Refreshing Chickpea Salad

This Refreshing Chickpea Salad is just what you want on a hot day. Cool, flavorful, and with tons of juicy vegetables and fresh herbs, this salad makes an easy, healthy meal.

I love cold salads, especially on warm days. This refreshing Chickpea Salad is light and delicious, made with protein-packed chickpeas, fresh veggies that bring lots of crunch and flavor, and lemon juice for a citrusy tang. Fresh herbs and spices complete this yummy dish. You'll love the taste and texture of this refreshing recipe, perfect for lunch, a light dinner, or a summer picnic.

When it comes to salads, this one is a great choice because it combines fresh vegetables with chickpeas, making it a more satisfying dish, full of vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber. Lemon juice and some oil create a light dressing that complements the ingredients without being too heavy or unhealthy. Let's look more closely at what you'll need for this delicious Chickpea Salad.

Video Tutorial

Main Ingredients

• Chickpeas. Cook them yourself or use canned chickpeas.
• Cucumbers. You can choose to peel 'em, or leave the peel on.
• Tomatoes. I like using cherry (or grape) tomatoes because they are more flavorful.
• Bell Pepper. For extra crunch and sweetness. I prefer the orange color, but any color would work here.
• Red Onion. Or yellow onion.
• Herbs. A combination of parsley and cilantro. You can use either one.
• Lemon Juice. Or lime juice.
• Olive Oil. Or your favorite oil.
• Spices. Cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper.

How to Make this Chickpea Salad

1. Peel, chop, and dice all of the ingredients, placing them into a large mixing bowl. Mix well and then serve immediately.

Add-ins and Substitutions

• Try different vegetables. This salad can be made with a few variations. If you like other vegetables, like carrots, celery, mushrooms, or others, you can dice them up to add to this salad. Just keep everything close to a uniform size.
• Substitute another type of bean. While chickpeas offer great flavor, this salad can also be made with other beans, like navy, cannellini, or black beans. Canned or dried beans you've cooked yourself are fine.
• Use a different dressing. I like this salad simple and light, but if you have a favorite dressing, then you can substitute it here.

Dressing Flavor Combinations

If you want to try some different dressings, here are a few flavor combinations to consider. Just whisk the ingredients together and toss with the salad.

• Tangy. Balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, garlic, and paprika.
• Sweet. Plain Greek yogurt, honey, apple cider vinegar, and Dijon mustard.
• Citrusy. Apple cider vinegar, olive oil, orange juice, maple syrup, and lemon juice.
• Hot. White balsamic, Sriracha, agave nectar, and olive oil.

How long will this salad last?

This refreshing Chickpea Salad is best served immediately. You can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a day, but the longer it sits, the more likely moisture from the vegetables will leach out and make the salad soupy. Luckily, it's quick to make, so you can easily prepare it the day you plan to eat it.

What to serve this Chickpea Salad with

This salad is great for barbecues, picnics, and meals at home on hot summer days. Serve this with grilled chicken or other meats. You can also enjoy it as a side to dishes like Chipotle Sofritas (Copycat Recipe), Easy and Crispy Fried Tofu, and Baked Potatoes and Zucchini. To make it more filling, you can serve it alongside or even atop rice or other grains. Try this Cilantro Lime Rice and Black Beans or Chicken and Yellow Rice Skillet. This salad has great flavors for mixing with other recipes, so you can pair it with almost anything.

This Refreshing Chickpea Salad is a delicious and easy cold dish that you'll love serving and eating. Lots of fresh vegetables, a light dressing, and protein-packed chickpeas make this dish healthy, flavorful, and great for the warmer seasons.

This is also a good way to get more vegetables into your diet. Especially for kids, a fun and colorful salad is a great way to encourage them to eat healthier. This chickpea salad is easy to pack in lunch boxes, work lunches, and to throw together for a quick snack. I hope you and your whole family enjoy this great recipe as much as I do!

More tasty salads to try:

• Refreshing Cucumber Salad
• Avocado Corn Salad
• Iceberg Lettuce Salad
• Three Bean Salad
• Mexican-style Quinoa Salad
• Jennifer Aniston Salad