Beans are nutrious, healthy, versatile, and make great salads.  Legumes and beans are an important part of a diabetic diet, especially garbanzo beans or chickpeas as they are sometimes called.  Below is a great recipe for a Garbanzo Bean Salad with a great yogurt dressing.  This salad is not your usual salad and is a perfect salad to serve your family and friends.  You will no doubt have many requests for your recipe.  This is a great salad choice for diabetics as well as anyone.  The other recipe is for a Bean and Bacon Salad.  This recipe is a salad featuring green beans and bacon.  It is also diabetic friendly with its use of boiled eggs, bacon, and healthy olive oil.  Both of these salads are sure to spark your interest and your taste buds.

GARBANZO BEAN SALAD

2 cups finely shredded carrot

1 1/2 cups thinly sliced bell pepper

1 1/2 cups chopped plum tomatoes

1/4 cup finely chopped red onion

2 cans (15 1/2-oz each) cans garbanzo beans, drained

12 cups salad greens

In a large bowl, combine carrots, bell pepper, tomatoes, onion, and beans.  Pour 1/2 cup of  Yogurt Dressing (recipe follows) over carrot mixture and toss gently to coat.  To serve place 2 cups of salad greens on a plate.  Drizzle greens with 1 tbsp of the yogurt dressing.  Top with 1 1/3 cups of the vegetable mixture.

YOGURT DRESSING:

1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 1/2 tsp curry powder

1/4 tsp salt, optional

1/2 tsp bottled minced garlic

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

8-oz plain fat-free yogurt

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients using a whisk.

BEAN AND BACON SALAD

2 cans (16 oz each) whole green beans, drained

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 cup vinegar

1/4 tsp salt, optional

1/4 tsp black pepper

4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped

1/4 cup light mayonnaise

1 tsp prepared mustard

2 tsp vinegar

dash of salt, optional

4 slices bacon, fried crisp and crumbled

paprika for garnish

Combine beans, onions, olive oil, 1/4 cup vinegar, 1/4 tsp salt, and pepper.  Toss mixture lightly; cover and refrigerate.

Mix eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, 2 tsp vinegar, and dash of salt.  Just before serving, drain chilled bean mixture, add the bacon and toss well.  Place each serving on a lettuce leaf. top with a spoonful of the egg mixture and sprinkle with paprika for garnish.

Yield:  6 servings

Enjoy!