Why the Simplest Recipes Are Still Worthwhile

If the grocery store isn't your favorite place, it should be. We're sleuthing for the best back-of-the-box recipes and each week we'll share our latest find. 

Today: The dinnertime antidote for tired, uninspired days. 

This isn’t a complicated recipe: A handful of fresh, crunchy vegetables and a can of nutty chickpeas are brightened up with very good balsamic vinegar, some herbs, and a hit of garlic powder. You’ve probably made something like it before, and I wouldn’t call it brilliant or surprising.

But I would argue that there is a real place for it in your cooking repertoire. I like having a set of recipes to reach for when I’m tired or uninspired or indecisive, and this is a perfect one. Healthy, fresh, and extremely quick, it’s a simple solution for a stress-free, satisfying dinner. Simple little recipes like this one remind me how easy it is to marshal a few pantry ingredients into a satisfying meal—the rubric of ingredients and quantities means you can make dinner on autopilot if need be. 

More: Eat chickpeas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert!

You can also easily tailor this salad to your mood: Spice it up with hot sauce or swap the balsamic for sesame oil and soy sauce. If you’re hungry, top it with chicken or a poached egg. I like to add crumbled ricotta salata to bulk it up and to cool the tang of the vinegar. Without fanfare, this salad anchors you to the stability of a recipe, but also acts as a jumping-off point for your creative whims.

Quick Balsamic Chickpea Salad

Adapted from Goya Foods

Serves 2 (or 1 hungry person)

15 1/2 ounces chickpeas (1 can), drained and rinsed
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 medium cucumber, diced
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon oregano
1 tablespoon very good balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
Pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup crumbled ricotta salata cheese (optional)

See the full recipe (and save and print it) here.

Do you have a favorite back of the box recipe, or have you heard about a great one? Leave any suggestions in the comments, and I'll try them out and share them here!

Photos by Posie Harwood