This easy Mediterranean chickpea salad is infused with flavor thanks to a heaping helping of fresh herbs with a garlicky lemon dressing that ups the crunch from red bell pepper, celery and red onion for a simple side dish or topping for greens.
Accidentally Vegan Chickpea Salad
Are you sick of me repeating myself yet? I’ve said it before and I’ll likely say it 9,349 more times again: Salads are my favorite.
I’m far more tempted by a plate with a sampling of four varieties of salads than a plate of four desserts.
That’s why this garbanzo bean salad, in all of it’s understated simplicity, is proof positive that eating real, whole foods doesn’t have to be a complicated affair when simplicity radiates from the whole ingredients its made with.
I cannot take credit for creating this salad. Its glory in flavor and simplicity comes from one of my good blogging friends who has just authored her first cookbook, Love Real Food by Kathryn Taylor of the blog Cookie + Kate.
The cookbook, like Kathryn’s blog, is filled with healthy, inspiring vegetarian recipes made with real foods and ingredients that truly appeal to all walks of eaters.
Many fans are first captured by Kathryn’s stunning food photography. Then her thoughtful writing style hooks them in. But it’s Kathryn’s recipes that always keep us coming back for more.
She’s a stickler for perfection, and that quality is shared in her recipe development as well, where the results are well-tested recipes that are far more than just pretty pictures, they’ve gained her a loyal tribe of blogging and cooking fans, vegetarian and non-vegetarian alike. The proof is in the so far 100+ 5-star reviews on Amazon.
What’s in This Mediterranean Chickpea Salad?
Kathryn’s recipe for this Mediterranean chickpea salad is simple in its approach and calls for ingredients I nearly always have on hand, making it one of those recipes you can totally pull off at a moment’s notice when you ask the question, “What am I going to serve with my main dish?”
Here’s what you’ll need to make this vegan chickpea salad:
- Chickpeas
- Red bell pepper
- Fresh parsley
- Red onion
- Celery
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Lemon juice
- Garlic
- Kosher salt and pepper
see more: 50 Favorite Mediterranean Diet Recipes
How to Make This Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
The bulk of the recipe comes from canned chickpeas aka garbanzo beans, a staple I always recommend having in the cupboard. Simply drain and rinse and you’re on your way.
Add the chickpeas to a large bowl alongside the chopped bell pepper, onion, parsley, and celery.
Whisk together the simple lemon dressing and pour over the chickpea mixture. Toss to coat, then serve immediately.
Can I Add Extra Veggies?
I don’t see why not! Just note that if you add extra veggies you may need to whisk up a little extra dressing too.
How Long Does Chickpea Salad Last?
This Mediterranean chickpea salad will last up to 4 days in the fridge. Give the leftover salad a good stir before serving to redistribute the dressing.
Tips for Making the Best Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
I love the leaves plucked from fresh, crunchy celery so while Kathryn’s version didn’t actually call for it, I plucked the leaves from my stalks, gave them a rough chop, and added them to the salad. There really is no reason to toss them out for any dish.
The amount of chopped fresh parsley may seem like a whole lot of parsley, but that’s the point! Don’t skimp on the amount, or you’ll be sacrificing flavor.
This salad is intended to be served on its own, but as Kathryn suggests, it’s a delicious topping for a bed of lettuces, too. Naturally, I added a few mozzarella balls to mine with an extra drizzle of olive oil and squeeze of lemon, too.
More Veg-Heavy Salads to Try
- Arugula Salad with Shaved Parmesan Three Ways
- Tuscan Tuna and White Bean Salad
- Classic Three Bean Salad
- Superfood Salad with Lightened-Up Poppy Seed Dressing
- Dill Cucumber Salad
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
Outrageous Herbacious Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
Ingredients
- 30 ounces chickpeas (garbanzo beans) , rinsed and drained (or 3 cups cooked chickpeas)
- 1 medium red bell pepper , chopped
- 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley , about 1 bunch
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 1/2 cup chopped celery plus leaves , about 2 ribs
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice (from 1 to 1 1/2 lemons)
- 2 cloves garlic , pressed or minced
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the chickpeas, bell pepper, parsley, red onion, and celery.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice and garlic, and season to taste with the kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add the dressing to the chickpea mixture and toss to coat.
- Serve immediately or chill up to 4 days. Before serving, add more salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
Nutrition
More Mediterranean Recipes You’ll Love
- Mediterranean Orzo Salad
- Greek Chicken Gyro Salad
- Mediterranean Tomato Salad
- Greek Cobb Salad
- Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Read more of Cookie + Kate here, and purchase Love Real Food here.
We send good emails. Subscribe to FoodieCrush and have each post plus exclusive content only for our subscribers delivered straight to your e-mail box.
Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter for more FoodieCrush inspiration.
As always, thank you for reading and supporting companies I partner with, which allows me to create more unique content and recipes for you. There are affiliate links in this post of which I receive a small commission. All opinions are always my own.
