Chickpea Salad Recipe

This chickpea salad is a Mediterranean-style wholesome, vegetarian salad. However, it is not an ordinary salad – it is a flavor bomb packed with a lot of crunch and freshness. I am sure you are going to love it!

This is a truly Mediterranean-style salad with all my favorite things – Chickpeas (chana), Vegetables, Olives, Fresh Herbs, and a flavorsome homemade dressing.

I bet it is not going to disappoint the SALAD Lover in you.

Here are a few reasons to LOVE this salad recipe

meal prep friendly

vegetarian and gluten-free

high protein plant-based salad

healthy, wholesome, and fulfilling

possible vegan (skip the cheese)

perfect for the lunchbox, picnic, potluck, or mezze platter

Ingredients Required

Chickpeas: You need boiled/cooked chickpeas for this salad. Use either canned chickpeas (minus the liquid) or boil them from scratch at home.

Vegetables: Onion, Cucumber, Red Bell Pepper, Yellow Bell Pepper

Optional Add-Ons: Olives, Feta Cheese

Fresh Herbs: Cilantro or Coriander Leaves, Parsley

Salad Dressing: Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Dijon Mustard, Salt, Pepper, Garlic

How To Make

Step 1) Get your chickpeas (canned or freshly boiled) ready by draining all the liquid from them. Let them sit on a strainer for a few minutes. If they are hot/warm, allow them to cool down completely before adding to a salad.

Step 2) Mix chickpeas, vegetables, olives, and herbs in a salad bowl.

Step 3) Add all the ingredients for dressing/vinaigrette to a bottle. Close the lid. Shake to emulsify oil and lemon juice.

Step 4) Pour dressing over the salad. Toss gently. Sprinkle feta cheese. And chickpea salad is ready!

What goes well with chickpeas in a salad?

Here are a few ingredients that taste delicious in a chickpea salad:

• Capers
• Pomegranate
• Ripe Avocado
• Colorful Olives
• Cherry Tomato
• Roasted Peppers
• Fresh Sweet Basil
• Walnuts or Pistachio
• Spices – Cumin Powder, Za’tar, Smoked Paprika

…the possibilities are endless!

How do you make a good chickpea salad?

Follow these tried and true tips of mine to make a good chickpea salad.

Tip #1: DON’T BE STINGY when it comes to vegetables in a salad. Add as many colorful vegetables as you want.

Tip #2: ADD FLAVOUR TO CHICKPEAS. If you are boiling them from scratch, add garlic, bay leaf, salt, and olive oil while boiling them in water for extra flavor. If you are using canned chickpeas, coat them in a dry spice mix of – cumin powder, paprika, and za’atar.

Tip #3: PLAY WITH TEXTURES by adding nuts, olives, cheese, capers, or pomegranate to your chickpea salad.

Tip #4: MAKE IT A FEW HOURS BEFORE so that chickpeas absorb all the flavor of the dressing.

Tip #5: KEEP THE DRESSING SIMPLE. A simple olive oil lemon vinaigrette adds great flavor to the salad. You can get creative and pick from my 6 salad dressings recipes or the Indian-style green goddess salad dressing.

More Salad Recipes

Lentil Salad

Mixed Beans Salad

Crispy Noodle Salad

Creamy Macaroni Salad

Mung Bean Sprout Salad

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