Carrot and Spiced Chickpea Salad
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Loaded with flavor and bursting with color, this salad might seem complex but it’s actually easy to make.
The combination of spices, plus a little tahini, lemon, garlic, and honey create a taste that will excite your tastebuds.
It’s stellar as a side or main dish and will be a hit at any potluck party or picnic.
Simple (and inexpensive) ingredients get combined with a delectable tahini dressing and topped with crunchy baked chickpeas.
The chickpeas take a few minutes to make but require almost no effort. You just toss them with spices, spread on a baking sheet and put them in the oven for about 15 minutes.
These spicy beans get crunchy and give the salad great texture.
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Carrot and Spiced Chickpea Salad
The carrot and chickpea salad combines spices, a little tahini, lemon, garlic, and honey.
Ingredients
- 1 15-oz. can chickpeas (garbanzo beans) drained, rinsed, dried
- 4 tsp. olive oil divided use
- ¼ tsp. ground cumin
- 1 dash ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper divided use
- Nonstick cooking spray
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup tahini
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tsp. raw honey
- ½ tsp. sea salt or Himalayan salt divided use
- 2 Tbsp + 1 cup finely chopped fresh parsley divided use
- 3 cups shredded carrots approximately 3 to 4 medium carrots
- ½ medium red onion chopped
- ½ cup raisins
- Ground black pepper to taste; optional
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 425° F.
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Combine chickpeas, 1 tsp. oil, cumin, cinnamon, and 1 dash cayenne pepper in a small bowl; mix well. Place on baking sheet that is lightly coated with spray.
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Bake, shaking baking sheet two to three times during baking, for 12 to 18 minutes, or until lightly browned and crisp. Cool.
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Place remaining 3 tsp. oil, lemon juice, tahini, garlic, honey, ¼ tsp. salt, 2 Tbsp. parsley, and remaining 1 dash of cayenne pepper in blender; cover. Blend until smooth. Set aside.
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Combine carrots, onion, raisins, remaining 1 cup parsley, and dressing in a large serving bowl; toss gently to blend. Season with remaining ¼ tsp. salt and pepper (if desired). Mix well.
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Divide evenly between six serving plates. Top with chickpeas. Serve immediately.
Container Equivalents
1 Green
½ Purple
1 Yellow
2 tsp.
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Photos by Kirsten Morningstar