Description
A fresh and vibrant chopped salad featuring protein-rich chickpeas, creamy avocado, tangy feta cheese, and a zesty lemon-garlic dressing. This easy-to-make salad is perfect for a quick lunch or a light dinner, offering a delightful combination of textures and flavors with fresh herbs and crisp vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 ripe avocado, diced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
Dressing Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Combine Salad Ingredients. In a large bowl, add the drained and rinsed chickpeas, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced red bell pepper, finely chopped red onion, crumbled feta cheese, diced avocado, chopped parsley, and mint leaves. Mix gently to distribute the ingredients evenly.
- Prepare the Dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until the mixture is smoothly emulsified and well combined.
- Toss Salad with Dressing. Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients in the large bowl. Toss the salad gently but thoroughly to ensure every ingredient is evenly coated with the flavorful dressing without mashing the avocado or feta.
- Serve or Chill. Serve the chopped salad immediately to enjoy maximum freshness, or cover and refrigerate it for up to 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld and deepen. Give it a quick gentle toss before serving if chilled.
Notes
- For a vegan version, omit feta cheese or substitute with a plant-based alternative.
- Use fresh herbs like parsley and mint for vibrant flavor; dried herbs will not have the same impact.
- To make this salad more filling, serve it over a bed of greens or alongside whole grain bread.
- Chop all ingredients into similar-sized pieces for a balanced texture in every bite.
- Adjust salt and pepper according to your taste preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
