Salad of Pomegranates, Haricots Verts, Jícama and Walnuts

Preparation

1. Step 1

   With a manual citrus juicer squeeze enough juice from pomegranate half, pressing sides against center of juicer and pressing on any whole seeds in juicer with thumbs, to measure 1/4 cup. Peel and cut jícama into 1/4-inch-thick slices. On a cutting board stack slices, 2 or 3 at a time, and cut into 1/4-inch-thick sticks. In a bowl toss jícama with pomegranate juice. Chill mixture, covered, tossing occasionally, 30 minutes to allow jícama to absorb some of juice.

   Step 2

   Have ready a bowl of ice and cold water. Trim haricots verts and in a saucepan of boiling salted water blanch 3 minutes, or until crisp-tender. Transfer beans with a slotted spoon to ice water to stop cooking and drain in a colander. Cut remaining pomegranate in half and with hands gently break in two. Bend back rinds and dislodge seeds from membranes. Coarsely chop walnuts.

   Step 3

   To jícama mixture add beans, pomegranate seeds, parsley, oil, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste and toss to combine.

2. Step 4

   Serve salad sprinkled with walnuts.