Chickpea Salad with Olive, Tomato, Roasted Pepper and Avocado (Salads)

Member Name: fionamcg

Product:	Salads
Date:	22/05/08 (80 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Follows GI diet, will keep in the fridge for a few days, healthy and delicious

Disadvantages: More of a spring/summer dish

For those of us who are health concious, this salad meets the standard GI requirements; it uses avocado which is high in vitamin E so great for your skin hair and nails and the chickpeas will increase your calcium intake and help your bones.

This salad can be varied by using other pulses or adding a little lean back bacon, diced and sautéed, instead of the olives. This recipe serves two, but it will keep for two days, if covered, in the fridge, especially if you add the avocado as and when you want to eat it.

Ingredients:
1 red pepper, quartered and deseeded
1 tbsp white-wine vinegar
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
½ small green chilli (or to taste), finely chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
¼ red onion, finely chopped
4 large green olives, stoned and chopped 225g tomatoes
400g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
A handful of coriander leaves, roughly chopped
1 small ripe avocado

1. Place the red pepper quarters under the grill, skin side up, and set to its highest heat. Once the skins become blistered and blackened, remove to a bowl and cover with a plate.

2. Make a vinaigrette by whisking together the vinegar, oil and chilli in a large mixing bowl. Season to taste and mix in the red onion and olives.

3. Place the tomatoes in boiling water for a minute, then drain. The skin can now easily be removed. Cut them into chunky dice and mix into the vinaigrette.

4. Pat dry the drained chickpeas and add them to the mixing bowl. Peel the roasted peppers, cut the flesh into chickpea-sized squares and mix into the salad with the chopped coriander.

5. Just before serving, quarter, stone and peel the avocado. Cut into large chunks and mix into the salad. Adjust the seasoning to taste, serve and enjoy!

Summary: A lovely salad to enjoy cold or warmed, full of nutrients - a tasty healthy option