Warm chickpea salad with garlic and mediterranean flavors
Enjoy a flavorful and nutritious meal with this Warm Chickpea Salad featuring aromatic cumin, garlic, and vibrant Mediterranean flavors. Perfectly balanced with sun-dried tomatoes, dried parsley, spearmint, and fresh cucumber, and finished with a zesty touch of lemon juice and zest. This delightful dish is a healthy and delicious choice for any meal. Quick to prepare and bursting with taste, it's sure to become a new favorite in your recipe collection.
Cook time 15 min
Prep time 75 min
Ingredients:
3 tbsp olive oil2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp red pepper (spice)
4 garlic cloves
18 oz chickpeas
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes
3/4 cup dried parsley
1/4 cup spearmint
5 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
2.67 cups cucumber
1/2 tsp salt
This warm chickpea salad with cumin, garlic, and Mediterranean flavors is a delightful and healthy dish that brings together the earthiness of chickpeas, the zest of citrus, and the aromatic essences of Mediterranean herbs. It's perfect as a side dish or a wholesome entree, offering a medley of tastes and textures that will tantalize your taste buds.
Instructions:
- If you haven't done so already, mince the garlic cloves.
- Drain and rinse the chickpeas.
- Chop the sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spearmint.
- Dice the cucumber.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat until it begins to shimmer.
- Add the ground cumin and red pepper flakes to the skillet and sauté for about 1 minute, or until fragrant.
- Add the minced garlic and sauté for another 1-2 minutes, being careful not to burn it.
- Add the drained chickpeas to the skillet.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes until the chickpeas are heated through and slightly crispy.
- Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and let it cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked chickpea mixture with the dried parsley, chopped spearmint, lemon juice, lemon zest, diced cucumber, and salt.
- Toss everything together until evenly mixed.
- Taste the salad and adjust seasoning if necessary, adding more salt, lemon juice, or red pepper flakes as desired.
- Serve the warm chickpea salad immediately, or let it cool to room temperature if you prefer.
- This dish can be served as a main course or a side dish.
- Garnish with additional fresh herbs or a drizzle of olive oil if desired.
Tips:
- For a smokier flavor, consider adding a pinch of smoked paprika along with the cumin and red pepper.
- To make the dish more filling, you can add cooked quinoa or bulgur wheat.
- If you prefer a bit more crunch, sprinkle some toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds right before serving.
- Fresh herbs can be used instead of dried ones for a more vibrant taste; just remember to adjust the quantity to taste.
Enjoy this warming chickpea salad as a nutritious and flavorful dish that pairs beautifully with grilled meats or can be enjoyed on its own. Its rich Mediterranean flavors and wholesome ingredients make it a versatile and satisfying meal.
Nutrition per serving
4 ServingsCalories 190kcal
Protein 11g
Carbohydrates 33g
Fiber 9g
Sugar 11g
Fat 14g
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