Name: Grilled Vegetable, Chickpea & Caper Salad {Vegan}
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 red bell pepper (quartered); 2 medium zucchini (cut into 1/2-inch thick strips); 1 medium summer squash (cut into 1/2-inch thick strips); 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper; 1 cup low-sodium chickpeas (drained); 1 tablespoon drained capers; 6 basil leaves (thinly sliced); 2 1/2 teaspoons white wine vinegar; 1/2 teaspoon minced shallots; 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 1/8 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper; 2 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

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Grill up some vegetables and toss them with chickpeas, capers and a Dijon vinaigrette for a delicious vegan entree or side dish.

I always say that if you're trying to convince someone to like vegetables, just throw the veggies on the grill and drizzle with a little vinaigrette. Magic in minutes! And, in my opinion, the vegetables are usually just as good when they cool to room temperature as when they are served straight off of the grill, which makes them ideal for make-ahead potluck dishes or weekday meals.

If you're looking for a meatless meal, this salad will do the trick. It's chockfull of vegetables, with a hit of protein from the chickpeas. If chickpeas aren't your thing, you could replace them with cannellini beans or grilled tofu.

The dressing is stolen straight from my Roasted Asparagus with Dijon Vinaigrette recipe. Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I was looking for an extra layer of saltiness and flavor, and thought about sprinkling in some feta cheese. However, since I had just devoured a plateful of cheese and crackers for a snack, I thought it best to veer away from the cheese (that's a hard one for me!) Instead, I added some briny capers, which satisfied the need for additional salt.

The beauty of salads like this one is that they are incredibly versatile. If you don't have summer squash, increase the amount of zucchini or replace it with eggplant. Mix it up a little by switching out the red peppers for yellow or orange ones. Just use whatever is in your fridge and grill to your heart's content.

Other healthy grilled vegetable recipes:

Grilled Zucchini & Eggplant Parmesan
Grilled Vegetable Enchiladas {Gluten-Free}