Mediterranean Chickpea Salad with Feta (Printable)
Hearty chickpeas, creamy feta, and crisp vegetables in a zesty olive oil dressing.
# What You'll Need:
→ Salad Base
01 - 15 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 cucumber, diced
04 - 1/3 cup red onion, finely chopped
05 - 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
06 - 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
07 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
→ Lemon Herb Dressing
08 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
09 - 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
10 - 1 clove garlic, minced
11 - 1 tsp dried oregano
12 - 1/2 tsp sea salt
13 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
# How-to Steps:
01 - In a large salad bowl, combine the drained chickpeas, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, chopped red onion, Kalamata olives, crumbled feta cheese, and fresh parsley.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, dried oregano, sea salt, and black pepper until well emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss gently to combine, ensuring all ingredients are evenly coated.
04 - Taste and adjust seasoning if desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
# Expert Pointers:
01 -
- It comes together in 15 minutes flat, which means lunch or dinner solves itself without drama.
- The longer it sits, the better it tastes—make it ahead and let the flavors get cozy with each other.
- It's hearty enough to eat alone but plays beautifully alongside grilled chicken or warm pita if you want something more.
02 -
- Drain your chickpeas thoroughly or they'll make the salad soggy and turn the dressing cloudy and gray.
- Add fresh herbs like parsley right before serving so they stay vibrant; if they sit too long in the dressing, they'll turn dark and lose their brightness.
- Don't skip the resting time if you have it—the flavors need those quiet minutes to blend and become something greater than their parts.
03 -
- Crush your dried oregano between your fingers as you add it to wake up the oils and deepen the flavor in the dressing.
- Use a good quality extra-virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice—these two ingredients carry the whole dish, so they deserve to be the best you can afford.