Best Chickpea Salsa Recipes

HALLOUMI WITH CHICKPEA SALSA & COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Put the couscous in a bowl and pour over the hot stock. Cover with cling film, leave to stand and swell for 10 mins.
• Make the salsa by mixing the chickpeas with the tomatoes, half the oil and vinegar, the finely chopped chillies and some of the chopped herbs. Season and arrange between 4 serving plates.
• Heat a griddle pan or frying pan. Fry the halloumi for 2-3 mins each side, until golden and lightly charred. Fluff up the couscous with a fork and mix in the rest of the oil, vinegar and herbs with some seasoning. Pile onto the plates next to the salsa and top with the warm halloumi. Garnish with the sliced chillies.

LENTIL AND CHICKPEA FRITTERS WITH CAPSICUM SALSA

Steps:

• Put the lentils and water in a small saucepan and cover and bring to a simmer over a medium high heat and then reduce heat to low and simmer covered for 12 minutes or until lentils are tender and start to break down.
• Transfer to a medium bowl and add garam masala and ground chillies and stir and set aside for 30 minutes to cool.
• CAPSICUM SALSA - put the capsicum, onion, spring onion, lemon juice and coriander in a small bowl and season with pepper and toss to combine and set aside.
• Add besan flour. baking powder and egg to lentil misture and stir to combine.
• Heat oil in a large non-stick frying pan ton medium and add 1 heaped tablespoon of mixture to pan to make 1 fritter and then add another 2 heaped tablespoons for 2 more fritters and cook for 3 to 4 minutes and turn over and cook for 2 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through and transfer to a plate and cover loosely with foil and repeat with remaining mixture to make a total of 6 fritters.
• Serve the fritters with the salsa, yoghurt and lemon wedges.

CHICKPEA SALSA

Steps:

• Pick over dried chickpeas. Rinse and soak overnight in cold water with 1 teaspoon salt. Drain and rinse. Place chickpeas in a medium saucepan, and cover by several inches with fresh water. Bring to a boil, and skim off any foam. Turn heat down to medium, and simmer until tender, 35 to 45 minutes. Ten minutes before chickpeas are done, add 3/4 teaspoon salt. Remove from heat; let cool in cooking liquid for about 1 hour.
• If using cumin seeds, toast in a dry pan over medium-low heat until they release their aroma, about 2 minutes. Let cool and grind to a powder in a spice grinder. Set aside.
• Chop together 1/2 teaspoon salt, garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon olive oil to form a paste. Add chiles; chop to combine. Transfer to a small bowl, and add remaining oil.
• Drain soaked chickpeas. (If using canned chickpeas, rinse.) Combine with 1 teaspoon chile mixture or to taste. Add olives, cumin, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve. The salsa can be made a day ahead (return to room temperature before serving).
• Just before serving, coarsely chop arugula, and toss with salsa.

GRILLED HALLOUMI WITH COUSCOUS AND CHICKPEA SALSA

Steps:

• First make the chickpea salsa by mixing the first six ingredients together.
• Put the couscous in a bowl and pour over the harissa and hot water. Set aside.
• Heat the grill (broiler) or barbeque. Mix the garlic, lemon juice and olive oil and toss in a bowl with the aubergine, peppers and halloumi.
• Cook the vegetables and cheese for a few minutes each side until nicely browned. If you are using the barbeque, it's a good idea to put the vegetables and cheese on a baking tray or well oiled sheet of foil. Keep an eye on the halloumi. It will cook quicker than the aubergine and peppers.
• Gently fry the walnuts in the butter, then mix through the couscous with a fork. Spoon onto a plate and scatter over the vegetables and halloumi. Top with some fresh coriander(cilantro) and serve with the chickpea salsa.

SALSA VERDE SALMON WITH SMASHED CHICKPEA SALAD

Steps:

• Heat the grill to high. Whisk 1 tsp of the oil with the orange zest, a splash of the juice, lots of black pepper and a small pinch of salt. Put the salmon, skin-side down, on a non-stick baking tray and pour over the marinade. Leave to marinate at room temperature while you make the salsa.
• Put the parsley, mustard, half the shallot, the vinegar, 1 tsp oil, and the remaining orange juice in a small food processor and blitz to a thick sauce, adding a splash of water to loosen if needed.
• Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan and fry the remaining shallot for 5 mins. Stir in the chickpeas and some seasoning, turn up the heat and stir until the chickpeas are just starting to crisp. Mash roughly with a potato masher and stir in the roasted peppers and kale. Add a splash of water and cover with a lid until the kale is wilted. Keep warm over a low heat.
• Grill the salmon for 4-6 mins, or until cooked to your liking. Spoon half the chickpeas onto a plate, top with a salmon fillet (leaving the skin behind if you like), and spoon over some of the salsa verde. Leave the remaining salmon fillet to cool to use in the lunchbox, see tip below.

SALSA VERDE SALMON WITH SMASHED CHICKPEA SALAD

Steps:

• Heat the grill to high. Whisk 1 tsp olive oil with the orange zest, a splash of the juice and some seasoning. Put the salmon fillets skin-side down on a non-stick baking tray and pour over the marinade. Leave to marinate at room temperature.
• Put the parsley, Dijon mustard, 1/2 the chopped shallot, red wine vinegar, 1 tsp olive oil, and the remaining orange juice in a small food processor and blitz to a thick sauce, adding a splash of water to loosen if needed.
• Heat 1 tsp olive oil in a frying pan and fry the rest of the chopped shallot for 5 mins. Stir in the chickpeas and season. Turn up the heat and stir until the chickpeas are just crisp. Mash roughly and stir in the roasted red peppers and kale. Add a splash of water and cover until the kale is wilted. Keep warm. Grill the salmon for 4-6 mins until cooked to your liking. Divide the mash between plates, and top with the salmon and salsa.