Tomato and Chick Pea Salad

This Mediterranean style salad is great for summer and fall and is a proven winner with our friends and family. It is easily transportable for BBQs/picnics and keeps well a couple of days in the fridge.  This salad takes about 15 minutes to prepare depending on your knife skills and it serves 6 to 8 adults.

Tomato and Chick Pea Salad

Tomato and Chick Pea Salad
Combine Salad Ingredients in a Large Bowl:
	2 Cups Cherry or Grape Tomatoes halved
	1 Yellow Pepper diced
	1 Orange Pepper diced
	1 Can of Chick Peas (540ml) drained and rinsed
	200 grams of Feta Cheese in small cubes
	2 Shallots or 1/3 medium red onion finely diced
Combine Dressing Ingredients in Small Bowl or Measuring Cup:
	1/4 Cup Fresh Basil chopped
	1/4 Cup Lemon Juice
	2 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
	1/2 TSP Ground Pepper
Steps:
	1) Combine above salad ingredients in large bowl.
	2) Combine dressing ingredients and stir to mix dressing.
	3) Poor dressing on salad.  Toss and serve.

Note: This recipe can be made hours ahead.  It is best to add the dressing prior to serving and keep the salad refrigerated because of the cheese.

Ingredients for Tomato and Chick Pea Salad

Salad Ready to be Tossed

Substitutions:

• If you don't like feta cheese you can substitute Mozzarella for a milder taste.
• I prefer cow milk Feta to goat milk Feta, it does not have as strong of a taste.
• You can use 4 medium tomatoes diced instead of cherry tomatoes, but you will have a far more liquid salad.

What I've learned in making this salad and salads like it:

• Basil always tastes better if fresh is used rather than dry.  Dry herbs can be substituted if necessary at 1/3 to fresh.
• Fresh squeezed lemon tastes far better than "RealLemon" and this product contains additives such as sodium benozate, sodium bisulfite and is from concentrate.