By Laura Theodore

Whether you are an accomplished vegan chef or just learning the craft of creating pleasing plant-based meals for your family, it is essential to find recipes that are delicious and easy to prepare. This nourishing recipe nicely fits the bill.  

Chickpea & Artichoke Salad

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Refrigeration Time: 2 to 3 hours

Ingredients

1 can (14 to 15 ounces) chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed

2 to 3 ounces baby spinach, finely chopped

6 sweet mini peppers (or 1 medium sweet red or orange bell pepper), seeded and thinly sliced

1 can (14 to 15 ounces) water-packed baby artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons maple syrup

2 tablespoons good-quality balsamic vinegar or freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder salt, to taste

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

Put the chickpeas, spinach, mini pepper slices, artichoke hearts, olive oil, maple syrup, vinegar (or lemon juice), optional paprika, and garlic powder into a large bowl. Gently stir together with a large spoon to thoroughly combine. Taste and add salt and pepper, as desired.

Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours to allow the flavors to develop. Divide between four to six bowls and serve.

Serves: 4 to 6

Recipe reprinted, with permission, from Easy Vegan Home Cooking by Laura Theodore (Hatherleigh Press, 2022), hatherleighpress.com.

Laura Theodore is a nationally recognized television personality, podcast radio host, celebrity PBS vegan chef, and award-winning cookbook author. She is co-creator of the highly successful Jazzy Vegetarian cooking series on national public television, and she is host of the Jazzy Vegetarian podcast on Unity Online Radio. Laura has made guest appearances on The Talk on CBS, Insider/Entertainment Tonight, and the WCBS Radio Health Report. She has been featured in the New York Times, New York Daily News, Mother Earth Living, VegNews, Family Circle, Readers Digest, and PBS Food, among other highly respected news, food, and lifestyle-related journals.