Mediterranean Chickpea Salad Recipe
A refreshing and vibrant Mediterranean Chickpea Salad packed with crunchy cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, tangy feta cheese, and flavorful herbs, all tossed in a zesty homemade dressing. Perfect as a light lunch, side dish, or healthy snack, this salad is easy to prepare and bursting with Mediterranean flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 15 ounces chickpeas, drained and rinsed (about 1 ½ cups)
- 1 cucumber, peeled and diced
- ½ cup red onion, finely diced
- 1 pint baby tomatoes, halved
- 6 ounces kalamata olives, drained and rinsed
- 6 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
Dressing Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons honey
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the red wine vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, dried oregano, ground cumin, sea salt, and black pepper until well combined and emulsified.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the drained chickpeas, diced cucumber, finely diced red onion, halved baby tomatoes, kalamata olives, crumbled feta cheese (reserve 1-2 tablespoons for garnish), fresh parsley, fresh cilantro, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Ensure all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Toss with dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture and gently stir until the salad is fully coated with the dressing.
- Chill the salad: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Garnish and serve: Before serving, garnish the salad with the reserved feta cheese, extra fresh herbs like dill if desired, and a few olives. Serve the salad cold as a refreshing dish.
Notes
- For extra crunch, add chopped bell peppers or toasted pine nuts to the salad.
- This salad tastes even better the next day as the flavors continue to develop.
- Use canned chickpeas if fresh chickpeas are unavailable; just be sure to drain and rinse them well.
- Adjust the amount of garlic and herbs according to your taste preference.
- Serve with warm pita bread or as a side to grilled meats for a complete Mediterranean meal.
Keywords: Mediterranean salad, chickpea salad, healthy salad, vegetarian salad, feta cheese salad, no-cook recipe
