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Fresh Mediterranean Chickpea Salad with Zesty Lemon Za’atar Dressing

Mediterranean chickpea salad - featured image
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A vibrant and refreshing Mediterranean chickpea salad tossed with crisp vegetables and a zesty lemon za’atar dressing. Perfect for a quick, healthy meal that comes together in under 20 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup (150 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 medium cucumber, diced (seeded if desired)
  • 1/4 cup (40 g) red onion, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup (30 g) fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/4 cup (30 g) crumbled feta cheese (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons (45 ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) fresh lemon juice (about 1 medium lemon)
  • 1 tablespoon (7 g) za’atar spice blend
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) honey or maple syrup
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Drain and rinse 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) of chickpeas under cold water. Let drain well in a colander (2-3 minutes).
  2. Halve 1 cup (150 g) cherry tomatoes, dice 1 medium cucumber (about 1 cup / 150 g), finely chop 1/4 cup (40 g) red onion, and roughly chop 1/4 cup (30 g) fresh parsley. Place all into a large mixing bowl (5-7 minutes).
  3. In a small bowl or jar, combine 3 tablespoons (45 ml) extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon (7 g) za’atar spice, 1 teaspoon (5 ml) honey, and 1 minced garlic clove. Add salt and pepper to taste. Shake or whisk vigorously until emulsified (about 2 minutes).
  4. Add the drained chickpeas to the bowl with the chopped veggies. Pour the dressing over and toss gently but thoroughly to coat everything evenly (1-2 minutes).
  5. Sprinkle 1/4 cup (30 g) crumbled feta cheese over the top, if using. Give the salad one last gentle toss to mix in the cheese. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed (1-2 minutes).
  6. Serve immediately at room temperature or chill for 30 minutes to let flavors meld (chilling optional).

Notes

Rinse canned chickpeas well to remove excess salt and canned taste. Shake or whisk dressing just before pouring to emulsify. For a milder onion flavor, soak chopped onions briefly in cold water. The salad tastes better after chilling for 20-30 minutes but can be served immediately. Store dressing separately to avoid sogginess. Variations include adding grilled chicken or shrimp for protein, substituting feta with avocado for a vegan option, or roasting chickpeas with za’atar for crunch.

Nutrition

Keywords: chickpea salad, Mediterranean salad, za'atar dressing, lemon dressing, healthy salad, quick salad, vegetarian salad, gluten-free salad

Find it online: https://oracooks.com/fresh-mediterranean-chickpea-salad-recipe-easy-zesty-lemon-zaatar-dressing-tutorial/