Chickpea Salsa Food

CHICKPEA SALSA

Steps:

• Pick over dried chickpeas. Rinse and soak overnight in cold water with 1 teaspoon salt. Drain and rinse. Place chickpeas in a medium saucepan, and cover by several inches with fresh water. Bring to a boil, and skim off any foam. Turn heat down to medium, and simmer until tender, 35 to 45 minutes. Ten minutes before chickpeas are done, add 3/4 teaspoon salt. Remove from heat; let cool in cooking liquid for about 1 hour.
• If using cumin seeds, toast in a dry pan over medium-low heat until they release their aroma, about 2 minutes. Let cool and grind to a powder in a spice grinder. Set aside.
• Chop together 1/2 teaspoon salt, garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon olive oil to form a paste. Add chiles; chop to combine. Transfer to a small bowl, and add remaining oil.
• Drain soaked chickpeas. (If using canned chickpeas, rinse.) Combine with 1 teaspoon chile mixture or to taste. Add olives, cumin, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve. The salsa can be made a day ahead (return to room temperature before serving).
• Just before serving, coarsely chop arugula, and toss with salsa.

CHICKPEA SALAD

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, mix together the tahini, lemon juice and garlic. Whisk in the olive oil and add the salt and pepper. To the dressing, add the chickpeas, tomatoes, parsley and scallions. Mix to combine. Adjust seasoning, if needed. Serve!

HALLOUMI WITH CHICKPEA SALSA & COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Put the couscous in a bowl and pour over the hot stock. Cover with cling film, leave to stand and swell for 10 mins.
• Make the salsa by mixing the chickpeas with the tomatoes, half the oil and vinegar, the finely chopped chillies and some of the chopped herbs. Season and arrange between 4 serving plates.
• Heat a griddle pan or frying pan. Fry the halloumi for 2-3 mins each side, until golden and lightly charred. Fluff up the couscous with a fork and mix in the rest of the oil, vinegar and herbs with some seasoning. Pile onto the plates next to the salsa and top with the warm halloumi. Garnish with the sliced chillies.

SALSA VERDE SALMON WITH SMASHED CHICKPEA SALAD

Steps:

• Heat the grill to high. Whisk 1 tsp of the oil with the orange zest, a splash of the juice, lots of black pepper and a small pinch of salt. Put the salmon, skin-side down, on a non-stick baking tray and pour over the marinade. Leave to marinate at room temperature while you make the salsa.
• Put the parsley, mustard, half the shallot, the vinegar, 1 tsp oil, and the remaining orange juice in a small food processor and blitz to a thick sauce, adding a splash of water to loosen if needed.
• Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan and fry the remaining shallot for 5 mins. Stir in the chickpeas and some seasoning, turn up the heat and stir until the chickpeas are just starting to crisp. Mash roughly with a potato masher and stir in the roasted peppers and kale. Add a splash of water and cover with a lid until the kale is wilted. Keep warm over a low heat.
• Grill the salmon for 4-6 mins, or until cooked to your liking. Spoon half the chickpeas onto a plate, top with a salmon fillet (leaving the skin behind if you like), and spoon over some of the salsa verde. Leave the remaining salmon fillet to cool to use in the lunchbox, see tip below.