Chickpea, Red Pepper, Basil, and Lemon Salad Recipe

Chickpea, Red Pepper, Basil, and Lemon Salad Recipe

  • One 19-ounce can chickpeas (garbanzo beans) or dried chickpeas, soaked overnight
  • 1 red bell pepper (about 6 ounces), seeded, cored, and cut into ½-inch dice (about 1 cup)
  • 2 radishes (1 ounce each), tipped, tailed, and cut across into thin slices (2 tablespoons)
  • ½ bunch basil (1 ounce), cut across into ¼-inch strips (¼ cup)
  • 2 cups cooked quinoa—red is the hardest to find, but nicest in this
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
  • ½ cup Basic Vinaigrette
  • 1 head Bibb lettuce (about 5 ounces), with small, bright green leaves
  • 1 slim cucumber (4 to 5 ounces), cut across into 1/8-inch slices
  1. Combine the chickpeas, bell pepper, radishes, basil, quinoa, lemon zest, and vinaigrette in a medium bowl until well coated. Lay pieces of lettuce out in a shallow bowl or salad bowl in an even layer. Place the chickpea mixture in the center in a generous pile. Arrange cucumber slices on top of the lettuce in a ring around the chickpea salad.