This delectable Chickpea Salad combines many of your favorite Mediterranean flavors like cucumbers, kalamata olives, tomatoes, red onions ,and feta cheese in a light lemon vinaigrette. It comes together in less than ten minutes and is packed full of natures healthy goodness. I love to serve this side dish with Grilled Marinated Chicken and Smoked Salmon Patties with Dill Mayonnaise.
This Zucchini Chickpea Avocado Salad is so simple and amazingly delicious! It is full of heart-healthy veggies so its nutritional value is high. Eating chickpeas provides you with a vegetarian-friendly source of protein, with each cup of cooked garbanzo beans containing 15 grams of protein. Cucumbers, red onions, and tomatoes provide a good healthy helping of fiber. While feta is low in calories and fat yet high in calcium.
How do you make Chickpea Salad?
First in a small bowl whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper. You could also shake the ingredients together in a mason jar with a lid. Next in a large bowl combine the garbanzo beans (chickpeas), cucumber, grape tomatoes, bell pepper, kalamata olives, red onions, and feta cheese. Finally, drizzle with lime vinaigrette and sprinkle with parsley or other fresh herbs. Toss to coat and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Recipe tips
- Drain and rinse the chickpeas well.
- Taste before seasoning with salt and pepper as kalamata olives and feta cheese are salty.
- If you know you are going to reserve part of this recipe for leftovers then hold off blending the feta cheese in the reserved portion until you are ready to serve.
- You can use any colored bell pepper although the red and orange are slightly sweeter than the green bell peppers.
- Use a good quality feta cheese and the freshest vegetables you can get your hands on (preferably organic).
- To make this salad vegan friendly simply omit the feta cheese.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
Recipe flavor variations
- Add diced avocado for a little healthy fat. Just remember to spritz them with a little lemon to keep them from turning brown.
- Fresh homegrown sun-ripened tomatoes are always the best choice when they are available.
- Sprinkle on 1/4 cup shelled salted or unsalted sunflower seeds for a little boost in nutrients and vitamins.
- Add a couple of ribs of chopped celery for a little bit of crispy crunchy low-calorie vegetables.
- Serve between two slices of bread for a chickpea salad sandwich or for a low-carb version serve in lettuce cups.
Other Mediterranean recipes you will love!
Easy Chickpea Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 pinches crushed red pepper
- 1 can 15.5 ounce garbanzo beans drained and rinsed
- 1/2 English cucumber chopped about 1 1/2 - 2 cups
- 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes sliced in half
- 1/2 orange or bell pepper diced
- 2/3 cup kalamata olives
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion
- 2/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl whisk lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper.
- In a large serving bowl combine garbanzo beans (chickpeas), cucumber, grape tomatoes, bell pepper, kalamata olives, red onions, and feta cheese. Drizzle with the lemon vinaigrette, sprinkle with parsley, and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Notes
- Drain and rinse the chickpeas well.
- Taste before seasoning with salt and pepper as kalamata olives and feta cheese are salty.
- If you know you are going to reserve part of this recipe for leftovers then hold off blending the feta cheese in the reserved portion until you are ready to serve.
- You can use any colored bell pepper although the red and orange are slightly sweeter than the green bell peppers.
- Use a good quality feta cheese and the freshest vegetables you can get your hands on (preferably organic).
- To make this salad vegan friendly simply omit the feta cheese.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
Nutrition
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This post was originally published on July 9, 2016, and was republished on April 6, 2020, with new pictures, new content, and a new and improved recipe.
https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Brianne
I do my best to live as healthily as possible, and I’m always looking for recipes that are full of flavor but that are also good for me. I can’t wait to try this one.
Leanne Wong
All of the flavors in this recipe are so delicious! It’s so pretty, too. I love all the colors.
Colleen
I love recipes like this that are so healthy AND full of flavor. I can’t wait to try this one.
Beth L
Why have I never heard of this recipe before today! Looks absolutely delish. Will be making this for lunch this coming week for sure.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Beth! Enjoy!!
Bridget Larsen
How much chickpea should we use
Beth Pierce
About 1 3/4 cups
LR
Could you use just regular black olives? I am not a fan of feta cheese. Would some grated parmesean work? Thanks
Beth Pierce
Yes both would be fine! Enjoy!!
Peggy
This looks delicious! Q – Twice you mention “lime” vinaigrette but the dressing calls for lemon. Is this your way of saying you can use either lemon or lime? 😉
Beth Pierce
I will have to fix that but yes you can use lime or lemon. Thanks for the heads up! 😉
Heather
This sounds great but the title says Zucchin, but it’s not mentioned anywhere in the ingredients or in rest of the instructions.
Beth Pierce
The url includes the word zucchini. I reworked this recipe from its original and the new recipe does not include zucchini.
Laura Reese
This has so many of my favorite things! The feta cheese and veggies are so delicious.
Betsy
Super delicious! I LOVE all the colors in here! And these are some of my absolute all time favorite flavors! I’m a huge sucker for kalamatas and feta cheese…especially if there’s cucumbers, lemon, and olive oil involved! So delicious!
Lily
This salad is so delicious, I have never seen a salad disappear this fast.
Haley D Williams
This is an awesome lunch option! I have to make it! I love a good recipe with avocados in it!
katerina
Now, this is totally my kind of salad!! I would love this for lunch!! YUM!
Erin
This Chickpea Salad looks incredibly delicious!
Catalina
I love chickpea salads and I will definitely try your recipe!
Vikki
Such a bright and fresh salad! I love the chickpeas!
Sara Welch
Loved all the flavors in this salad; light, yet filling and hands down delicious! Looking forward to enjoying this again tomorrow, for lunch!