Print

Summer Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

Summer Mediterranean chickpea salad with fresh vegetables, feta, and lemon dressing.

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

A vibrant, no-cook salad featuring crisp vegetables, chickpeas, feta, and a zesty lemon-herb dressing. Salting the cucumbers and tomatoes ahead of time ensures the salad stays fresh and never soggy. Perfect for meal prep, picnics, or a quick, satisfying dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 (15-oz) cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained well
  • 1 English cucumber, diced
  • 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
  • 4 oz block feta cheese, crumbled (about 1 cup)
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, plus more for salting veggies
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Place diced cucumber and halved tomatoes in a colander. Sprinkle generously with salt, toss, and let drain for 10 minutes to remove excess water.
  2. While vegetables drain, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and black pepper in a small bowl to make the dressing.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained chickpeas, drained cucumber and tomatoes, diced bell pepper, sliced red onion, and halved olives.
  4. Pour about three-quarters of the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat.
  5. Add the crumbled feta and fresh herbs. Toss very gently once more to distribute without breaking up the feta too much.
  6. Taste and add remaining dressing if desired. Let salad rest at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.

Notes

For a dairy-free version, omit feta or use a vegan alternative. Salad keeps well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Do not freeze. For best texture, do not skip the salting step for the cucumbers and tomatoes.

Nutrition