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Picnic Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

Creamy feta and glossy chickpeas in a vibrant Mediterranean chickpea salad recipe.

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This vibrant, no-cook salad is a celebration of fresh Mediterranean flavors. Perfect for picnics and meal prep, it combines chickpeas, crisp vegetables, briny olives, and tangy feta in a bright lemon-herb dressing. It comes together in minutes and tastes even better as the flavors meld.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained well
  • 1 large English cucumber, diced
  • 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 medium red onion, finely diced
  • 1 cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved
  • 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (about 1 cup)
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
  • For the Lemon-Herb Dressing:
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the rinsed chickpeas, diced cucumber, halved tomatoes, diced bell pepper, and finely diced red onion.
  2. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and pepper until well combined.
  3. Pour the dressing over the chickpea and vegetable mixture. Gently toss everything together until evenly coated.
  4. Fold in the halved olives, crumbled feta, and chopped fresh herbs. Be gentle to keep the feta intact.
  5. For best flavor, let the salad sit for at least 15-20 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to marry.

Notes

For a more intense flavor, let the dressed salad (hold the herbs and feta) chill for an hour before adding the final ingredients. Always rinse canned chickpeas thoroughly. Use fresh lemon juice, not bottled, for the best tasting dressing. Add the feta last to prevent it from dissolving. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

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