Warm Chickpea Salad With Shallots and Red Wine Vinaigrette

bluemoon downunder's Note:

If you agree with Lynne Rossetto Kasper’s belief that “the chickpea should be canonized into the food lover’s hall of fame” then you’ll love this delicious, flavoursome and very healthy warm chickpea salad from award-winning vegetarian chef Peter Berley’s book “Fresh Food Fast: Delicious, Seasonal Vegetarian Meals in Under an Hour”. I subscribed to Lynne Rossetto Kasper’s “The Splendid Table” newsletters some time ago, and this is one of many fantastic recipes she has included in her newsletter. The recipes and her tips - which I have included in this posting - are great. I have posted this recipe here exactly as I received it. Because "The Splendid Table” recipes and Lynne’s tips are always SO excellent, I shall post some more of them. I love this recipe, Lynne clearly loves this recipe; I hope that other chickpea lovers will too!

• Total Time: 17 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 2 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 large shallots or 2 medium shallots, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt or 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus additional to taste
• 2 (15 ounce) cans chickpeas, drained
• 1 large carrot, peeled and coarsely grated
• 1/2 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• fresh ground black pepper

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the shallots, vinegar, garlic, and salt.
2. Set aside for 10 minutes to allow the shallots and garlic to mellow.
3. In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring 2 quarts of water to a boil.
4. Add the chickpeas and blanch for 1 to 2 minutes.
5. Drain.
6. Add the carrot, parsley, and oil to the shallot mixture.
7. Toss in the chickpeas and season with salt and pepper.
8. Serve immediately with a loaf of good crusty bread, sweet butter and a leafy tossed salad.
9. LYNNE'S TIPS:.
10. Make extra and toss along with leftover tofu, seitan, shrimp, or cooked chicken breast into mixed greens for an entrée salad the next day.
11. Substitute cannelini beans for the chickpeas and toss in some chopped good-quality salami.
12. Simmering canned beans in lightly salted water for several minutes freshens them up. The warmed beans also absorb better the flavors of the vinaigrette.
13. THOUGHTS FROM LYNNE:.
14. On Canned Beans: Canned beans are the answer to little time and money. They taste every bit as good as those cooked from scratch, and they’re packed with nutrition, including fiber, protein, complex carbohydrates and B vitamins. Add them to soups, toss them into green salads, or dress them with flavorful oils, vinegar and herbs.
15. On Chickpeas: For my money, the chickpea should be canonized into the food lover’s hall of fame. It is meaty, sweet and friendly with just about every seasoning and ingredient. Of course Peter Berley has known this for years.

Reviews

[LaurelAnn]

I second the other reviews - we LOVED this salad! It's very hearty and can easily stand alone, especially on a summer day with bread. I also sauteed the garlic and shallots with red wine vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon sugar instead of step #1. In addition, I added fresh basil and grated fresh parmesan cheese. I'll try adding mint also next time - would be great in the salad! I questionned blanching the chickpeas, but I agree that this really (unexpectedly!) brings out the flavor. Wonderful salad - will make again and again!

[Maeven6]

Love this salad. Shallots, mint, parsley, vinegar and oil, you can't go wrong. I used the mint suggested by someone here. I have it going wild in the garden and the parsley. I heated the dressing and poured over the chickpeas which I then chilled for several hours before serving cold. Served along side hamburger steaks, stewed okra and tomatoes.

[**Mandy**]

I don't think I've come across a salad with chickpeas that I don't like, this is lovely & simple & served with greens makes a tasty lunch. Thanks!