Chick Pea Salad

One thing I love is beans. Growing up lima beans were my absolute favorite, but it didn’t really seem to matter what type of beans it was, Lima beans, peas, green beans, baked beans, great northern beans in chili, refried beans, butter beans, black beans, I love them all.

One bean I didn’t get introduced to until I was an adult was the chickpea or garbanzo bean. It just wasn’t a bean that was used in the culture my parents grew up in, but it is a favorite of mine now.

You can do so much with chickpeas. You can mash them and make hummus, roll them into balls and fry them for falafels or you can add them as an ingredient to a variety of dishes.

They are also nutritionally good for you. They have several vitamins and minerals as well as fiber. They are also a good source of plant based protein.

Studies have also shown that chickpeas are good for your digestion and may help with weight management.

With all those benefits why not add them to your diet.

I came across a recipe for a chickpea salad awhile back and tried it out. It was okay, but the original recipe had celery included and to me it seemed the celery took over the taste. I also played around with the salad dressing and found what compliments the rest of the ingredients.

This is a side dish that is so simple to put together in just a few minutes. I took it to my class reunion recently and it was a hit.

Try it. I think you will make it one of your go to sides for events as well.

Ingredients

2 (15 ounce) cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1 red onion

1 red bell pepper

1 green bell pepper

½ teaspoon minced garlic

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 tablespoons rosemary

Salt and pepper

5 tablespoons basil garlic vinaigrette

Directions

Chop onion and peppers into very small pieces.

Combine chick peas with onions, peppers, garlic, red pepper flakes, rosemary, salt and pepper in a bowl.

Dress salad with basil garlic vinaigrette

The nice thing about this dish is there is absolutely no cooking and very little clean up after preparing this and as far as the taste the flavors just pop in your mouth.

Like I said, give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.

Have a wonderful and blessed day.