Chickpea & Couscous Salad
Recipe by Bridie McNamara. Ingredients from Bare Refill Grocery.
This Mediterranean couscous and chickpea salad features a vibrant mix of fresh vegetables, tangy feta, and a zesty lemon dressing. It's a hearty, nutritious dish that's perfect for a light lunch or a flavourful side.
Ingredients
For the salad
200g couscous
415ml vegetable stock or water
400g cooked chickpeas
150g diced cucumber
100g diced red onion
120g diced capsicums (mix of colours)
100g Manuka Smoked olives from Kiwi Artisan, pitted and sliced
100g crumbled feta cheese
20g chopped fresh parsley
20g chopped fresh mint
30g sunflower seeds or toasted pine nuts
For the lemon herb vinaigrette
Juice of 2 lemons
60ml extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
Method
Cook the Couscous
In a medium pot, bring the vegetable broth or water to a boil. Stir in the couscous, then remove from heat, cover, and let it sit for about 5 minutes until the couscous absorbs the liquid. Fluff with a fork and let it cool.
Prepare the Vinaigrette
In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, dried oregano, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Set aside.
Assemble the Salad
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked couscous, cooked chickpeas, diced cucumber, diced red onion, diced capsicum, smoked olives, chopped parsley, and chopped mint.
Add the Dressing
Pour the lemon herb vinaigrette over the salad ingredients. Gently toss to combine, ensuring the dressing is evenly distributed.
Add Final Touches
Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese and sunflower seeds or toasted pine nuts over the top of the salad.
Chill and Serve
Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavours to meld together.
Enjoy
Serve this Mediterranean chickpea and couscous salad as a satisfying and protein-rich main dish or a side. The blend of chickpeas, couscous, fresh vegetables, and zesty vinaigrette makes it a perfect summer meal.
Where to buy these ingredients from Made Market
