Chickpea Salad

Ahh, spring. A time when there's that extra spring in your step and when good food just tastes better. There is no denying that le printemps brings on the need to try fresh, new recipes. Well, it does for me anyway, and I have to say that I have developed a taste for chickpea salad. I have seen it at restaurants, in grocery stores and even on my Facebook feed, so I have decided to make a batch of my own! And all I can say is that it is SO GOOD.

The nice thing about this type of salad is that it is so so so nutrient-dense. In my recipe, I combine things like chickpeas (obvious), kidney beans, lemon, garlic and avocado. And by only mentioning these five ingredients, I can confidently say that you will be consuming lots of protein, fibre, vitamins (C, D, B, E, K, etc), iron, folic acid, omega-3 fatty acid and more. It is a good option for vegetarians/vegans who are looking for meat alternatives and for those who enjoy tangy foods.

Bonus: In a rush? This salad does not take much time to make! But I suggest letting it sit in the fridge for at least half an hour before serving to allow all the flavours to blend.

Ready? Read below for the recipe!

Chickpea Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 can who chickpeas (750g), drained;
• 1 can kidney beans (450g), drained;
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed;
• ½ small red onion, finely chopped;
• 1½ ripe avocados, diced;
• 1½ lemons, juiced (add pulp);
• 3-4 tbsp olive oil;
• 1 heaping tbsp dried parsley; and
• salt to taste (~2 to 3 tsps)*.

Directions:

1. Start by crushing your garlic and use that bowl to make your salad.
2. Combine all ingredients together.
3. Mix well.
4. Cover with saran wrap and let sit in fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
5. Enjoy!

*For the salt, you should not only be focussing on your preference, but also for an amount that helps balance out the bitterness of the lemon juice. Too little, and your salad will taste too lemony; too much, and your salad with taste very salty.

Thanks for following my recipe! Make sure to leave a comment below if you made this, telling me what you think!

-Alesia D.