🥗 Mediterranean Chickpea Salad with Lemon-Herb Dressing
Introduction
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad is a vibrant, healthy, and protein-rich dish that’s bursting with fresh flavors and colorful vegetables. It’s perfect as a light lunch, a side dish for grilled meats, or even a wholesome dinner. The combination of chickpeas, crisp veggies, tangy feta, and a zesty lemon-herb dressing makes this salad refreshing and satisfying. Best of all, it takes only about 15 minutes to prepare — no cooking required!
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 2 cups cooked or canned chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- ½ cup red onion, finely chopped
- ½ cup red bell pepper, diced
- ¼ cup Kalamata olives, sliced
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves (optional)
For the Lemon-Herb Dressing:
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Vegetables:
Rinse and chop all your vegetables — tomatoes, cucumber, onion, and bell pepper. Drain the chickpeas thoroughly to remove excess moisture. - Mix the Salad:
In a large bowl, combine chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, bell pepper, and olives. Toss gently to mix the ingredients evenly. - Make the Dressing:
In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, zest, mustard, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir until well combined. - Combine Everything:
Pour the dressing over the salad. Add feta cheese and chopped herbs (parsley and mint). Gently toss again to coat everything evenly. - Chill & Serve:
For the best flavor, refrigerate the salad for at least 15–20 minutes before serving. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy your Mediterranean Chickpea Salad with grilled chicken, pita bread, or on its own for a refreshing vegetarian meal. It’s also a great meal-prep option — store it in the fridge for up to 3 days!
