Warm Chickpea, Red Pepper, and Spinach Salad with Harissa
Photo: Thomas J. Story; Styling: Robyn Valarik
Time: 1 hour. To create this bright-tasting but sultry salad, Dan Petrie starts with classic Moroccan roasted vegetables and then adds fresh spinach and a sherry vinaigrette.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Preheat broiler. Make vinaigrette: Whisk vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper, and 2 tsp. harissa in a bowl. Gradually whisk in olive oil. Taste; add more harissa if you'd like a hotter dressing. Set aside.
Step 2
2
Make salad: Put peppers on a baking sheet and broil, turning periodically, until charred on all sides, about 20 minutes. Place peppers in a paper bag about 15 minutes to allow trapped steam to loosen their skins. Remove charred skins, stems, and seeds; cut peppers into 1/2-in. pieces.
Step 3
3
Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large nonstick frying pan over medium heat. Add eggplant and cook, stirring often, until softened and beginning to color, about 12 minutes. Add chickpeas, 2 tbsp. water, and 3/4 tsp. each salt and pepper; cook, stirring, to blend flavors, about 3 minutes. Stir in chopped peppers. Remove from heat and let stand until vegetables are warm but not hot.
Step 4
4
In a large bowl, toss spinach, mint, and red onion with half the vinaigrette. Add chickpea mixture, drizzle with additional dressing, and toss again to coat. Season to taste with more salt and pepper.
Step 5
5
*Buy harissa, a north African chile-and-spice paste, in the international section of many supermarkets. Heat level varies greatly from brand to brand, so try a little before using.
Step 6
6
Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
Ingredients
Vinaigrette
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 to 4 tsp. harissa*
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salad
1 medium red bell pepper
1 medium yellow bell pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium eggplant, cut into 1/2-in. cubes
1 can (15 oz). chickpeas (garbanzos), rinsed and drained
About 3/4 tsp. kosher salt
About 3/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 bag (6 oz.) baby spinach
12 large fresh mint leaves, stacked and cut crosswise into thin ribbons
1/3 cup minced red onion, rinsed and drained
Directions
Step 1
1
Preheat broiler. Make vinaigrette: Whisk vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper, and 2 tsp. harissa in a bowl. Gradually whisk in olive oil. Taste; add more harissa if you'd like a hotter dressing. Set aside.
Step 2
2
Make salad: Put peppers on a baking sheet and broil, turning periodically, until charred on all sides, about 20 minutes. Place peppers in a paper bag about 15 minutes to allow trapped steam to loosen their skins. Remove charred skins, stems, and seeds; cut peppers into 1/2-in. pieces.
Step 3
3
Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large nonstick frying pan over medium heat. Add eggplant and cook, stirring often, until softened and beginning to color, about 12 minutes. Add chickpeas, 2 tbsp. water, and 3/4 tsp. each salt and pepper; cook, stirring, to blend flavors, about 3 minutes. Stir in chopped peppers. Remove from heat and let stand until vegetables are warm but not hot.
Step 4
4
In a large bowl, toss spinach, mint, and red onion with half the vinaigrette. Add chickpea mixture, drizzle with additional dressing, and toss again to coat. Season to taste with more salt and pepper.
Step 5
5
*Buy harissa, a north African chile-and-spice paste, in the international section of many supermarkets. Heat level varies greatly from brand to brand, so try a little before using.
Step 6
6
Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
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