Description
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette: The Best Summer Dish is a vibrant and refreshing addition to any summer gathering. This no-cook salad features protein-rich chickpeas combined with crisp vegetables, fresh herbs, and a zesty lemon vinaigrette that awakens your taste buds. Perfect for picnics, barbecues, or light lunches, this dish is both nutritious and easy to prepare in just 20 minutes. Customize it with seasonal produce or dietary preferences, making it a versatile option for everyone at the table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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
- 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 pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse chickpeas under cold water and pat dry.
- Dice the cucumber, bell peppers, and onion into bite-sized pieces. Halve the cherry tomatoes and olives.
- Chop fresh parsley and mint.
- In a bowl, whisk together lemon juice, garlic, mustard, honey, oregano, cumin, olive oil until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper.
- Combine chickpeas, vegetables, olives, and herbs in a large mixing bowl. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently.
- Fold in feta cheese just before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: None
- Category: Salad
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (220g)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 430mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: To enhance flavor, let the salad chill for at least 30 minutes before serving. Feel free to add extra protein like grilled chicken or shrimp for a heartier dish.