Monster 2/1/13 20:24: Love how vibrant everything is...Happy New Year, Angie!!
Priya Suresh 2/1/13 23:32: Happy new year wishes to you and your family. Cranberry pepita pesto, thats truly mindblowing.
Anonymous 3/1/13 00:08: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Roz | La Bella Vita Cucina 3/1/13 00:09: we love green beans in this family and I adore cranberries! This is so incredibly creative and healthy! I just love it Angie. I've pinned it on Pinterest and favored it on other social networking sites since I love it so much! Thanks for creating such a healthy and still delicious veggie dish!

Happy 2013!
Jenny (VintageSugarcube) 3/1/13 00:50: Hey Hey Hey! I have loads of pepitas at home, now I just need to pick up some dried cranberries. I've never heard of making a pesto with cranberries. Soo original and looks delicious. Mega-Happy New Year to you!
Velva 3/1/13 02:11: Happy New Year to you Angie! Looking forward to enjoying your posts this year.

I have fresh green beans in my refrigerator drawer. I have dried cranberries too.I need to re-think how I serve them up.

Cheers.
Velva
Balvinder 3/1/13 02:12: The dish totally looks irresistible.
Happy New Year Angie!
Stephanie @ Henry Happened 3/1/13 02:38: Green beans are my fave! And I love how you've topped them with the pesto - would never have thought to combine pepitas and cranberries!
angela@spinachtiger 3/1/13 04:10: I love this twist on the green beans. Beautiful to look at and the cranberries have such a holiday flair. Happy New Year.
mjskit 3/1/13 04:59: What a great dish to celebrate the beginning of what's going to be a great year! Love the pesto and where on earth did you find those beautiful beans this time of year?! Looking forward to seeing what you dish up in 2013! Happy New Year Angie!!!
EA-The Spicy RD 3/1/13 06:44: I love the idea of Pepita Pesto, and it looks so healthy and delicious! Wishing you the happiest of new years Angie!
Barbara 3/1/13 13:40: Super way to serve green beans, Angie. One of my favorite veggies and I love to read different ways to present it.
Anonymous 3/1/13 13:55: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
grace 3/1/13 14:20: green beans are often so simply prepared (and boring), but you've dressed them up quite brilliantly here! lovely, angie!
Debra Eliotseats 3/1/13 19:37: Definitely looks like a holiday recipe for next year. Delicious!
Daphne Elliot 3/1/13 20:01: Gorgeous! I love peptias so much. This is a lovely healthy recipe.
tigerfish 3/1/13 22:20: Happy New Year to you, Angie! I love the colors of green and red (Christmas) in this dish :). And creative use of cranberry and pepitas in pesto too!
Anonymous 3/1/13 23:33: What a lovely recipe: so unusual & alternative too! i love it so much! :) Yummm!

Happy 2013, dear Angie fille with divine foods, great adventures & good health!!! And fun, fun, fun!!!
Reeni 4/1/13 02:52: What a gorgeous pesto Angie! I love cranberries and pepitas! What a way to jazz up green beans. Wishing you the best in 2013!
jasna varcakovic 4/1/13 03:55: Looks and sounds divine!
Happy New year!
waka network 4/1/13 06:47: It looks perfectly delicious and healthy to me. The photos are just beautiful!
MunatyCooking 4/1/13 16:27: What a lovely side dish!
Alice 4/1/13 16:50: very interesting and looks definitely yummy!
TasteHongKong 4/1/13 17:11: You too, Happy and Safe 2013!
Sue 4/1/13 17:35: You definitely took green beans to the next level...YUM!
Geni 4/1/13 22:37: Wow! I can't wait to try this. It is such a unique spin on a pesto and it is so beautiful and delicious sounding. I hope your holidays were wonderful Angie.
lena 5/1/13 00:48: i'm thrilled to learn about the combining the seeds and cranberries for pesto, what a creative idea! very attractive looking too!
Katie 5/1/13 22:22: This looks like it would go over well at my house. My daughters always (kindheartedly) bicker about who loves green beans more. And add cranberries to it? Heck yeah! Sounds delish. Thanks for sharing this great and healthy idea.
Devaki 6/1/13 23:27: Gosh! What a fun, festive and delish way to eat ones green veggies. Hooray! I'm a little late to the party Angie but HAPPY NEW YEAR - Wishing you and yours every happiness. I'm so glad to be part of your culinary adventures.

chow! Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
Cass @foodmyfriend 7/1/13 04:29: I'm making a note of this one for next Thanksgiving! Beautiful presentation Angie :)
Barbara Bakes 9/1/13 23:38: Green beans never looked prettier!
tasteofbeirut 10/1/13 18:19: I am so attracted to this colorful dish! Love the original combo of cranberries and pumpkin seeds especially over green beans! Nice!
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Amelia 23/1/13 15:54: Hi Angie, I love this, look so yummylicious. Perfect dish.
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Cranberry Concentrate Liquid 5/9/14 13:04: I really love eating beans. This dish with cranberry seeds seems absolutely delicious. I am dying to try it at home. My friends are coming at my house to celebrate my birthday, I think I should prepare this dish for them. Lets see if they like it or not.
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