Description
A fresh and vibrant Mediterranean Chickpea Salad tossed with a zesty lemon vinaigrette, packed with crunchy vegetables, kalamata olives, and creamy feta cheese. Perfect as a light lunch or an easy side dish that bursts with bright flavors and wholesome ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cans (15 oz each) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 English cucumber, diced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
- ½ red onion, finely diced
- ¾ cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese (or dairy-free feta)
- ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
Lemon Vinaigrette
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey (or maple syrup)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Chickpeas: Drain and rinse chickpeas thoroughly under cold water to remove any canning residue, then pat dry with a clean towel or paper towels to prevent excess moisture in the salad.
- Chop Vegetables: Dice the English cucumber, red and yellow bell peppers, and red onion into bite-sized pieces. Halve the cherry tomatoes as well as the pitted kalamata olives to distribute flavor evenly.
- Chop Herbs: Finely chop fresh parsley and mint leaves to add fresh herbal notes to the salad.
- Make Lemon Vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, honey or maple syrup, dried oregano, and ground cumin. While whisking, slowly drizzle in extra virgin olive oil until the dressing emulsifies. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Combine Salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chickpeas, chopped vegetables, olives, and herbs. Pour the lemon vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to ensure everything is evenly coated.
- Add Feta Cheese and Garnish: Fold in the crumbled feta cheese delicately to preserve its texture. Garnish with additional fresh herbs if desired, then serve immediately or chill briefly before serving for enhanced flavor.
Notes
- For a dairy-free option, substitute feta cheese with dairy-free feta or omit entirely.
- You can prepare the salad a few hours in advance; keep refrigerated and add feta just before serving to maintain freshness.
- Adjust the amount of honey or maple syrup in the vinaigrette based on your preferred level of sweetness.
- Serve as a side dish or pair it with grilled meats for a complete Mediterranean-inspired meal.
