Couscous Chickpea Feta Summer Salad

As summer draws to a close, I thought I would share with you one last summer salad recipe that I love. I think many of us, myself included, are trying to enjoy just a few more barbecues before the colder season comes.

This was another summer salad recipe that I came up with to try to enjoy summer salads, despite my husband not liking most salads. If you are looking for more summer salad recipes, here is another one I came up with too!

This is a really lovely combination of fresh zesty flavours that’s easy to make and is a great side dish to grilled meats, or vegetables, or even just on its own.

What you’ll need:

• 1 can of Chickpeas (rinsed)
• 1 cup of Couscous (uncooked)
• 1/2 a cup of Feta Cheese (crumbled)
• 1/2 a lemon’s worth of Lemon Juice
• 3/4 of a Bell Pepper (red or orange) (diced)
• 1-2 tablespoons of Olive Oil
• A handful of fresh chopped Parsley
• Salt & Pepper

Optional ingredients:
Kalamata Olives
Capers
Tomatoes (diced) or Cherry Tomatoes (sliced)

1. Start by cooking the couscous. Follow the instructions on the bag. For this recipe I make the couscous with just water and not stock.
2. While the couscous is cooking, go ahead and prepare the other ingredients. Rinse the chickpeas, juice the lemon, chop the parsley, crumble the feta and diced the bell pepper.
3. Allow the couscous to cool, and toss it in the olive oil and lemon juice to prevent it from sticking together.
4. Add in all of the other ingredients chickpeas, feta cheese, bell peppers, parsley, salt & pepper, and thoroughly toss.
5. There are three optional ingredients that can be added: kalamata olives, capers, and tomatoes. I thoroughly enjoy all of these but recognize they aren’t for everyone’s taste, for example my hubby doesn’t like capers or olives. Also you may not always have each of these ingredients and so it is more important to include the above base ingredients than the other 3.
   

And that’s it! A zesty light and fresh summer salad that still has some substance and protein. It’s nutritious, healthy, and best of all its tasty! Quick enough for a weeknight dinner too.

I really hope you enjoy making this delicious salad in the last few weeks of summer. Let me know what you think!

Write soon,

Hannah B.L.