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Fresh Mediterranean Chickpea Cucumber Salad Easy Healthy Lemon Herb Vinaigrette Recipe

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A quick, fresh, and satisfying Mediterranean-inspired salad featuring chickpeas, cucumber, and a zesty lemon herb vinaigrette. Perfect for a light lunch, side dish, or picnic.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cans (15 oz / 425 g each) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 large English cucumber, diced
  • 1 cup (150 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • Juice of 1 large lemon (about 3 tablespoons / 45 ml)
  • 1 small clove garlic, minced
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • Optional add-ins: Kalamata olives (pitted and sliced), diced bell peppers, toasted pine nuts

Instructions

  1. Wash and dry the cucumber, then dice into bite-sized pieces. Halve the cherry tomatoes and finely chop the red onion, parsley, mint, and oregano. Soak the onion in cold water for 10 minutes if you want to mellow the flavor, then drain thoroughly.
  2. Open the chickpea cans, pour them into a colander, and rinse under cold water to remove excess sodium and canned flavor.
  3. In a small bowl or jar, combine the extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, a pinch of salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. Whisk or shake vigorously until the dressing emulsifies and slightly thickens.
  4. In a large bowl, combine the chickpeas, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and chopped herbs. Pour the lemon herb vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently but thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
  5. If using, sprinkle crumbled feta cheese on top and toss lightly to distribute. Taste the salad and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Optionally, add a little extra lemon juice before serving.
  6. Let the salad rest for 10-15 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld, or serve immediately.

Notes

Rinse canned chickpeas well to remove canned flavor and improve texture. Soaking red onion in cold water mellows its sharpness. Fresh lemon juice is preferred over bottled for brightness. Letting the salad rest before serving enhances flavor melding. For vegan option, omit feta or use plant-based cheese. Add protein like grilled chicken or tuna for a main dish. Optional add-ins include Kalamata olives, bell peppers, or toasted pine nuts.

Nutrition

Keywords: Mediterranean salad, chickpea salad, cucumber salad, lemon herb vinaigrette, healthy salad, easy salad recipe, vegan salad option, gluten-free salad

Find it online: https://emmayum.com/fresh-mediterranean-chickpea-cucumber-salad-easy-healthy-lemon-herb-vinaigrette-recipe/