By Heidi Sutton

With spring and warmer weather comes salad season, offering a perfect canvas for creating refreshing meals centered around tasty greens, juicy tomatoes and chickpeas. A rich source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, chickpeas are high in protein and makes an excellent replacement for meat in many vegetarian and vegan dishes. Give your salads an update and create tasty meals fit for the season like this Chimichurri Chickpea Salad and Mediterranean Orzo Salad, courtesy of Culinary.net.

Chimichurri Chickpea Salad

YIELD: Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS: 

1 cup fresh cilantro

2/3 cup fresh parsley

2 tablespoons dried oregano

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

2/3 cup olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 can (14 1/2 ounces) chickpeas, drained

1 bag baby kale mix

1  cup cherry tomatoes, diced

1 medium avocado, diced

4 tablespoons Avocado Ranch Dressing

DIRECTIONS:

In food processor, combine cilantro, parsley, oregano, garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Pulse until sauce is smooth. 

Place chimichurri sauce in small bowl with chickpeas; toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight, if possible. 

Divide kale, tomatoes and avocado between four bowls. Top each bowl evenly with marinated chickpeas. Drizzle with avocado ranch dressing and serve.

Mediterranean Orzo Salad

YIELD: Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS: 

2 cups cooked orzo

2 mini cucumbers, thinly sliced

3/4 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered

1/2 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup arugula

1/4 cup pitted Kalamata and green olives, cut in half

1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

1/3 cup Garlic Vinaigrette & Marinade, plus additional for serving (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

In large bowl, combine orzo, cucumbers, tomatoes, chickpeas, arugula, olives and feta cheese. Toss with vinaigrette. Serve with additional vinaigrette, if desired.