MEDITERRANEAN BEAN SALAD

Mediterranean Bean Salad packs chickpeas, white beans, your favorite Mediterranean vegetables and feta cheese into one healthy salad and is topped with a light lemony dressing. This works perfectly as a side dish to a meal or even as lunch with pita bread and hummus.

INGREDIENTS
FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN BEAN SALAD:

• 1 - 15 ounce can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 - 15 ounce can of white beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/4 cup kalamata olives, halved {you will want to use pitted olives}
• 1/3 cup roasted red peppers, drained, chopped
• 1/2 of a small red onion, chopped
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 green bell pepper, seeds removed, diced {or color of your choice}
• 1/2 of an english cucumber, diced
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese {optional}
• Handful of fresh mint, chopped
• Handful of fresh parsley, chopped
• 4 green onions, chopped

FOR THE DRESSING::

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional spices: 1 teaspoon of any spice you like {try sumac, za'atar or oregano}
• Crushed red pepper for extra spice

INSTRUCTIONS

• In a large bowl mix together the chickpeas, white beans, olives, roasted red peppers, red onion, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber, feta cheese, mint, parsley and green onions.
• In a large mason jar or salad dressing container add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, garlic and whisk together. Add salt and pepper to taste and 1 teaspoon of an additional spice if you like {try sumac, za'atar, oregano}. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat with the dressing.
• Serve with hummus and pita bread or use this salad as a topping for pita wraps, hummus plates or falafel.