Broccoli Chick Pea Salad

It's Superbowl Sunday so obviously, I made Broccoli Chick Pea Salad.  😂 Who needs chicken wings and nachos when you've got a giant bowl of dark, green vegetables and legumes???  (So who wants invitation to my next Superbowl party?)  🥦🏈 

The thing is - broccoli tops the very short list of vegetables that my family actually enjoys.  I make it in as many different ways as I possibly can because the alternative is to eat steamed broccoli three nights a week. 😬 Some of my favorite ways to prepare this most requested vegetable are broccoli fritters, grilled broccoli, roasted broccoli, broccoli casserole and broccoli salads.  

Broccoli salad has been one of my standby side dishes for summer picnics for a long time.  I'm always on the lookout for new and interesting ways to make broccoli salad which is why I decided to give this new take on a traditional broccoli salad a whirl.  Warm broccoli and crunchy chick peas tossed in a light, lemon, parmesan, oil based dressing - this little gem is a keeper.  

Broccoli Chick Pea Salad
1/2 cup parmesan
1/2 cup olive oil
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tablespoon mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
15 ounce can chick peas
1/2 red onion, sliced thin
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 pounds broccoli florets

Whisk together parmesan, 1/4 c. oil, lemon juice, garlic, mayonnaise and red pepper flakes. 

Add chick peas and toss to coat. 

Heat 1 T. oil in skillet.  Add onion, 1/4 t. salt and 1/2 t. pepper and cook 8 min.  Transfer mixture to bowl with chick peas. ​

Heat 3 T. oil in skillet.  Add broccoli, 1/4 t salt and 1/2 t. pepper.  Cook until broccoli is dark brown and crispy.  (About 20 minutes)

Transfer broccoli to chick pea bowl and toss to combine.  Serve warm. 

I hesitate to even categorize this Broccoli and Chick Pea creation as a "salad."  It's best enjoyed warm which makes it seem more like a side dish and less like a salad.   Whatever you choose to call it - I think you'll agree that it's delicious. 

Ciao! 

Click here for a printable version of this recipe