Mediterranean Chickpea Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette: The Best Summer Dish
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette is a vibrant and refreshing dish that encapsulates the essence of summer. This no-cook salad features protein-rich chickpeas, crisp vegetables, and a zesty lemon dressing that’s perfect for picnics, barbecues, or light lunches. In just 20 minutes, you can whip up this nutrient-packed salad that’s not only delicious but also incredibly versatile. Serve it as a main course or as a colorful side at your next gathering—either way, it’s sure to impress with its bold Mediterranean flavors and fresh ingredients!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: None
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: Serves approximately 6 people 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cans (15 oz each) chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
- 1 English cucumber, diced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
- ½ red onion, finely diced
- ¾ cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese (or dairy-free feta)
- ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (approximately 2 lemons)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey (substitute with maple syrup for vegan option)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the chickpeas, diced vegetables, olives, and herbs.
- For the lemon vinaigrette: whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, honey (or maple syrup), dried oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat.
- Fold in the crumbled feta cheese just before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approx. 200g)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 10mg