Recipes for Health: Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

By: MARTHA ROSE SHULMAN | The New York Times
Published: August 13, 2008

If you like hummus, you like chickpeas. They're a versatile legume, welcome in salads and soups, stews and pastas. This pretty summer salad is quickly assembled. You can also make it in winter without the tomatoes.

2 (15-ounce) cans chick peas, drained and rinsed

1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley, or a combination of parsley and other herbs, such as chives, tarragon, marjoram, basil, or mint

1 small red bell pepper, chopped

2 medium tomatoes, diced

4 scallions, white and light green parts only, sliced (optional)

6 kalamata olives, pitted and quartered lengthwise

1 ounce feta cheese, crumbled

To make the dressing:

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, or sherry vinegar

1 small garlic clove, minced or put through a press

1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds, lightly toasted and crushed or coarsely ground

Salt and freshly ground pepper

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons plain low-fat or nonfat yogurt

1. Toss together the salad ingredients. Whisk together the lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, cumin seeds, salt, pepper, olive oil and garlic. Toss with the chick peas.

Advance preparation: The salad can be assembled several hours before you wish to serve it. Keep in the refrigerator. Leftovers are good the next day.

Yield: Serves four as a main dish, six as a side