Mediterranean Chickpea Salad is an easy recipe with lots of color and texture. The fresh veggies combination gives delicious satisfaction for either lunch or a side dish. Its lemon dressing recipe completes this vegan chickpea salad.
This salad is so quick that you'll be enjoying it before you know it. The hunger pangs will be gone and you'll be getting plenty of chewing satisfaction.
This vegan chickpea salad is so pretty too that it is one of those impressive potluck recipes that will cause people to oh and ah.
It's so nice to have a versatile canned staple that can be used in so many different types of recipes. I'm talking about chickpeas and they are great in hot or cold recipes.
I always make sure that there are a few cans in my cupboard - just in case - and they've never let me down.
Packed full of protein, fiber, and many more nutrients chickpeas as you need to do is simply drain and rinse and you’re on your way.
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The ingredients for this chickpea salad recipe have all of your favorite veggies and the grated carrots mix in really well. No hard chunks just texture and sweetness to compliment the lemon dressing.
The lemon dressing recipe only takes a couple of minutes to make but it goes a long way in tying all of the ingredients together.
📋 Ingredients
- Tomatoes in any type that you like the most or whatever looks really good in the grocery store that week. My choice is usually plum tomatoes but fresh juicy ones work really well too.
- Red onion is the darling of fresh salads. Dice them small and if you need a milder onion scallions or green onions would work.
- Cucumber can be the regular type of cucumber or an English cucumber. I used English and left the skin on.
- Shredded carrot is a great addition for a little sweetness that contrasts really well with the lemon dressing. It's a beautiful visual contrast too.
- Fresh parsley is measured loosely not compacted and is the key to a fresh Mediterranean chickpea salad.
- Chickpeas should be drained and rinsed for this recipe. You don't need to blot them dry.
🔪 Instructions
- With a knife chop, cut, and dice all of the ingredients and have them ready to combine. Since most of the ingredients are fresh veggies make sure you choose the best quality.
- This recipe is so simple as you can see in the photos above. Just add the veggies into a large bowl and mix lightly.
- The order I used was the red onions and tomatoes, then the cucumber.
- Next add the grated carrots and chopped parsley.
- Lastly, before the dressing, comes the chickpeas.
- Mix well and continue with the dressing.
Whisk together the simple lemon dressing and pour over the chickpea mixture. Toss to coat, then serve immediately. Pita bread goes along nicely with it too.
🍋 Simple lemon dressing recipe
The dressing is simple, fresh, and is the perfect dressing for such a lively salad.
- Fresh lemon juice lightens up the salad and makes all the ingredients taste fresh.
- Extra-virgin olive oil balances the lemon and makes the dressing texture smooth.
- Chives give that little bit of oomph that needs to finish the salad.
- Salt and pepper help to season the salad — a must!
💭 FAQ's
Yes, that is how this salad uses canned chickpeas. In fact, I think I have more recipes that use chickpeas raw rather than cooked.
Yes! The choices are up to you and what your family may like. Some people add celery and even avocado.
Yes, you can use any of your favorite oil free dressings but I think a lemon juice or vinegar-based dressing would be best. Not a creamy one. Even parts of lemon juice, sweet rice wine vinegar, and a little maple syrup and mustard would be very good.
No problem! Cook the dried chickpeas using your favorite recipe and freeze them for future use. Take out about one 12 to 14 ounces for this recipe. Keep in mind canned chickpeas are firmer than home-cooked.
Three to four days and give the leftover salad a good stir before serving to redistribute the dressing.
Yes, but there are only a few that will work well. Fresh dill or mint would be delicious. They would both mix well with parsley too.
👩🏻🍳 Chef's tips
- Don't throw away the liquid from the can. It is aquafaba and can be used in multiple recipes including making a whipped topping. It freezes really well.
- Don't leave any of the vegetables to large so the salad is well balanced in flavors.
- The chickpeas will soak up the flavors of the dressing so if you can set it in the refrigerator for a while it will enhance the salad. Let sit for at least 30 minutes.
- The salad will keep about four days in the fridge so it is a nice option to have if you need a make-ahead dish. If you want to make it ahead don't add the tomatoes. Wait until the day of serving as the tomatoes break down too fast.
- This salad doesn't need to be cold to be enjoyed so have no worries about having to keep it refrigerated when serving. It is delicious at room temperature.
🥗 More easy salad recipes
- Nothing can be easier or more delicious than this Cucumber Vinegar Salad.
- Apple Pecan Salad with raisins will uses two types of apples and also has a light creamy dressing.
- If you have fresh watermelon available right now then you must try this Watermelon Salad with Vegan Feta.
If you take a photo of your fresh vegan chickpea salad recipe I would love to see it. Follow me over on Instagram and tag me on your photo @vegan_in_the_freezer.
📋 Recipe
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
Ingredients
- 15 ounces Chickpeas - can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup Cucumber - chopped
- 1 cup Carrot - grated
- ¾ cup Red onion - chopped
- 2 cups Tomatoes - chopped
- ¾ cup Fresh parsley - chopped, measured loosely not compacted
- ¼ cup Chives - chopped
Lemon Dressing
- ¼ cup Lemon juice - freshly squeezed
- 2 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ⅛ teaspoon Ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preprepare all of the vegetables.
- In a large bowl combine the tomato, onion, and cucumber. Mix well.
- Add the carrot, parsley, and chives and mix until well combined.
- Mix in the chickpeas and again stir until well mixed. Set aside.
Lemon Dressing
- Mix all of the ingredients together.
- Pour the dressing over the vegetables and stir until well combined.
- Taste and add more salt and/or pepper to meet your taste preferences.
- You can serve the salad right away or store the salad in the fridge until you are ready to use it.
Notes
Nutrition
Tally
The written recipe seems to have left out the red onion. Just wondering how much you’d recommend using?
Siena
Fantastic! I dove right into this recie today. All I didn;thave was that much fresh parsely. It was still delicious. I added just a touch of mustard and the whole salad was a feast. Thanks!
Ginny McMeans
Sorry about that Tally, it's 3/4 cup diced red onion. I fixed the recipe and thanks for the heads up.
Hedy McDevitt
Very good, light and healthy. I added a small zucchini and some honey just to tone down some of the tartness from the lemon.