Indian Spiced Chickpea Salad Recipes

INDIAN SPICED CHICKPEA SALAD

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, fry the mustard seeds, cumin seeds and fennel seeds with the whole clove of garlic in olive oil over medium heat for 1 minute. Turn off the heat - the seeds and garlic will continue to cook.
• Leave in the pan for another 30 seconds then tip into a heatproof bowl.
• Cool slightly before adding the ground coriander, ground ginger, turmeric, and chilli/paprika.
• Mix well.
• Stir in the chickpeas, cranberries, nuts and seeds - you can cover and leave in the fridge for up to 2 days at this stage.
• Before serving add the fresh tomatoes and baby spinach.
• Serve on its own, in poppadoms and/or with rice.

INDIAN-SPICED ROASTED CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Stir together the chickpeas, lemon juice, olive oil, brown sugar, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, garam masala, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and salt in a mixing bowl. Spread the chickpea mixture in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
• Roast in the preheated oven until the chickpeas are dark brown in spots, crisp, and have shrunk quite a bit, 25 to 30 minutes, stirring halfway through the cooking time. Cool to room temperature before serving.

PUNJABI-STYLE CHICKPEA SALAD

Steps:

• Heat a small saucepan and toast the cumin seeds until aromatic and slightly browned, then grind to a coarse powder using a pestle and mortar.
• Put all the ingredients, including the ground cumin, in a bowl and mix well. Season generously; add more chaat masala and lemon juice if needed. Leave for 30 mins to let the flavours combine.

SPICED CHICKPEA SALAD WITH TAHINI AND PITA CHIPS

Steps:

• Make the chickpeas: Heat oven to 425 degrees. Pour the chickpeas into a small baking dish, about 6 inches by 8 inches. The chickpeas should be crowded together in a thick layer, not spread out. Pour in olive oil just until chickpeas are covered. (This will look like a lot, but don't worry: It forms part of the dressing.)
• Add garlic, cumin, paprika, and 2 big pinches each of salt and pepper. Stir gently to combine. Bake until oil is bubbling around the chickpeas and they are turning reddish-brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, make tahini sauce: Pour tahini into a bowl and whisk in lemon juice and garlic. The tahini will thicken and clump. Slowly whisk in warm water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until sauce becomes smooth, creamy and pourable. Taste and season with salt, pepper and more lemon juice, if desired. Set aside.
• Cook the greens: Place a large frying pan over medium heat and drizzle lightly with olive oil. When hot, add the greens in batches, along with a big pinch of salt. Stir until wilted and tender and set aside.
• When ready to serve, in a large bowl, gently mix chickpeas and their cooking oil with the cooked greens, half the pita chips, and the chopped herbs. Mound chickpea mixture in 4 shallow bowls. Divide cucumber slices around chickpeas. Drizzle thickly with half the tahini sauce and scatter remaining pita chips on top. Place a lemon wedge on the side and serve, passing extra tahini sauce at the table.