Chickpeas, pomegranate and quinoa, all have great range of health benefits. After a tasty fresh spiced chickpea salad at Miha Restaurant at The Grand Mercure Puka Park Resort in New Zealand, I though I would share with you a favourite salad recipe I prepare at home. It’s great as a side or delicious served on it’s own. Perfect for a light lunch or dinner, this salad is jam-packed with nutritional goodness.
Chickpea & Quinoa Salad
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup uncooked quinoa
1 ½ cups chicken stock
1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
½ cup chopped parsley
¼ cup chopped mint
1 cucumber diced
½ cup pomegranate seeds
¼ cup cranberries
1/3 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
Dressing Ingredients:
¼ cup olive oil
4 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tbsp pomegranate molasses
¼ teaspoon cumin
1 tablespoon honey
½ teaspoon salt
Method:
Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Add garlic and sauté lightly then add quinoa and toast for a few minutes. Add stock to the quinoa and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer covered for 10 mins or until water is absorbed. Cool completely. Once cool, fluff the quinoa with a fork.
In a serving bowl toss cucumber, herbs, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, pomegranate and chickpeas to combine. Add the cooled quinoa.
In a small bowl, whisk together dressing ingredients. Pour over quinoa and mix well. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
*Vegan option: Substitute chicken stock for water and omit honey in dressing.
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Where to Stay in Coromandel, New Zealand: Grand Mercure Puka Park
This sounds delicious and a great alternative to regular salad options.
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Absolutely Carol. Always nice to mix it up a bit. Have a great weekend 😊
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Looks healthy, delicious and easy to make!
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Totally.
Enjoy the weekend. X
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You too!
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This sounds very delicious and healthy too. I adore chickpeas! Cheers sherry
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So do I Sherry. The pantry always has extra tins of chickpeas in it 😉
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Where am I going to find Pomegranate molasses, Lorelle. Or could I substitute ordinary molasses, or honey? It looks beautiful. Such colour!
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Thanks Amanda. I get my pomegranate molasses from either the middle eastern grocer or gourmet grocers. Not sure if the regular supermarket has it, unless the have a middle eastern section 🤷♀️
Good Luck. X
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I will see if I can find one. Maybe a Deli on the south side?
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Fingers crossed 🤞
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Hey Lorelle, have you ever frozen leftover quinoa? I made too much for this recipe and wondered whether it might freeze okay?
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Hey Amanda
No. I’ve never frozen it. Not sure how that would go. Sorry. I usually finish mine within a few days.
I also wanted to let you know I baked your orange cake and it was a great hit! It’s delicious. Thank you 😊
Happy Sunday. X
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Did you? That is great. I wondered how it would translate as all ovens cook a bit differently!!
I might experiment with a small amount of the quinoa to see if the quinoa will freeze up.
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Gods idea. 👍🏼😊
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Looks delish. Finally I’ve found some sunshine and it’s salad weather. I’m going to make this tomorrow!
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Why is it when the sun comes out all we want to eat is salad and fruit???
Enjoy the salad and the sunshine 🌞 😉
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Looks absolutely delicious. Perfect for us in our new healthy lifestyle too.
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Absolutely. This ones definitely for you guys. 😉
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Looks so pretty. I love the way pomegranate seeds give things an almost glassy looking garnish.
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I love pomegranate in any salad Chris. So fresh. 😉
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Yum that sounds and looks delicious. Have you come across the quinoa that is grown in Tasmania? It is particularly good.
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No I haven’t. Will have to keep my eyes open for that one. Thanks L. X
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And it looks pretty too 🙂 🙂
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Thanks love 💕
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That needs to be added to my Breakfast list.Thanks for the receipe.Hope you are having a wonderful day.
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Thanks Neha. Hope you are too. Happy Sunday 🙂
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Hey Lorelle,
Did you include cranberries or sultanas? I wasn’t sure when looking at the ingredients list. You mention cranberries in your method. The salad was super delicous, I jsut added more honey as I couldn’t source the molasses. Thanks so much for sharing this. I loved it.
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Hi Amanda
Thanks for letting me know
It’s meant to be just cranberries, but of course you can always add or substitute the sultanas too.
Glad you enjoyed it. The extra honey is a good substitute for the pomegranate molasses. ❤️
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I bet this is quite refreshing on the palette too great recipe for a meat free Monday in the summer!
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Absolutely Rachael.
Have a great week. Hope you’re feeling well. 😊
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