Balela /Mediterranean Chickpea and Black bean Salad

Here’s the recipe for a simple, healthy, flavorful, colorful and nutritious salad. Balela is a  Middle Eastern salad with white chickpeas, black beans, parsley, lemon juice and spices. It can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days. Whether eaten as a snack, side or light vegetarian meal, this super easy chickpea salad recipe never fails to impress. This recipe is very forgiving, let your taste buds be your guide!

Balela Salad Recipe

Ingredients

Chickpeas – 2 cups, cooked and drained (You can use canned chickpeas instead)

Black beans – 1 cup, cooked and drained

Parsley – 1/4 cup, finely chopped

Mint leaves – 3 tbsp, finely chopped

Garlic, minced – 1 clove or a tiny pinch of granulated garlic(optional)

Red onion – 3 tbsp, finely chopped (It can be replaced with spring onion)

Grape tomatoes -1/2 cup, halved (You can use regular fresh tomatoes instead)

Sun-dried tomatoes – 3- 4, roughly chopped (Optional)

Red wine vinegar – 1 tbsp

Lemon juice – 1 tbsp

Extra-virgin olive oil – 1- 1.5 tbsp

Sumac – 1/2 tsp (Optional)

Salt and pepper – To taste

Feta cheese, crumbled – 1/4 – 1/2 cup

Method

Combine all the above ingredients in a large bowl. Taste-check for salt. Let marinate for at least 30 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate overnight for best results. It tastes great as is or it can be served with pita bread or as a healthy side-dish. Enjoy!