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Fresh Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

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A quick, fresh, and light Mediterranean chickpea salad with zesty lemon dressing, crisp veggies, and fresh herbs. Perfect for a nutritious meal or a crowd-pleasing side.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cans (15 oz / 425 g each) cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 medium cucumber, diced (skin on)
  • 1 cup (150 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ¼ small red onion, finely chopped
  • ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh mint, chopped (optional)
  • Juice of 1 large lemon (about 3 tablespoons / 45 ml), freshly squeezed
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • ½ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)

Instructions

  1. Drain and rinse the chickpeas under cold water using a colander. Let them drain thoroughly for about 2-3 minutes to avoid watery salad.
  2. Dice the cucumber into bite-sized pieces, halve the cherry tomatoes, and finely chop the red onion. Set aside.
  3. Roughly chop the parsley and mint leaves using scissors or a sharp knife.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained chickpeas, diced cucumber, halved tomatoes, chopped onion, and herbs. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss until evenly coated.
  6. If using, sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese on top and lightly mix.
  7. Let the salad rest at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Taste and adjust salt or lemon juice before serving.

Notes

Drain chickpeas well to avoid watery salad. Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for best flavor. Gently toss to keep chickpeas intact and veggies crisp. Let salad rest 10-15 minutes for flavors to meld. Adjust salt and lemon juice before serving. For dairy-free, omit feta or use vegan cheese alternative.

Nutrition

Keywords: Mediterranean chickpea salad, fresh chickpea salad, easy chickpea salad, healthy salad, vegetarian salad, gluten-free salad, lemon chickpea salad

Find it online: https://yumnode.com/fresh-mediterranean-chickpea-salad-recipe-5-easy-steps-for-zesty-flavors/