Chickpeas are a staple of Moroccan cuisine. Find it in dips, tagines, and couscous. And chickpeas make for a delicious and hearty salad, like this Moroccan Corn Chickpea Salad.
The Food N’ Flix pick this month was actually a movie I had never heard about. Usually I always know the movie or have seen it before. So I was really looking forward to watching Secondhand Lions. My recipe inspiration came from the old stories of times past spent in North Africa, probably mostly Morocco. Enjoy a serving of this Moroccan Corn Chickpea Salad as I tell you more about the movie.
How many secondhand lions does it take to shoot a salesman?
Have you seen or heard for the movie Secondhand Lions? I had not. It was cute but it is more of a family movie…and I am a single, urban, paint-the-town-red kinda gal. It was released in 2003 and stars Michael Caine, Robert Duvall, and Haley Joel Osment.
Set in the 50s, a young boy is sent to spend some time with his two recluse uncles in deep Texas. Now the boy’s mom would win a prize as the worst mother of the year even by today’s standards. The boy does not want to be with these estranged uncles at first but a bond forms between them all quite quickly. One daily entertainment is all the salesmen that come and try to sell or swindle the old lions from a supposed fortune they own. Some say the uncles robbed Al Capone, they say the got it from Sheik in North Africa.
Well, these traveling salesmen usually get welcomed with a shot or two from a riffle. But the boy convinces them to enjoy some of their fortunes. So fun things are bought, including seed for a garden of many vegetables that turned out to be only corn. Oh and the also buy a pet lion! is the fortune real? And was it a robbery or a real gift from Morocco. And how is the lion involved in the story? Watch the movie to find out!
More corn recipes:
- Crispy Corn
- Esquites, Mexican street corn in a cup
- Summer Corn Cakes
Mysterious Morocco!
Food sightings from the movie: I was actually not that good at paying full attention this time so here is what I did note. There was lemon iced tea, scrambled eggs and sausage, mentions of Morocco and Shanghai, root beer, garden vegetables, bok choi, LOTS of corn, and lion chow food – like that is even a real thing.
I decided to go with a Moroccan dish, a nice light summer salad with makes for a great meal on a hot summer day. But I also wanted to add quite a bit of corn to it as it was so present in the movie. This Moroccan Corn Chickpea Salad is quick to make but the salad does benefit from some rest time so the flavors have time to mingle. So give it at minimum 30 minutes to rest if not a few hours. You could even leave this Moroccan chickpea salad overnight.
Food ‘n Flix is hosted this month by Courtney at Fictional Fare! In this monthly group, a host picks a movie of their choice that pertains to food. Everyone watches the movie and then makes a recipe which the film inspired. It can be any recipe you want. Join us!
Moroccan Corn Chickpea Salad
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest and 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
- 1.5 tablespoons honey
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 14 ounces corn fresh and/or canned
- 2 ounces carrots grated or ribboned
- 1/3 cup currants
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds toasted
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint and/or cilantro
- 1 15- ounce can chickpeas rinsed and drained
- 2 tablespoons finely minced shallots
- 1 garlic clove minced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Place the almonds on an aluminium foil and bake for about 5 minutes, or until golden.
- Prepare the dressing by whisking the first 10 ingredients in a bowl large enough for the entire salad.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the salad bowl and toss very well. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes or up to overnight.
- Adjust seasoning if necessary and garnish with fresh chopped herbs before serving.
Check out more Moroccan recipes here:
Pin in HERE for later!
I love that you added corn to this salad, it truly does look fabulous!
Thank you so much Colleen!
This salad looks great Evelyne…..fits the film perfectly.
Thank you so much Wendy 🙂
I always forget about chickpeas and this recipe looks amazeballs, will have to have a crack at it. I’m a sucka for a good family flick so I think I’d love the movie – wonder if it’s on Netflix.
I am the same, never think of chickpeas that much but they are perfect here. Hope oyu find the film (not on Canadian Netflix)
I love this recipe, and the movie sounds great. I am a huge fan of chickpeas and find it sad that I don’t tend to cook with them enough.
I know, so many beans, so little time lol. I tend to forget to include them more in my meals. Hope you try the salad soon…and see the movie.
This is a hefty salad, definitely a full meal for me. Looks to healthy delicious
Thanks Raymond, it is definitely a full meal on itself in larger portion.
I still have to work out what I am going to make for this round. I thought the movie was cute and I love Robert Duvall. I was most taken with the cartoonist! 🙂
I think you did a fantastic job with an inspired dish—the Moroccan angle along with the corn. I bet it is delicious!!!
Ha ha yes I’ll give you the cartoonist 🙂 Thank you glad you like the salad. Can’t wait to see what you will make!.
I love chick pea dishes, and it’s a great choice to base your Morocco-inspired salad around. I loved the food we ate in Morocco, especially some of their tagines. Not seen the film!
Oh you are so lucky Kavey to have gone to Morocco! I am a big fan of tagines too, more than couscous.
