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Mediterranean Cucumber Feta Chickpea Salad

Mediterranean cucumber feta chickpea salad - featured image
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This Mediterranean cucumber feta chickpea salad is a quick, healthy, and vibrant dish packed with protein-rich chickpeas, crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, briny olives, and creamy feta. Perfect for meal prep, potlucks, or a refreshing lunch, it brings the flavors of the Mediterranean to your table in under 15 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
  • 1 large English cucumber, diced
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes (about 2 cups), halved
  • 1/4 medium red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/3 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
  • 3.5 oz feta cheese, crumbled (about 1/2 cup)
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Optional: chopped bell pepper
  • Optional: diced avocado
  • Optional: crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Drain and rinse the chickpeas under cold water. Let them sit in a colander to dry while you prep the veggies.
  2. Dice the cucumber, halve the cherry tomatoes, and thinly slice the red onion. If using, dice the bell pepper. Place all veggies in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Add the drained chickpeas, chopped cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, Kalamata olives, and parsley to the bowl. Gently toss to combine.
  4. In a small jar or bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Shake or whisk until well combined.
  5. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
  6. Add the crumbled feta cheese and fold in gently.
  7. Serve immediately or chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to let the flavors meld. For best texture, keep the dressing separate if making ahead and toss just before serving.

Notes

For best flavor, let the salad chill for 20-30 minutes before serving. Add feta after tossing with dressing to keep it chunky. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving. To mellow the onion, soak slices in cold water for 5 minutes. The salad is naturally gluten-free and easily made vegan by omitting or substituting the feta.

Nutrition

Keywords: Mediterranean salad, chickpea salad, cucumber feta salad, healthy meal prep, vegetarian salad, summer salad, easy lunch, gluten-free salad

Find it online: https://norasfoods.com/mediterranean-cucumber-feta-chickpea-salad-easy-healthy-meal-prep-recipe/