Warm Chickpea Fennel Pepper Salad Food

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKPEA SALAD

Steps:

• Place the onions in a bowl of cool water and let them soak while you prepare the other ingredients (this removes the harsher bite from the onions, while still giving great flavor).
• Place the chickpeas, parsley, bell peppers, cucumber, and feta in a large serving bowl.
• In a small mixing bowl or large measuring cup, stir together the dressing ingredients: olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Drain the red onions and add them to the chickpea mixture, then pour the dressing over the top. Toss to combine. If time allows, let marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, or enjoy immediately.

WARM CHICKPEA SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to fan 200C/ conventional 220C/gas 7. Put the onion, courgettes, pepper and tomatoes in a shallow roasting tin and season with black pepper. Drizzle with 2 tbsp of the olive oil and toss well. Roast for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the vegetables are cooked and beginning to turn brown.
• Meanwhile, mix the lemon juice and remaining olive oil to make a dressing. Season with salt and pepper and stir in the herbs.
• When the vegetables are cooked, allow them to cool for 5 minutes, then tip into a bowl with the chickpeas, feta and dressing. Toss lightly before serving. Leftovers are delicious cold and served with pitta bread.

SHAVED FENNEL AND CHICKPEA SALAD

Steps:

• Put the soaked chickpeas in a medium saucepan along with about three quarts of water, and set over medium-high heat. Bring to a gentle simmer, and cook 1-2 hours, depending on the age of the chickpeas.
• Tie the celery, carrot, onion, lemon peel, 1 garlic clove, and rosemary in a piece of cheesecloth and add it to the pot. Season the beans generously with salt and add 1/4 cup of olive oil.
• Once the beans are cooked, remove from heat, drain (reserving the liquid, if you like), and let cool completely. Combine lemon juice, a pinch of salt, and remaining olive oil in a small mixing bowl. Drizzle a couple of tablespoons of this dressing over the chickpeas. Add remaining garlic clove to chickpeas and toss to coat. Smash the basil sprigs with the side of a knife and add to the chickpeas. Add a pinch of chili flakes, and let the chickpeas marinate while you prepare the other ingredients.
• Trim the fennel bulb, saving the fronds for a garnish. Halve the bulb lengthwise, and shave both halves into paper-thin slices with a mandoline. Quarter the Asian pear, discard the core, and shave into paper-thin slices. Combine with the fennel.
• Assembly: Remove basil and garlic from the chickpeas, and discard. Combine chickpeas with shaved fennel and pear and remaining dressing. Toss gently to coat. Taste and season with salt, if desired. Garnish the salad with coarsely chopped fennel fronds. Serve immediately.

WARM CHICKPEA SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 220°C.
• Put the onion, zucchini, red pepper and tomatoes into a shallow roasting tray and season with black pepper. Drizzle with 2 Tbsp of the olive oil and toss to coat. Roast for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until vegetables are tender.
• Meanwhile, mix together the lemon juice, olive oil and herbs. Season to taste.
• Allow the vegetables to cool for 5 minutes, then tip into a bowl with the chickpeas, feta, and the lemon & olive oil dressing. Toss lightly before serving.

WARM HALLOUMI, CHICKPEA & LIME SALAD

Steps:

• Cook the beans in a pan of boiling water for 3 mins until just tender, adding the chickpeas for the final min of cooking. Meanwhile, make the dressing: in a large bowl, whisk the lime juice and zest with 3 tbsp of the oil and the chilli. Season. Drain the chickpeas and beans and, while warm, toss with the dressing.
• Pour boiling water over the red onion, leave for 5 mins to soften, then drain and rinse. Add the peppers, tomatoes, rocket, parsley and softened onion to the bean bowl. Toss to coat everything in the dressing, then divide between 2 plates.
• Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan, add the halloumi slices and fry for about 1 min on each side until golden. Place a few warm halloumi slices on top of each salad and serve.

WARM CHICKPEA, CHILLI & FETA SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk together 1 tsp olive oil, the lemon juice, smoked paprika and a little seasoning to make a dressing. Divide the spinach between 2 serving bowls.
• Heat the remaining 2 tsp olive oil in a non-stick frying pan. Stir-fry the pepper for 5 mins over a high heat until starting to caramelise at the edges. Add the chilli, spring onions and tomatoes and stir-fry for 1 min. Tip in the chickpeas and cook for a further min, then stir in the dressing.
• Spoon the hot chickpea mixture over the spinach leaves, then top with the crumbled feta.

WARM CHICKPEA, CHORIZO & PEPPER SALAD

Steps:

• Cut the chorizo into 3cm thick slices. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Cook the chorizo for 4-5 minutes, turning occasionally until the edges start to crisp and it has released its red oil.
• Tip the chickpeas into the pan and cook for a couple of minutes until hot. Add the peppers and cook for a few minutes until everything's juicy. Remove from the heat, stir in the coriander, ladle into two bowls and top each with a spoonful of yogurt.