I have this love hate relationship with Costco. Just when I become dependent on a product they carry, they decide to discontinue it. That's how this recipe for Balela, or Mediterranean chickpea salad came about.
I bought a tub of this stuff to serve during Easter lunch and just loved it. It's high in protein and perfect for snacking. I went back this week to grab more and sure enough, they were all out.
Luckily, I still had the container from the original tub I bought so I just looked at the ingredient list. I didn't have everything in my pantry but I thought I'd give it a try anyway.
With a few modifications, my own recipe for chickpea salad was born. This is super easy and fast to make. It's a great alternative to chips and salsa or chips and dip. This is delicious with pita bread, pita chips or crackers as an appetizer. It is also great as a side dish to rotisserie chicken or mixed with some salad greens. I suggest letting it marinate for a couple hours so the flavors really blend together.
Balela ( Mediterranean chickpea salad)
1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil ( I used garlic infused olive oil)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in halves
3 cloves of garlic, diced
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried dill
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Juice of 1 lemon
Black pepper and kosher salt to taste
Directions:
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Allow to marinate for a couple hours or overnight. Serve with pita bread triangles.
