Blue Zones Kitchen Black Eyed Pea Salad with Mint & Onions

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Adapted from The Blue Zones Kitchen: 100 Recipes to Live to 100.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound black-eyed peas (or four 15-ounce cans, drained) (pinto or white beans work well too)
  • 3 green onions, tops removed and coarsely chopped (I chop the tops as well)
  • 1 carrot, peeled and grated (I like using 2 carrots)
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 cup mint, chopped
  • 1/2 red onion, chopped
  • 1 cup greens like spinach, baby kale, or sweet dandelion, chopped
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper (at least 1/2 teaspoon)
  • Dill (optional for garnish)
  • Juice of 2 lemon (my addition – I don’t think the vinegar adds nearly enough acid so I like to add lemon juice)
  • 3-4 roma tomatoes, chopped (my addition)
  • 1/2 cup italian parsley, chopped (my addition)
  • 1/2 teaspoon allspice (my addition)

Directions

  1. If using dried black-eyed peas, place them in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil; then reduce to a simmer and cover with a lid, tilting lid slightly to let some steam escape.
  2. Cook for an hour, or until peas are tender.
  3. While peas are still hot, mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
  4. If using canned black-eyed peas, just drain, rinse, and heat on a stovetop over medium heat with all other ingredients until warmed through (5-6 minutes). (I usually use canned beans and don’t bother heating them).
  5. Garnish with dill, if using.
  6. Serve warm or cold.

Garbanzo Bean Salad (Vegan Tuna Salad)

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Ingredients

  • 1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
  • 2 tablespoons vegan mayonnaise or tahini (or both)
  • 1 tablespoon sweet relish
  • 1 tablespoon yellow or dijon mustard
  • 1 celery stalk, finely diced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh dill
  • 1/2 small onion, finely diced
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • squeeze of lemon
  • Optional mix-ins: diced raw fennel, chopped egg, toasted nuts

Directions

In a food processor pulse garbanzo beans into a chunky consistency.  Stir in the remaining ingredients.

I love to serve these open face on toasted wheat bread or on Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Norwegian Crispbread.

Charlie Bird’s Farro Salad

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In this recipe, the farro is not simply boiled in water, but simmered in apple cider, which gives it a wonderful, sweet, tart flavor.

From NY Times Cooking

Ingredients

For the Farro

  • 1 cup farro
  • 1 cup apple cider
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, more as needed
  • 2 bay leaves

For the Salad

  • 70 grams Parmesan cheese, shaved with a vegetable peeler (1/2 cup)
  • 70 grams chopped pistachio nuts (1/2 cup)
  • 2 cups arugula leaves (I prefer baby arugula)
  • 1 cup basil leaves, torn
  • 1 cup mint leaves
  • ¾ cup halved cherry or grape tomatoes
  • ⅓ cup thinly sliced radish
  • Maldon or other flaky sea salt, for finishing

For the dressing

  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil (I use 1/4 cup)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions

  1. In a medium saucepan, bring farro, apple cider, salt, bay leaves and water to a simmer. Cook at a gentle boil until farro has doubled in size, is very tender, and all liquid evaporated (pearled farro takes about 30 minutes while regular takes about an hour). If all the liquid evaporates before the farro is done, add a little more water. Let farro cool, then discard bay leaves.
  2. In a salad bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Add farro and mix well.
  3. Just before serving, fold in arugula, herbs, tomatoes, cheese and pistachio nuts and mix well. Add flaky salt to taste.