Mediterranean Chickpea Salad (Printer-Friendly)

A refreshing mix of chickpeas, vegetables, olives, feta, and lemon dressing for a light, protein-packed dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 large cucumber, diced
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
05 - 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
06 - 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
07 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Lemon Dressing

08 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
09 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
10 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
12 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How To Make It:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine chickpeas, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, red onion, feta cheese, and fresh parsley.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano, minced garlic, sea salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently until thoroughly coated.
04 - Taste the salad and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes for flavors to meld.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in minutes, no cooking required, and tastes even better the next day.
  • Packed with protein from chickpeas and satisfying enough to be a full meal, not just a side dish.
  • The dressing is so simple you'll wonder why store-bought versions taste like disappointment.
02 -
  • Drain and rinse those canned chickpeas no matter how lazy you feel—canned chickpea liquid tastes like tin and will ruin the entire salad.
  • Don't dress the salad more than a couple of hours ahead if it contains fresh herbs; the parsley will darken and lose its brightness.
  • If you're making this the night before, keep the dressing separate and add it just before serving.
03 -
  • Make the dressing in a jar and keep it separate if you're prepping ahead—it takes 30 seconds to shake together and keeps everything fresh.
  • Toast the oregano gently in a dry pan for just 20 seconds before adding it to the dressing; the flavor deepens and becomes more vibrant without any effort.
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