Skyler As memorial day weekend is upon us, it’s time to start pulling out those staple summer potluck recipes. One of my favorites is Mediterranean-style garbanzo bean salad. It’s great to make all spring and summer long. And as your garden veggies start to ripen, almost all of your ingredients can come from your backyard or a farmers market. These are my base ingredients:
- Cukes
- Tomatoes
- Onion/chives/green onion
- Fresh herbs
- Sweet pepper
Then I stir in couple cans of beans, an occasional avocado, feta cheese, vinegar, oil and some spices. It’s always a crowd-pleaser. Swap out the garbanzo beans for black beans, red beans, or any white bean. Or mix up two different kinds. In a pinch, you can always stir it together with some store-bought Italian Dressing but I recommend making it from scratch. It’s worth it.
Mediterranean Garbanzo Bean Salad
This is a great recipe for a backyard BBQ or potluck. Pair it with grilled or baked fish, chicken, or steak. Or scoop it up with a chip—or just eat it with a spoon! However you like to eat it, this light and summery dish comes together quickly.
Ingredients
- 1 medium cucumber, seeded (if desired) and chopped
- ¼ cup sliced or dice sweet onion, red onion, or green onion
- ½ cup quartered cherry tomatoes or 2 roma tomatoes, cored and chopped
- 1 small sweet bell pepper, diced (about 1/2 cup)
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese or grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cans garbanzo beans or other favorite bean, rinsed and drained
- ¼ cup chopped fresh herbs, such as parsley, chives, dill, and/or cilantro
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp. red or white wine vinegar or lemon juice
- 1 tbsp. ground cumin, chili powder, or curry powder
- 1 tsp. honey or sugar
- 1 tsp. salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine cucumber, onion, tomato, bell pepper, feta cheese, and garbanzo beans. Stir in fresh herbs.
- In a small bowl whisk together olive oil, vinegar, cumin, honey, and salt. Pour mixture over salad and gently stir to coat. Season to taste with black pepper and additional vinegar and salt as desired.
- Cover and chill at least 1 hour. Stir well before serving.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
