Loaded with fresh veggies and tossed in a light homemade dressing, this tasty vegetarian Greek Chickpea Salad makes healthy eating a breeze!
I’m kind of a nut when it comes to veggies.
I’ll pretty much do anything for a bite of tall, dark and GREEN! Or yellow… red… orange…
The second I spotted this colorful bowl-o-veggies at a local Mediterranean restaurant I knew I had to have it. I’m a sucker for a healthy plate full of whole food goodness and hoped their greek chickpea salad tasted as good as it looked.
Spoiler altert: It was TO. DIE. FOR. So good might have licked the plate clean…
So naturally I re-created it at home!
Let’s get Mediterranean!
Greek Chickpea Salad
This recipe serves a crowd! Bring it along to your next picnic, party, or potluck or halve the recipes for a more manageable serving, perfect as a side dish with dinner or a healthy weekday lunch. It’s super portable and sure to rock your socks off!
:: pin it for later ::
Greek Chickpea Salad
Prep
Total
Yield 6-8 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cans of chickpeas
- 2 cups chopped bell pepper or sweet mini pepper
- 1 cup chopped tomato
- 1 cup chopped cucumber
- 1 avocado
uber easy mediterranean marinade/dressing:
- 2.5 TBSP red wine vinegar
- 3 TBSP quality extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tsp lemon juice (squeezed from 1 large or two small lemon)
- 1/2-1 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2-1 tsp parsley plus extra to garnish
- 1/2 tsp dried crushed oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt, extra to taste if desired
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp dried dill
optional extra: crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Drain and rinse chickpeas.
- Chop your peppers, tomato, and cucumber, and toss them in a bowl.
- Combine all dressing ingredients in a separate container and either shake or whisk to incorporate. Pour over salad and toss to combine.
- Pop the bowl in the fridge, covered, for a few hours to let the fabulous flavors of the marinade get better acquainted with your veggies or enjoy right away.
- Peel and chop avocado just before serving, and add to the salad. I like to toss my avocado in a little lemon juice with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent it from browning.
Bring on the veggies!
Crazy for feta? Feel free to add some on top!
special diets and swaps
- Brontosaurus Chefs It’s fabulously vegan! Enjoy as is or pair with falafel/hummus
- T-Rex Chefs if you try to add meat to this salad I will fight you! You can, however, pair this dish with shish kebabs or grilled chicken. Totally approved!
- Gluten-Free? FAB! So is this salad!
so . . . how was it?!
I never get tired of answering this question… IT WAS SO FLIPPING GOOD! It’s tasty chilled but I think it tastes absolutely best at room temperature (somehow the flavors are more amplified this way) and really can’t get enough of it like this.
This refreshing dish is great as a side dish or as a stand-alone lunch. You can toss them over a crisp green salad, serve it alongside a fluffy pita sandwich, or even turn it into a greek platter by adding grape leaves, hummus, tzatziki sauce, falafel, pita wedges and even a big ole pile of olives. Just keep the olives to yourself. I’m still terrified of them.
The über tasty dressing in this recipe is also amaaaaazing over greens or even mixed into pasta salad! Have fun with it! You guys are going to LOVE this zesty greek chickpea salad; I just know it!
Ann
Can you list the nutritional percentages on this dish as we are only allowed so many carbs per meal.
Jenn
Absolutely Ann! It will vary a bit if any ingredients are changed so just pop any changes into your favorite calculator or hand calculate any extras and you’re good to go! I calculated this without the optional feta so just check the nutrition facts on the cheese if you decide to sprinkle some on top.
8 serving calculations per MyFitnessPal.com…
172 calories per serving + 9 grams fat + 6 grams fiber + 5 grams protein + 20 grams carbohydrate (which came out to 7% daily value) — the carbohydrates are mostly from the chickpeas so if you’d like to tweak this you can even try the dish with extra veggies and less legumes! Hope this helps! XO
Emily
This is amazing. I am vegan and made a huge batch of this at the beginning of the week for my work lunches. Added a little bit of brown rice and was amazing. thank you!
