Garbanzo beans, also known as chickpeas, are a favorite in Greek and Middle Eastern cooking. Their mild, slightly nutty flavor and creamy texture makes them fabulous mashed into falafel or served cold on top of a salad. But hey, why stop with cold beans as a salad topper? When garbanzo beans are toasted in the oven, they develop an amazing crunchy outside while keeping their soft and buttery inside. Their flavor deepens and becomes rich and complex. Some people love toasted garbanzo beans so much, they eat them as a healthy and high-protein snack instead of popcorn or chips. Toss on any seasonings you like–we’ve used paprika and salt, but curry powder, cumin and chili powder all make great spice blends, too.
This makes a perfect summer dinner on its own, or serve it up with grilled chicken or lamb for a Greek feast.
The garbanzo beans are put on top of a classic Greek salad, bursting with salty feta cheese, crunchy cucumber and sweet tomatoes. It’s all tossed together in a light and fresh lemon oregano dressing with a hint of roasted garlic.
Greek Salad with Toasted Garbanzo Beans
There’s complexity in Greek flavors, from the tart feta and olives to the peppery parsley and roasted garlic. Salads are a great way to let everyone make their own meal unique to them because of their favorite toppings. With this recipe, you’ll have plenty of garbanzo beans to snack on or use for salads the next day. Store the dressing in the refrigerator for up to one week.
For the beans:
- 2 cups of Randall Beans Garbanzo Beans, rinsed
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
For the salad:
- Spinach and arugula salad mix
- Kalamata olives, chopped
- Feta cheese, crumbled
- Diced tomatoes
- Diced cucumber
- Chopped fresh parsley
For the dressing:
- ¾ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 clove roasted garlic, smashed
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dill
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Preheat your oven to 400. Lay paper towels on a baking sheet and pour the garbanzo beans on top. Grab more paper towels and rub them on top of the beans, pressing lightly to remove as much moisture as possible. Remove the paper towels and discard any skins from the beans. Add the olive oil and mix the beans thoroughly with your hands. Place the beans in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until lightly toasted. Mix in the paprika and salt and set aside.
Prepare the dressing by adding all of the ingredients together in a container that has a secure lid. Shake the ingredients until mixed thoroughly. Mix your salad ingredients and toasted garbanzo beans together in a bowl and add 1 to 2 tablespoons of dressing.
Summertime is the perfect time to try this tasty recipe featuring Randall Beans
