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Fresh Mediterranean Chickpea Salad with Zesty Lemon Dressing

Mediterranean chickpea salad - featured image
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A quick, refreshing Mediterranean chickpea salad featuring crisp veggies and a bright, zesty lemon dressing. Perfect for lunches, potlucks, or light dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cans (15 oz / 425 g each) cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 large English cucumber, diced
  • 1 cup (150 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion (optional)
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint (optional)
  • 1/2 cup pitted and sliced Kalamata olives
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional, use dairy-free for vegan)
  • Juice of 2 large lemons (about 1/4 cup / 60 ml)
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Rinse and drain chickpeas thoroughly to remove canned taste.
  2. Dice cucumber into bite-sized pieces, halve cherry tomatoes, finely chop red onion, parsley, and mint, slice olives, and crumble feta if using.
  3. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, and honey or maple syrup until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes, onion, parsley, mint, and olives.
  5. Pour the lemon dressing over the salad and gently toss to coat evenly.
  6. Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese on top and give the salad one last gentle toss.
  7. Optionally, let the salad rest for 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld before serving.

Notes

Always rinse canned chickpeas to remove metallic taste and excess sodium. Add dressing gradually to avoid sogginess. Letting the salad rest for 10 minutes enhances flavor melding. Use freshest produce possible. For vegan version, omit feta or use plant-based cheese. Variations include adding grilled protein, red pepper flakes for heat, or seasonal veggies.

Nutrition

Keywords: Mediterranean chickpea salad, lemon dressing, healthy salad, quick salad, vegan salad, gluten-free salad, easy lunch, potluck recipe

Find it online: https://wigglebite.com/fresh-mediterranean-chickpea-salad-recipe-easy-zesty-lemon-dressing-guide/