Happy Summer everyone! I love to play with easy combinations of herbs + veggies + legumes in the summer. Sometimes there's nothing easier AND tastier than a quick salad.. with or without protein.. Side salad or main.. What do you like to make? I have been making a combo I really like: Chickpeas with fresh tomatoes and herbs. Basil stars in this quick salad. I tend to use 'regular' Sweet Basil or Genovese basil here, but I have been playing with some other Basil varieties as well to change it up..
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Do you know that there are dozens of different basil varieties? I am excited to be growing a few this year! More on that below.. Check out this quickie recipe + let me know that you think!!

Chickpeas with fresh Tomatoes and Herbs

Chickpeas with Tomatoes + Herbs

Easy to pull together + adjustable to make a larger version! So delicious!

Ingredients

28 oz can Chickpeas rinced + drained (or about 3 cups chickpeas)
¼ cup red onion finely chopped (or sliced if you prefer)
15 cherry tomatoes halved (or more if you like!)
½ cup Basil chopped, sliced finely or the classic 'chiffonade'*
Dressing
4 tablespoon EVOO best olive oil possible
2 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar
2 cloves Garlic finely minced
1 tablespoon fresh Basil finely chopped
1 teaspoon Oregano dried (or 2 teaspoon fresh, chopped)
½ teaspoon Sea Salt
½ teaspoon Black Pepper freshly ground if possible

Instructions

Add the chickpeas, herbs, tomatoes + onion to a bowl.
Mix the olive oil, vinegar + garlic in a cup
Add S + P to the oil. Mix
Add the oil mixture to the chickpeas + stir lightly.
It's ready to serve now but I suggest refrigerating for 1-2 hours if possible.

Recipe Notes

Note:
Substitute lemon juice for the vinegar
Use 1 teaspoon of "Italian herb blend" if you prefer or don't have oregano.
Use a dash of paprika or cayenne or similar for a 'kick'.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Before serving, adjust salt and pepper if needed.

Try making this Chickpeas with fresh Tomatoes and Herbs using various basils or change it up completely and toss in some parsley or dill or your favourite!

Some BASIL ideas for you!!

Sweet basil is probably the most common variety of basil very popular in pesto, salads, and marinades. It's a medium green colour with a rounded cup-shaped leaf. Sweet basil has been known to repel mosquitos.

Sweet basil has a predominantly sweet taste with anise and clove undertones and a fresh, fragrant, and slightly peppery aroma.

Check out these other varieties:

African Blue Basil is a tall variety growing up to four feet tall. This basil is stunning in floral arrangements. African Blue Basil has a strong scent of peppers, cloves, mint, and camphor. Culinary uses include vegetable, rice, and meat dishes.

Unlike most basil varieties, African Blue is a perennial as long as it doesn’t freeze. While seeds are generally not available, plants can be purchased as seedlings or via mail order.

Cinnamon Basil is a spicy, fragrant variety of basil. The cinnamon basil plant is another beauty in the herb garden. The stems are a reddish, purple colour with pink flowers at maturity.

Cinnamon Basil has a milder basil flavor and pairs well with fruit contributing a slight zing with a slight cinnamon flavour. Try it in Asian marinades, fried rice, tossed with grilled vegetables or in noodle dishes. I always infuse some in raw honey.. It's delish!

Genovese Basil is another common variety in N. America. It’s the fave Italian basil with extra-large dark green leaves. We use it also, in pesto and Italian dishes. The leaves of Genovese are flatter than Sweet basil with a more pointed shape. Genovese basil offers a more robust flavour profile with peppery and mildly sweet nuances and a more potent, spicy, and earthy aroma.

People tend to mix up the ‘Sweet' and ‘Genovese’ basils. True Genovese has a stronger, more aromatic flavour.

Lettuce basil has large, floppy wrinkled leaves. As the name implies, it works well in salads and fresh dishes. It's an Italian basil with a mild flavour. Although the leaves are large, the plant itself is quite compact in size. It is one of the shorter basils growing to just about a foot high. It is also slow to flower, so lasts a bit longer in the heat of the summer before going to seed.

The leaves of the lettuce basil are four inches wide and between six and ten inches long. This makes it ideal for use in lettuce wraps where most other basils would be much too small.

Lemon basil is becoming a popular basil variety and is increasingly found in local nurseries and garden centers. Lemon basil grows between 12 and 18 inches tall with light green leaves.

Inhale the wonderful lemony scent of this variety. There is nothing quite like fresh lemon basil. Use lemon basil in marinades, grilled vegetables, desserts, and teas.
I’m growing this one for the 1st time this year. It is very fragrant!!

Lime basil has a sweet, mild but bright citrus flavor. The leaves are bright green with a narrow shape. Lime basil grows between 16 and 24 inches tall.

While not quite as popular as lemon basil, some gardeners grow both together in the herb garden. The two make an excellent pair when cooking, bringing out the lemon & lime flavors for a tantalizing combination. Use it in sauces, desserts, and teas.

Purple basil has a striking dark burgundy color that provides excellent contrast in the herb garden. The flavour is not as sweet as some basil varieties because of the stronger clove taste. Highly aromatic, purple basil can be steeped in vinegar or oil to add beautiful colour to your vinaigrettes! It’s also called ‘opal basil’. I have had difficulty growing this one, but it is a beauty!

Spicy globe is a dwarf basil variety + makes an excellent choice for growing in indoor gardens or in containers. True to its name it has a strong, spicy flavor with smaller leaves that are excellent served whole in soups, salads, and pasta.

It is also called Spicy Bush or Boxwood Basil and forms a tight clump when growing. The shape is similar to a dwarf boxwood with a rounded top.

Thai basil has smaller dark pointed leaves and features a spicy, licorice flavour. The dark purple flower heads and stems of Thai basil contrast beautifully with the deep green leaves making it very popular in the herb garden. It can grow 2 feet tall + can sometimes. Gardeners love to plant it in ‘groupings’ as it makes a statement; very showy.

Asian dishes often feature Thai basil, such as Thai Basil Chicken or Spicy Sesame Noodles.
Thai basil keeps its flavour at higher cooking temperatures as compared to other types of basil.

Add-ons for this delicious "Chickpeas with fresh tomatoes and herbs":

Olives
Feta Cheese (or your favourite crumbly cheese)
Raw cashews (or your favourite!)
Greens such as arugula or chopped lettuces
Cucumbers, diced
Chicken, bbq'd and chopped

Whichever way you toss this one together, I hope you enjoy it!

Green wishes, Carol xo