Naxos Island Salad

Bursting with flavors, this Greek island salad would be a wonderful summer lunch or lite supper that is nourishing as well as delicious. Leaving the Feta off the salad will make it Vegan and still delicious! Recipe adapted from Cait Johnson.

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1  cup  uncooked couscous or 1  cup  uncooked rice or 1  cup  uncooked orzo pasta
• 1  medium cucumber, seeded and diced
• 1  large  ripe tomatoes, diced, with juice
• 1  red bell pepper, diced
• 1⁄2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
• 10  kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
• 2  cups  cooked chickpeas or 2  cups canned chick-peas, drained and rinsed
• 1⁄4 cup  minced fresh parsley
• 2  tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1  tablespoon lemon juice (or more)
• 2  garlic cloves, minced (can press as well)
•  salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
•  romaine lettuce leaf, ripped into bite-sized pieces
• 2  ounces feta cheese, crumbled (optional)

Directions

1. Cook couscous, rice, or pasta according to package directions. Fluff couscous with fork, if using. If using rice, make sure all liquid is absorbed so the rice is dry, not sticky. If using orzo, rinse hot pasta in cool water and drain well.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine cucumber, tomato, pepper, onion, olives, chickpeas, and parsley.
3. In a small mixing bowl, whisk olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. Season to taste with salt and freshly-ground black pepper.
4. Add dressing to vegetable mixture and toss well.
5. On a serving dish, arrange lettuce leaves, mound the couscous, rice, or pasta in center and cover with mixed vegetables.
6. Sprinkle with feta, if using, and serve.