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Easy Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

Easy Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

A light, refreshing, and hearty chickpea salad packed with fresh vegetables and a zesty lemon-herb dressing. Perfect for a quick lunch or a side dish.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Lunch, Side Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 320

Ingredients
  

For the Salad
  • 15 oz canned chickpeas rinsed and drained
  • 1 English cucumber diced
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 1/2 red onion finely chopped
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1/2 cup Kalamata olives pitted and halved
  • 4 oz feta cheese crumbled, optional
For the Lemon Vinaigrette
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper freshly ground

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Prepare the vinaigrette: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until well combined and slightly emulsified.
  2. Prepare the vegetables: Dice the cucumber and red bell pepper. Halve the cherry tomatoes, finely chop the red onion, and halve the Kalamata olives.
  3. Combine the salad base: In a large mixing bowl, add the rinsed and drained chickpeas, diced cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, tomatoes, and olives.
  4. Dress the salad: Pour the prepared lemon vinaigrette over the chickpea and vegetable mixture. Toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
  5. Incorporate feta and rest (optional): Gently fold in the crumbled feta cheese. For best flavor, cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
  6. Serve chilled or at room temperature. Adjust seasoning (salt/pepper) if necessary before serving.

Notes

This salad holds up very well in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, making it excellent for meal prepping. Do not add the feta until just before serving if preparing more than one day ahead.
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