If you are looking for a vegetarian dish that is packed with flavor and nutrition, look no further than this chickpea and orzo salad with harissa roasted eggplant. This Mediterranean-inspired recipe combines the nutty flavor of chickpeas with the hearty texture of orzo pasta and the smoky, spicy taste of harissa-roasted eggplant. With a vibrant dressing made from lemon juice, olive oil, and fresh herbs, this salad is a refreshing and satisfying meal that is perfect for warm-weather gatherings or as a light and flavorful lunch option.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
CHICKPEA ORZO SALAD WITH HARISSA-ROASTED EGGPLANT
Where a typical potluck pasta salad is creamy and mayonnaise-rich, this one is vegetable-forward, crunchy and spicy. The heat comes from harissa, a North African paste typically made with red and hot peppers, and spices like coriander, caraway and cumin, which is used to marinate the vegetables and to dress the salad. Offset some of the intensity with mild mozzarella cheese, deeply toasted walnuts and salty bright-green olives, and no one will miss your great aunt's bowties.
Provided by Sarah Jampel
Categories dinner, lunch, weekday, main course
Time 40m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Make the eggplant: Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil and harissa, then mix in the eggplant cubes and red pepper to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer vegetables to one of the baking sheets and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and charred in places.
- Meanwhile, make the orzo: Bring a medium pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook to al dente according to package instructions. Drain, add to a large bowl, and mix with about 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Set aside to cool slightly while you finish cooking.
- Spread the walnuts on the other baking sheet and toast in the hot oven (alongside the vegetables if you have room) for 4 to 6 minutes, until they're fragrant and the skin is papery. (Watch carefully: These burn easily!) Roughly chop.
- To the big bowl with the warm orzo, add the roasted vegetables. Then add the chickpeas, walnuts, olives, herbs and mozzarella. Taste for salt and pepper, and adjust as necessary. Stir in an additional dollop of harissa, if you'd like. Serve over a bed of greens for a more traditional salad.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 498, UnsaturatedFat 14 grams, Carbohydrate 55 grams, Fat 23 grams, Fiber 11 grams, Protein 21 grams, SaturatedFat 7 grams, Sodium 666 milligrams, Sugar 9 grams
CHICKPEA AND EGGPLANT SALAD
This subtly flavored salad really celebrates the chickpea, which is an excellent source of fiber, protein and iron, and perfect for keeping us going on busy days.
Provided by Amelia Freer
Categories HarperCollins Chickpea Eggplant Almond Lunch Tomato Healthy Kid-Friendly Side Dinner Vegan Vegetarian Pescatarian Dairy Free Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added Kosher Small Plates
Yield 4 as a side, 2 as a meal
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Cover the onion with water and set aside for half an hour-this reduces the harshness of its taste when eaten raw.
- Next prepare the eggplant. Spread the half-moon slices out on a baking sheet and brush them with olive oil. Place on a high rack under the broiler for 5 minutes, then take out and brush again with a mixture of olive oil and lemon juice-you can make it quite wet, as the eggplant will absorb all the liquid. Place back under the broiler until the edges of the slices are slightly blackened and the flesh is soft. Set aside in a large bowl.
- On the same baking sheet, spread out the chickpeas and broil until they're golden. Add them to the bowl of eggplant.
- Dice the tomatoes into small cubes and add to the bowl along with the parsley, drained red onion slices, garlic oil, cayenne pepper, remaining lemon juice, zest, salt and pepper and mix well. Serve warm, with a sprinkling of slivered almonds.
MANOURI, EGGPLANT AND ORZO SALAD
Provided by Sara Dickerman
Categories pastas, salads and dressings
Time 50m
Yield Serves 6 to 8
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the orzo according to the package directions. Drain, toss with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and spread on a baking sheet. Let cool in the refrigerator.
- Toss the eggplant with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and place in a colander set over a bowl or in a sink. Put several bowls or plates on top of the eggplant and let drain for at least 30 minutes.
- Line a baking sheet with paper towels and set aside. In a heavy 10-inch skillet, heat 4 tablespoons of the olive oil and the canola oil over medium heat. Squeeze the excess liquid from the eggplant, blot with paper towels and toss in a bowl with the flour. In two batches, fry the eggplant until the cubes are crisp and golden brown. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to the prepared baking sheet. (Add a little extra oil to the pan for the second batch, as needed.)
- In a large bowl, toss the orzo with 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, the lemon juice and the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Fold in the olives, peppers, mint, dill, basil and manouri. Taste and adjust for seasoning with additional salt, pepper, lemon juice or olive oil. Just before serving, toss in the fried eggplant.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 275, UnsaturatedFat 15 grams, Carbohydrate 25 grams, Fat 18 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 4 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 226 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams
CHICKPEA ORZO SALAD
A wonderful Greek inspired salad. Makes a great lunch meal, very filling and healthy too. Found this at a vegan web site and changed to my tastes.
Provided by Miss Annie in Indy
Categories Beans
Time 30m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- In a saucepan, place the pasta in boiling water and cook for 9 to 11 minutes, until al dente.
- Drain and cool under cold running water.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, mustard, mint, and seasonings, forming a vinaigrette.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the orzo, tomatoes, scallions, cucumber, garlic and olives.
- Blend in the vinaigrette, feta, and if desired, chickpeas (Also good with black beans).
- Chill for 1 hour before serving.
- Place over a bed of lettuce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 365.9, Fat 12.6, SaturatedFat 4, Cholesterol 16.8, Sodium 625.8, Carbohydrate 52.3, Fiber 6.8, Sugar 3.6, Protein 12.5
Tips:
- For the best flavor, use ripe, in-season vegetables. Eggplants in particular should be heavy for their size and have smooth, shiny skin.
- To roast the eggplant, you can either use a grill or an oven. If you're using a grill, preheat it to medium-high heat and grill the eggplant slices for about 5 minutes per side, or until they're tender and slightly charred. If you're using an oven, preheat it to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and roast the eggplant slices for about 20 minutes, or until they're tender and slightly charred.
- Once the eggplant is roasted, let it cool slightly before chopping it. This will help to prevent it from becoming too mushy.
- The harissa dressing is what really makes this salad special. Be sure to use a good quality harissa paste, and adjust the amount of olive oil and lemon juice to taste.
- This salad is best served fresh, but it can also be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Conclusion:
This chickpea orzo salad with harissa roasted eggplant is a delicious and healthy dish that's perfect for a summer meal. The roasted eggplant adds a smoky flavor to the salad, while the harissa dressing gives it a nice kick. This salad is also packed with protein and fiber, making it a filling and satisfying meal. Whether you're serving it for lunch or dinner, this salad is sure to be a hit.
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