Pasta Salad with Sausage and Chickpeas 

Total time: 25 minutes
    Chickpeas and Feta add a Mediterranean touch to this salad.  You could as easily use grilled chicken breasts, or leave the meat out altogether for a vegetarian version.

 Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cup (4.2oz, 125gr) pasta, rigatoni, penne
• 8oz (240gr) sausages, any flavor - Italian, Bratwurst, Duck with Olives
• 1 3/4 cup (15oz, 450gr) chickpeas, garbanzo beans
• 3oz (9gr) feta cheese
• 1/2 cup (3oz, 90gr) cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 red or green bell pepper
• 2 tbs fresh snipped chives or garlic chives   substitute 1 tbs dried
• 2 tbs fresh snipped marjoram    substitute 2 tsp dried
• 2 tsp soy sauce
• 2 tsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tbs olive oil
• Vinaigrette:
• 2 tbs red wine vinegar
• 2 tsp soy sauce
• 3 tbs salad olive oil
• 1 tsp ketchup

 Instructions:

• Cook pasta according to package instructions.  Drain.
• Cut pepper into strips. 
• Cut cherry tomatoes in half. 
• Drain and rinse chickpeas. 
• Heat oil, vinegar and soy sauce in skillet. 
• Add pepper, sauté 5 minutes.
• Add chickpeas, tomatoes, and heat through.  Set aside.
• Crumble feta. 
• Snip herbs. 
• Cook sausages on barbecue grill or sauté in nonstick skillet, before doing peppers, etc., on stove until done.  
• Remove sausages and slice into 1 1/2" (4cm) lengths. 
• Vinaigrette:
• Put all ingredients in small bowl and whisk well to combine.
• To assemble:
• Put drained pasta in large salad bowl.
• Add vegetables and vinaigrette, and toss well to combine.  
• Add sausage to pasta along with feta and herbs. Toss gently and serve.