Green Bean, Tomato, and Chickpea Salad

Ingredients

• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 1/2 pounds green beans, trimmed
• 3 wide strips lemon zest*, cut into thin matchsticks, plus 3 tablespoons lemon juice (from 1 large lemon)
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved, or 3 medium tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch wedges
• 1/4 small red onion, diced small
• 1 can (15.5 ounces) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 2 1/2 ounces feta, crumbled (1/2 cup)
• 2/3 cup roughly chopped fresh parsley leaves**

Directions

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook green beans until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Drain and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together lemon juice and oil. Stir in tomatoes, onion, chickpeas, and lemon zest. Add feta and parsley and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange green beans on a serving platter and top with tomato mixture.

*Note: I don't use "wide strips" of zest, I just zest the lemon and include it in the dressing.

**I like flat-leaf parsley the best!

Source: Everyday Food Magazine, June 2011