Jenn
Love the addition of brown rice, Emily! Thank you! 🙂
Donna
The whole family loved this recipe. I thought I made enough for 2 meals, but not one bite was left. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Jenn
So happy to hear it Donna, thank you! 🙂
Sam
Delicious! Very very good lightweight summer meal or side.
BUT, DOUBLE the salt (i.e. 1 tsp)!
The dressing was amazing once I did this, otherwise it will be pretty bland.
Don’t forget the recommended feta cheese topping (mentioned at the very end)!
Thank you for the terrific recipe!
Jenn
Super glad you enjoyed it Sam, thank you! 🙂
David-glee
I love that white bowl of yours it’s gorgeous i so want it
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
Thanks Maria! Totally make the salad! It’s super addictive and tastes great with just about everything! =) xoooo
Maria MacDonald
I’m kind of a slut for ethinc cuisine?!! OMG!! You’re hilarious!! I love it!! We love chickpeas at my house and always looking for some new way to use them in a recipe. Gonna have to try this one out…looks fab btw! Thx for sharing 🙂
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
OHMYGOD CAT REMEMBERED TO ADD HER FREAKING EMAIL!
Thanks hooker.
And I got a really odd visual of that… Hmm… Though I envisioned a goat covered in hummus.
Cat @ Breakfast to Bed
chickpea salad makes me want to make out with random middle eastern men.
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
I hope you fall head over heels with it like I did! Thanks Sue!
sue
I love chickpeas and always looking for new alternatives.Going to try this one for sure. I can tell before I even make it, it’s right up our alley.Thanks. sue
Truptineel
lovely treat
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
Ahhh nice to meet you!!!! =) and thank you!! What branch are you kids in?
Sadies
I just came across your site from I <3 Being a Military Spouse and I am sooo very excited to start trying your recipes!!
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
Thank you!!! Glad you’re also team chickpea =) xoxo
baconandkids
Love it! Chickpeas are one of my favorite things to eat. Thank you for posting this wonderful recipe. 🙂
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
I don’t have it calculated yet but it’s super healthy! I use grape seed oil for the fat in the dish and not all of it even ends up on the chickpeas at the end so it’s a light and flavorful =)
Ranumt
I am making this as I type! You don’t happen to have any nutritional values do you?
Patricia
I love chick peas! This looks so good, I must try it.
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
oh the snot.. bahahaha! thanks love!
Leila
I’m not a pretty crier either…red face, snot, the whole 9 yards….anyway, this looks delish. Pinned!
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love.
I love me some chickpeas! I also don’t really like a lot of chain restaurants either. I feel like the food is not fresh and it’s so fattening!
Jamie
Looks yummy! I love chickpeas.
KelloggsFiberPlusKati
Oh I definitely will! Hoping to make it this weekend. 🙂
Abby @ Abz 'n' Oats
Yum! “Keep the olives to yourself”–you are a woman after my own heart! lol.
RavieNomNoms
This is definitely my kind of salad! I love salads that have beans in them 🙂
Peggy Garbe
This chickpea salad looks so good! I could easily fall in love with it =)
Kim Bee
Love this so much. The color is fab and it looks positively delish.
Ali
definitely want to try it!
Emily @ Life on Food
This salad is so pretty and I would love to have that last platter in front of me now.
Kim
I’m a total chain restaurant avoider (except for Panera and others in that vein!). Love this recipe -will try it this weekend!
Anna @ The Guiltless Life
Delish! I love me a good chickpea salad. And I love your Mediterranean plate idea!
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
I miss orlando! And good hummus is totally worth its weight in GOLD! <3
The Single Nester
How funny that you have this recipe today! I was just in Orlando on business and we ate at a restaurant called Taverna Opa. They had the most amazing hummus. I love chick peas.
