green bean and tomato salad

This has been my go to salad this summer.  I have made it many times.  Sometimes I've simplified things or added a few extras.  But the basics remained the same.  Green beans, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, chickpeas and lemon vinaigrette.  I will be sad when these ingredients disappear from our markets.

Green Bean and Tomato Salad

1 1/2 pounds green beans, trimmed and cut into pieces
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped (can also substitute green onion)
1-11/2 cups crumbled feta cheese

Lemon Vinaigrette

juice of a lemon
1 Tablespoon dijon mustard
extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Blanch the green beans until just tender.  Drain and quickly cool in ice cold water.  Drain again.

In a large bowl, prepare the lemon vinaigrette.  Combine the lemon juice with the dijon mustard.  Slowly drizzle in enough olive oil to make a dressing.  Season with salt and pepper.  Toss in the beans, tomatoes, chickpeas and red onion.  Mix to distribute the dressing.  Add the feta cheese, stirring carefully.  Enjoy!