I always on the look out for recipes for chickpeas! And, I love almost anything with cumin. Thanks!
Thanks Lara…and I am a big cumin fan too 🙂
I love chickpeas and eat them a couple of times a week. Your recipe is yummy and certainly an interesting twist to the way that I prepare them. I’ll have to try this version. Morroco is on my list of places to explore the food and this salad will allow me to “taste it” before I get there. Love your movie themes, by the way 🙂
Thank you Rosemary and wow you are an avid chickpea gal for sure lol. If you want a closer Moroccan flavor I would up the spices a bit, this is a bit North Americanized. You should join FoodnFilx, no monthly obligation to participate.
Morocco has been on my BUCKET LIST for a long while. I am not even sure why exactly. Ha! But I do love me some chick peas although I cannot eat too many of them, or very often, or my stomach will…. Well, pretty much do what it’s doing to be right now – MURDER ME! hahahaha!
Ha it’s on my bucket list too and not sure why either. Ya you can eat a little bit of chickpeas? Well swap em out with more VEGGIES so you DON’T DIE ON ME! lol
Yes, I did see that movie. 🙂 This looks so tasty. I love the ribbons of carrots running through it. So many of my favorite ingredients. Yum! AND CURRANTS!!
Yay we have a vote for currants, it really does bring out the Moroccan flavor. Yeah the ribbons are fun. And you saw the movie. Seems not many have.
What a flavorful salad. I like it so much but I haven’t heard of this movie before. Pinned.
Thank you Amira for the comment and pin 🙂
I don’t recall that movie at all. Obviously haven’t seen it, but I’m not sure if I ever heard of it. Anyway, love North African food, Moroccan in particular. So much fun to play with spices when you make a Moroccan-inspired dish. And they eat TONS of salads in Morocco. This looks terrific — thanks.
Oh skip the movie in my opinion 😉 But the salad is fab. Next time I would even up all the spices. Thansk John!
This Moroccan salad sounds delightful. It’s so easy to get fresh corn right now, and I’m currently obsessed with chickpeas. So, I guess that means I need to try this recipe ASAP. 😉
LOL well yes you must make this Erin. I cut the corn right off the cob with a knife.
Food and Flix sounds so fun and you’re so observant! I’ve never thought of the food mentioned in movies before. I have watched Secondhand Lions, several times. It’s such a good movie and your Moroccan Corn Chickpea Salad sounds like the perfect compliment.
Thank you Tonya, it is a great group thta has been going strong for years. We really watch the movie lookgin for food lol. Glad you like the salad!
This is a great looking recipe – I love chickpeas! I’ve been making a lot of salads lately and this will be a perfect addition. I might use roasted corn, I love the way it tastes off the grill.
Oh roasted corn is a great idea Danielle!
Oh, this salad sounds incredible – love all those awesome flavors and textures. I’m looking forward to watching this movie again for recipe inspiration!
Thanks Heather, it is agreat summer meal salad for sure!
It’s such a beautiful salad bursting with flavour. We are big fans of chickpeas at home and I can’t wait to make this.
Thank you so much…it’s good for winter too 😉
How fun matching food to s movie new concept for me!
Thanks Cindy it’s a monthly group we have a blast.
I would enjoy this without the currants. It’s another movie I’ve never heard of.
Thanks Tandy yeah currant and yay or nay for some. Maybe dried cranberries?
I’ve never heard of that film too (although that’s not surprising given me). The salad looks wonderful. Morocco is on my bucket list! 😀
Yeah that movie you can skip (my bad) but the salad makes up for it. Great when are we leaving for Morocco lol? 😀
Never heard of this movie before but it does sound intriging. Love love everything about this moroccan salad though, looks fabulous!
Thanks Cheri. The salad is definitely much better than the movie lol.
This recipe sounds so yummy! I love using cinnamon in savory dishes. Yeah the movie is definitely rather kid-oriented, so maybe not everyone’s cup of tea 😉 Thanks for giving it a shot, though!
Thanks Courtney for hosting and I like seeing movies out of my realm too 🙂 Yes cinnamon is awesome, glad you like the salad.
I love chickpeas too! In fact, we had a lamb, sweet potato and chickpea moroccan stew for dinner last night! I’ve not heard of this film, will have to google it!
Oh sound sliek you had an awesome dinner. Keep in my, very family kid oriented film 🙂
I saw this movie with my kids way back when. I agree that it didn’t keep my attention, but their standards were much lower! The salad that it inspired sounds wonderful 🙂
Ha ha ha Liz I feel better knowing I am not alone in my comments. Yes the salad will keep your attention though lol.
This is my ideal everyday meal, Evelyne. Both chickpea and corn are my favourite.
Thank you Angie, it does sound like a salad one would find on your blog lol.
I bet this is good if there’s leftovers for lunch the next day, great colours and flavours!
Yes it is good for a few days…I made a full batch and stuill workign on it being alone lol.