Mediterranean Chickpea Feta Bowl (Printer-Friendly)

Protein-packed bowl with chickpeas, vegan feta, Kalamata olives, and crisp vegetables in Mediterranean style.

# What You'll Need:

→ Base

01 - 1 can (14 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 cup cooked quinoa or brown rice (optional)

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 medium cucumber, diced
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 1/2 red bell pepper, diced

→ Toppings

07 - 3 oz vegan feta cheese, crumbled
08 - 1/3 cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved
09 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

→ Dressing

10 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
12 - 1 tsp dried oregano
13 - 1/2 tsp sea salt
14 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

# How To Make It:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, mix chickpeas, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and red bell pepper until well blended.
02 - Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano, sea salt, and black pepper together in a small bowl until emulsified.
03 - Pour dressing over chickpea and vegetable mixture. Toss gently to incorporate all ingredients evenly.
04 - Divide mixture between two bowls, placing over cooked quinoa or brown rice if desired.
05 - Garnish each bowl with crumbled vegan feta, Kalamata olives, and chopped fresh parsley.
06 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to two days to develop marinated flavors.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes flat, no cooking required, just fresh chopping and tossing.
  • The lemon and oregano dressing is bright enough to make even tired vegetables taste exciting again.
  • You can prep it in advance and it actually tastes better the next day as everything gets to know each other.
02 -
  • Don't rinse your canned chickpeas under running water like I used to, just drain them gently so they keep their natural starch, which helps the dressing cling to them instead of sliding off.
  • The magic happens when you let this sit for at least 10 minutes after mixing, because that's when the vegetables start releasing their juices and everything becomes greater than the sum of its parts.
03 -
  • Make a double batch of the dressing and keep it in a jar in your fridge because it's perfect on roasted vegetables, salads, or even grilled bread throughout the week.
  • Massage your parsley gently with a tiny pinch of salt before adding it, and it becomes more tender and flavorful than just scattering it on top.
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