Mediterranean Couscous Salad

Ingredients

• Chickpeas

  garbanzo beans, bengal gram, mature seeds, raw

  15 oz or 425g

• Olive oil

  Salad or cooking

  ¼ cup or 54g

• Lemon juice

  Raw

  2 tbsp or 30g

• Pepper

  Spices, white

  ¼ tsp, ground or 0.6g

• Salt

  Table

  ½ tsp or 3g

• Garlic

  Raw

  ½ tbsp or 4g

• Oregano

  Spices, dried

  ½ tsp, ground or 0.9g

• Cayenne pepper

  Spices, red or cayenne

  ⅛ tsp or 0.2g

• Olive oil

  Salad or cooking

  2 tbsp or 27g

• Lemon juice

  Raw

  1 tbsp or 15g

• Salt

  Table

  ¼ tsp or 2g

• Couscous

  Cooked

  1 cup, cooked or 157g

• Water

  Plain, clean water

  1 ¼ cup or 296g

• Cucumber

  Peeled, raw

  2 cup, pared, chopped or 266g

• Cherries

  Sweet, canned, pitted, heavy syrup, drained

  10 oz or 284g

• Onions

  Raw

  ½ medium or 55g

• Balsamic vinegar

  1 tbsp or 16g

• Lemon zest

  100g

• Feta cheese

  ½ cup, crumbled or 75g

• Mint

  Freshdirect

  12 tablespoon or 36g

• Salt

  Table

  1 dash or 0.4g

• Pepper

  Spices, black

  1 dash or 0.1g

Directions

1. Place all of the ingredients for the chickpeas in a microwave safe bowl. Toss the ingredients together until the chickpeas are coated.
2. Microwave the chickpeas on high for 90 seconds. Mix and set aside for later.
3. Prepare the couscous. Heat a saucepan over medium/high heat. Add olive oil and lemon juice.
4. When the olive oil is fragrant add the couscous and salt to the saucepan and toast for 1 minute.
5. Add the water to the pot and stir. Bring to a boil.
6. Turn heat to low and cover. Let simmer for 10 minutes or until the couscous has absorbed all the water. The couscous should have a bite.
7. Remove from heat and fluff the couscous with a fork. Pour the couscous in a bowl and place it in the refrigerator to cool.
8. Meanwhile, place the cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, lemon zest, feta, and mint to a large salad bowl and toss.
9. When the couscous is cooled (about 15-20 minutes), pour the couscous and garbanzo beans (with oil) into the salad bowl.
10. Toss all the ingredients together until all of the ingredients are combined.
11. Salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately or place in the refrigerator to chill.