green beans, 12 ways

Green Beans with Spanish Smoked Paprika Sauce

I love green beans because they're so versatile. On their own, they're packed with flavor: slightly sweet and grassy, but in a good way. Steam them for 4-5 minutes, add a little salt, pepper and a spray of olive oil and you're good to go. That's the easiest recipe.

But add a sauce and you can easily take your green beans from simple side to star of the show. Last week, I steamed a pound of pre-washed and trimmed green beans that I bought at Trader Joe's and tossed them with an improvised Spanish Paprika Sauce I threw together and I was pleased with the smoky creamy result.

Spanish Paprika Sauce [vegan]
2 T vegenaise or other vegan mayonnaise
2 tsp Spanish smoked paprika
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 T maple syrup or agave nectar
1 T balsamic vinegar

Makes about 1/4 cup, enough to coat about one pound of green beans

Whisk everything together in a large bowl. Add salt and/or pepper, if desired. Toss over freshly steamed green beans. The heat will help infuse the sauce's flavors into the beans.

10 More Vegan Green Bean Recipes [Most are also gluten-free]
1. Charred, Curried Green Beans
2. Vegan Green Bean Casserole
3. Spicy Sesame Green Beans
4. Szechuan Green Beans and Tofu 
5. Chili Garlic Green Beans
6. Green Bean Roasted Pepper Salad
7. Green Bean Fries
8. Raw Green Bean and Pesto Salad
9. Thai Style Green Beans
10. Green Bean Pasta Salad with Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette [top with nutritional yeast or just a sprinkle of salt]