This easy and healthy sumac shrimp & crispy chickpea salad with figs, beets and feta is the perfect light lunch or dinner.
With the recent explosion of Middle Eastern cuisine in downtown Toronto, I have become absolutely obsessed with recreating the flavours at home. Sumac, a staple Middle- Eastern spice, has become my new go-to seasoning. I put that s*it on everything- hummus, rice, vegetables, chicken, salad dressings and more- I’m admittedly obsessed. It has a bright, tart flavour similar to lemon zest, and it lends a deep reddish-purple speckle aesthetic to any dish. So beautiful and so delicious.
This recipe has a lot going on but I assure you its all working together nicely. The combination of crunchy chickpeas, nutty tahini, sweet figs, tart pickled beets, salty feta, spicy paprika and cooling fresh mint all come together in a harmonious and addictive bite. Bonus? It’s super low in fat, high in fibre and packed with tons of nutrients- just look at the gorgeous colours you’ve got on that plate!
You can easily make this recipe vegetarian if you would like to omit the shrimp- you could even make it vegan by leaving out the cheese or using a non-dairy product. It’s your lunch, so it’s totally your call- give it a try your style!
Have any of you tried using Sumac yet? If so, what are your favourite dishes to use it on?
Sumac Shrimp & Crispy Chickpea Salad with Figs, Beets, and Feta
Ingredients
Dressing:
- 1 tbsp tahini paste
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp water
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp honey
- Salt pepper and sumac to taste
Chickpeas:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 can chickpeas rinsed and dried
- pinches Generous of salt pepper and paprika
Shrimp:
- 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb shrimp shells and tails removed
- 1 pinch salt, paprika and sumac generous pinch of each
Salad:
- 6 cups Spring Mix lettuce
- 1/2 cup pickled beets sliced
- 1/4 cup mint leaves chiffonade
- 1/4 cup reduced fat feta crumbled
- 8 figs quartered
- 1 English cucumber halved, seeded and thinly sliced
Instructions
Dressing:
- To make the salad dressing, in a small bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients. Adjust seasonings, as necessary. Set aside.
Chickpea Topping:
- Preheat oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add the chickpeas and a generous pinch of salt, pepper and paprika. Saute until golden and crispy, shaking or stirring often, for about 6 minutes.
Shrimp:
- Preheat the oil in the nonstick skillet over high heat. Add the shrimp, along with a pinch of salt, paprika and sumac. Cook, flipping once, until shrimp are pink and curled- about 3-5 minutes.
Salad:
- In a large bowl, mix together the lettuce, cucumber, beets, figs, feta and mint.
- Divide the salad between four plates, top with the shrimp, chickpeas and the salad dressing.
Nutrition
Abbey Sharp is a Registered Dietitian (RD), regulated by the Ontario College of Dietitians. She is a mom, YouTuber, Blogger, award winning cookbook author, media coach specializing in food and nutrition influencers, and a frequent contributor to national publications like Healthline and on national broadcast TV shows.
Sara says
Now that’s a bird!
Abbey Sharp says
Thanks for including my post!