Can we have too many delicious Mediterranean salads in our kitchen repertoire?  NO. So here is another one to add into your rotation for something to take to a summer cookout or to make at the beginning of the week to have on hand for snacks, lunch, a side dish or lunch on the go.  This one has protein, vegetables and incredible taste.  Once you make a couple of these salads, you realize that you can do some substituting your favorite vegetables, your perfected dressing and before you know it, you have your own favorite recipe and your friends are asking for YOUR recipe.  It’s that simple and here you go…

1. Let the red onions marinated in the red wine vinegar for about 15 minutes to soften them and take the harshness out of the taste. 2. Add the vegetables after your add the dressing ingredients to the onion/red wine vinegar mixture. 3. Add the tomatoes.


Ingredients

1/4 cup red onion chopped

2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 Tablespoon honey

1/4 teaspoon coarse salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley

1/3 cup chopped fresh basil

1/3 cup chopped fresh mint

4 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 cup roasted red peppers (either from a jar or freshly roasted)

2-15 ounce can chickpeas drained and rinsed

1 cucumber seeded and chopped

1/2 cup mini tomatoes (I like the multi-colored)

1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese

1/2 cup shelled pistachios

1. Making sure every last bit of the dressing/herbs make it into the salad. 2. The addition of the Feta cheese and pistachio combination adds a nice salty/crunchy taste to the salad. 3. How I served the salad for a Sunday night dinner, last week, with the Hamptons Chicken Salad from last week, corn on the cob and some sliced avocado. Yum & Yum!

Method

  1.  In a large mixing bowl, add the chopped red onions and the 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar.  Let sit for about 15 minutes to take the bite out of the onion.
  2. During the 15 minutes, prepare the vegetables.  
  3. After the 15 minutes have passed, add the honey, salt and pepper and stir. 
  4. Add the fresh herbs, parsley, basil and mint.  Toss.
  5. Add the remaining ingredients and stir. Taste for additional salt or pepper.  I like this to sit in the fridge for a little while before serving for flavors to meld together. Enjoy!

Fresh herbs really do add lots of flavor to a summer salad like this…The Author, Mary Yana Burau and her book, available here on the website, signed or through Amazon (unsigned).