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
I have had a ton of hummus fails too! Haha this is way way easier =) You can even use a pre-made greek/italian dressing in a pinch — though the one I posed here is super simple too! Hope you give chickpeas another shot! xoxo
Yen Vu
I don’t cook
with chickpeas and the one time I tried to make hummus I failed…it was so bad I
never got back on the horse. However this salad looks soo good and simple to
make, maybe I’ll give it a try again. Especially since summer is coming it
would make a great addition to the bbq. Thanks for the recipe!
Lindsay @ Fuel My Family
LOVE Baba Gannouj (is that how you spell it?). My husband and I discovered it at the wilmington mall and have made a couple trips down there just to eat at it! Best mall food ever!
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
Thanks Kati!!! Let me know if you end up making it — I think I’ve had it 3 days in a row now and *adore* it! =)
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
Ohmygosh girl they are soooo good! Though I *will* hack all their recipes if it kills me! Haha its much cheaper at home 😉
KelloggsFiberPlusKati
This looks so bright and cheery! And I absolutely adore chickpeas – definitely one of my favorite fiber rich eats. I can’t wait to try this recipe at home.
Fran@BCDC
That recipe sounds Wonderful, Jenn…but I need to find that chain! Oh, my gosh, I could probably bring a cot and live there!! Thanks for the recipe, sweetie!
Rachel Conners
This looks so delicious!! I love chickpeas and I’m totally the same about wanting to try out local joints instead of chain restaurants. Can’t wait to try this salad.
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies
I love love LOOOOVE Baba Gannouj! And I love their chickpea salad! Totally going to have to try out this recipe. 🙂
Talia@BiteSzWellness
Oh Jenn! Per usual you have me laughing. I am a recent lover of chickpeas…did the whole I like hummus, but not chickpeas thing for awhile until I realized that I was kidding myself and I love the little guys.
PS I am making a restaurant recreation tonight. If it turns out as good as the restaurants it will def be a Monday Meal Share!!!
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
My brain isn’t safe for work. I apologize =)
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table
Haha – I read the first line in Reader and thought “is this safe for work?” 🙂
Love this. Chickpeas are my favorite salad base!
Bailey
I think you and I are twins. I HATE chain resturants and love hole in the walls. Veggies are my fav- living in Germany, with a meat eating family is seriously really really hard. AND, olives are not my thing. I will be making this recipes asap!
Green girl in wisconsin
I’m with you on boycotting the chains–so many good restaurants owned locally–why buy overpriced food straight off the Sysco truck?
Jaren Smith
I hate it when my friends argue about going to restaurants with healthier options. Anyways, that recipe looks delicious!
Heather Blackmon
Oh YUM – this looks fresh and delicious! (I don’t like Chilis either) I’ll avoid chain restaurants with you anytime, girl. 🙂
Christina
God bless a chickpea. If I come visit you, can we make this?
Claire @ Live and Love to Eat
I’m with you on being anti-chain restaurants. 🙂
Katie Jasiewicz
This sounds delightful! I can’t wait to give it a try!
Meredith / DareYouTo
Sounds yummy! I enjoy chickpeas but never make them on my own, even canned. Maybe I ought to try…
Rachel
Can I go out to eat at restaurants with you, like, ALWAYS? I do the same thing – which sometimes sucks being in college and all anyone ever wants to eat is pizza and ice cream and fried things. I need more veg-foodie friends!
This chickpea salad looks fantastic – light bean salads are one of my favorite summer veg dishes.
Katy @ Couch to 5Katy
There is just something about Taco Bell that makes it taste so good! I totally agree with you on your chain restaurants! I dislike most, but T Bell and Panera are always welcome.
Blog is the New Black
I ADORE chickpea salads. LOVE.
Kristen @ notsodomesticated
I’m not a fan of olives, either. 😉 And this looks super yummy! What are some of your favorites at Panera? I’m curious what a veggie-lover usually gets!
Jane @ The Borrowed Abode
Yum! This looks like a good addition to any summer picnic, especially for my vegan friends. . . and me! 🙂
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