Chickpea salad with nectarine, feta & mint recipe

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The combination of fresh, invigorating garden mint, sweet, juicy nectarines, soft-bite nutty chickpeas and gently salty feta cheese is brought beautifully together with my clean-finishing, vibrant summer dressing – this is one to savour. This surprisingly quick salad goes with any meal, from sausages to steak, from fish to juicy chicken thighs. Its freshness is the key. So grab a glass of your favourite tipple, picnic rugs, friends, family and enjoy a pure taste of summer.

  • Yield: 4 Servings

Ingredients

  • ½ red onion, sliced very thinly
  • 2 limes juice
  • 2 ripe nectarines
  • 14 oz (3 × 400 g) tins chickpeas, drained and rinsed (750 g/1 lb 10 oz drained weight)
  • 1½ oz (40 g) feta cheese, diced into 1 cm (½in) cubes
  • 1 handful rocket leaves, torn
  • 1 large handful mint leaves, very thinly sliced
For the Dressing
  • 5 tbsp rapeseed oil
  • 3 tbsp fresh orange juice
  • 1 tsp orange zest
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 heaped tsp Garam Masala blend
  • 2 tsp mirin (sweet Japanese rice wine)
  • 1 tsp white wine vinegar
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • 4½ oz (125 g) soft goat’s cheese
How to Make It
  1. Put the sliced onion in a bowl and add the lime juice. Set aside for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Skin the nectarines by scoring a cross into the base of each fruit and popping it into boiling water for 1 minute; carefully remove it and peel away the skin.
  3. Put the nectarines onto a chopping board and cut each into quarters, slicing down around the stone. Then chop into small, even pieces.
  4. Mix all the dressing ingredients, except the goat’s cheese, together in a small bowl, then stir in the goat’s cheese until well combined. Set aside.
  5. Lift the onion slices out of the lime juice. Holding them in one hand over the sink, squeeze out the liquid with a firm but gentle grip, and put them in a large mixing bowl. Add the chickpeas and dressing, and mix well so that they are all nicely coated.
  6. Add the feta cheese, nectarine pieces, rocket and mint, and gently and carefully fold together just to combine. Chill before serving for an extra-refreshing effect!
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