Ultimate Quick Vegetarian/Vegan Chick pea Salad

Okay, chick peas are my favorite. As is cilantro. As are pomegranates. And cucumbers. And salads. Basically, this checked all the boxes, and it has all the good stuff. AND it's beautiful. So, it was the perfect accompaniment to cauliflower and mashed potatoes the other night (seriously, best night for a vegetarian surrounded by omnivores).

So, I wanted chickpeas and decided to throw this together.

Two cans chick peas, rinsed

Half an english cucumber, diced small (peel if necessary but I never do)

One roma tomato, diced small, seeds removed if you wish (I did but honestly could have used a bit more liquid, I just find it changes the texture of the whole salad, and wanted this salsa-like)

One small red onion, diced small

Generous handful cilantro, chopped

Drizzle olive oil

Approx. 1 tbsp vinegar (whatever kind you like)

Red pepper flakes (optional, couple tsps)

Dill/mint (generous, to your liking)

Garlic powder (again, to your liking)

Generous grinding of black pepper

Toss it all together

And then I got excited and added pomegranate seeds but all were not fans, I like the crunch and I'm obsessed with pomegranates so I'd keep 'em

Optional-feta crumbled on

*could really use (but didn't have on hand)--green/red bell pepper

Even better when it sits around

And then eat all of it.