Toasted Pita Bowl Salad

An alternative to our favorite Mexican indulgence – stuffed fried tortilla bowl.  This is a healthier Middle Eastern treat with a toasted pita in the shape of a bowl.  Great flavor without the deep frying filled with vegetables and nutritious chickpeas.

Ingredients

• 2 Pitas
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 Teaspoon za’atar
• 1 Cup baby spinach (or other salad green)
• 2 Tomatoes, seeded and diced
• 1/4 Red onion, peeled and sliced
• 1/2 English (seedless) cucumber, thinly sliced
• 1 Cup za’atar roasted chickpeas (recipe follows)
• 1/4 Cup tahini za’atar vinaigrette (recipe follows)

Za’atar Roasted Chickpeas

• 1 Cup chickpeas (canned is fine but drained and rinsed)
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 Teaspoon za’atar

Tahini Za’atar Vinaigrette

• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 Tablespoon prepared tahini sauce
• 1/2 Teaspoon za’atar

Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.

Preparation

In a small bowl, toss the chickpeas with the tablespoon of olive oil and the 1/2 teaspoon of za’atar. Spread out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. You can make the pita bowls at the same time.

Rub both pitas with the tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle evenly with the 1/2 teaspoon of za’atar. Microwave for 20 seconds to make them pliable. To form the bowl, drape them over a small, oven safe bowl or even the back of a muffin tin cup.

If you have nothing like that, you can also form balls out of aluminum foil and drape the pitas over them. Bake both the chickpeas and pitas for 12 minutes.

While the pita and chickpeas are in the oven, make the dressing by whisking together the olive oil, lemon juice, tahini and za’atar.

When the pita bowls have cooled off enough to handle, assemble the salads by adding equal amounts of the baby spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion and roasted chickpeas to each pita bowl. Top with the vinaigrette.

source:: http://mideastfood.about.com/od/middleeasternfood101/r/Toasted-Pita-Bowl-Salad.htm