მწვანე ლობიო ფხალი — Green Bean Pkhali

Pkhali is Georgia's answer to the question of how to make vegetables genuinely exciting. Green
beans are blended with a walnut-garlic-herb paste so flavorful it could make cardboard taste good.
Shaped into small rounds and topped with pomegranate seeds, this is fasting food with swagger.

FASTING LEVEL: Fast With Oil (for strict oil-free days, omit the walnut oil drizzle — the walnuts provide enough richness)

SERVINGS: 4 (as a starter or meze)
TIME: 25 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
- 500 g green beans, trimmed
- 150 g walnuts
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 small onion, roughly chopped
- Large bunch of fresh cilantro (about 40 g)
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon dried blue fenugreek (utskho suneli)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon walnut oil (optional)
- Salt to taste
- Pomegranate seeds, for garnish

METHOD:
1. Boil green beans in well-salted water for 5-6 minutes until tender but still bright green. Drain immediately and plunge into ice water. Drain again and squeeze out excess moisture.
2. In a food processor, pulse walnuts, garlic, onion, cilantro, coriander, fenugreek, and red pepper until a coarse paste forms. Do not over-process — you want texture.
3. Add the green beans and pulse a few times until roughly combined but not pureed. The mixture should be chunky.
4. Add vinegar, walnut oil if using, and salt. Pulse once or twice to incorporate.
5. Shape into small rounds or ovals using your hands. Place on a serving plate.
6. Garnish each pkhali with a few pomegranate seeds.

NOTES:
- Walnuts provide about 15 g protein per 100 g, making pkhali a protein-rich starter.
- The walnut paste (bazha) base works with almost any cooked vegetable — try it with beets, spinach, or eggplant.
- Pkhali keeps well in the fridge for 2-3 days. Make extra.
- The pomegranate seeds are not just decorative — their tartness cuts through the rich walnut paste perfectly.

NUTRITION (per serving, approximate):
Calories: 280 | Protein: 10 g | Carbohydrates: 16 g | Fat: 22 g | Fibre: 6 g