Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   1      cup           walnuts -- shelled
   2      tablespoons   mirin
   2      tablespoons   shiromiso
   1      tablespoon    soy sauce -- japanese
   5      tablespoons   dashi
   2      tablespoons   sugar
                        salt -- to taste
   1      pound         green beans -- trimmed

Preparation:

Toast walnuts over medium high heat for 4 minutes in a skillet. Grind walnuts into a smooth paste with a mortar and pestle. Drizzle in 2 tbsp. mirin (sweet Japanese cooking wine). Add the shiromiso, soy sauce and 2 tbsp. dashi. continuing to grind after each addition. Add sugar and remaining dashi; season to toaste with salt. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil; add the beans and cook until barely soft, 3-5 minutes. Drain beans, spread on a clean surface to cool, then cut in half crosswise. Toss with dressing just before serving.