Description
This Mediterranean Chickpea Salad is a vibrant, fresh, and protein-packed dish perfect for a quick lunch or a light dinner. Combining creamy feta cheese, ripe grape tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, and flavorful black olives with a zesty lemon-olive oil dressing and aromatic herbs, this salad offers a delightful Mediterranean flavor profile. It’s easy to make in just 20 minutes, requires no cooking, and serves as a refreshing, nutritious option for warm days or anytime you want a wholesome meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 – 15 oz. cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 small red bell pepper, finely diced
- 4 small cocktail cucumbers, cut into ½-inch pieces
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- 4 oz. black olives, sliced
- 8 oz. feta cheese crumbles
- ¼ cup parsley, finely chopped
Dressing and Seasoning
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 3 Tbsp. good quality olive oil
- ½ tsp. dried oregano
- ½ tsp. dried basil
- ¼ tsp. onion powder
- ¼ tsp. dried thyme
- ¼ tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. salt (or to taste)
- ½ tsp. black pepper (or to taste)
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Add all the salad ingredients including chickpeas, grape tomatoes, red bell pepper, cucumbers, red onion, black olives, feta cheese, and parsley into a large mixing bowl.
- Make Greek Seasoning: In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, dried oregano, dried basil, onion powder, dried thyme, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to create the seasoning dressing.
- Toss Salad: Pour the Greek seasoning over the salad ingredients in the large bowl. Using salad tongs, toss gently but thoroughly until all the ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing and mixed well.
- Serve: Serve the Mediterranean Chickpea Salad immediately, garnished with additional fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy as a side dish or light main course.
Notes
- For best flavor, use fresh lemon juice and a high-quality extra virgin olive oil.
- This salad can be made a few hours ahead and stored in the refrigerator to allow flavors to meld, but add feta cheese just before serving to prevent it from getting soggy.
- Feel free to add chopped fresh mint or dill for extra herbal notes.
- Can be served chilled or at room temperature.
- For a vegan version, omit the feta cheese or use a plant-based cheese substitute.
