Description
A refreshing and vibrant Chickpea Salad bursting with Mediterranean flavors. This nutritious salad combines protein-rich chickpeas with fresh vegetables, herbs, and a zesty lemon dressing, making it perfect for a light lunch or a healthy side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Salad
- 3 cups cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups mixed yellow and red grape tomatoes, halved
- ½ English cucumber, diced
- ½ cup pickled red onions
- ½ cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
- ¼ cup chopped fresh dill
- ¼ cup chopped fresh mint, plus whole mint leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, grated garlic, Dijon mustard, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper until well combined and emulsified.
- Add the main ingredients: Add the cooked chickpeas, halved grape tomatoes, diced cucumber, pickled red onions, and halved kalamata olives to the bowl with the dressing. Toss gently to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Add fresh herbs: Incorporate the chopped fresh parsley, dill, and mint into the salad. Toss again carefully to distribute the herbs throughout the mixture.
- Season and garnish: Taste the salad and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with whole fresh mint leaves for an aromatic finishing touch.
- Serve: Serve immediately or chill for 15-20 minutes to enhance flavor melding before serving. Enjoy this salad as a light meal or as a side to your favorite dishes.
Notes
- You can use canned chickpeas to save time; just rinse and drain them thoroughly before use.
- For a vegan version, this recipe is already suitable as it contains no animal products.
- Pickled red onions add a tangy crunch—if unavailable, substitute with thinly sliced red onions soaked in lemon juice or vinegar.
- This salad is best served fresh but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Adjust the herbs and seasoning according to personal taste preferences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: Chickpea Salad, Mediterranean Salad, Vegan Salad, Healthy Salad, No-Cook Salad, Chickpeas, Fresh Herbs, Easy Salad
