A super healthy, colourful and absolutely delicious Greek chickpea salad made with chickpeas, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, olives, feta cheese and a homemade Greek dressing! The perfect side dish for grilled meats or as a light and satisfying vegetarian meal!
What is Greek Chickpea Salad
Greek Chickpea Salad is a refreshing salad made with chickpeas, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, olives, and feta cheese, all dressed in a simple yet delicious homemade Greek dressing. Greek chickpea salad is not only delicious and nutritious but also easy to make and great for meal prep.
Delicious salad alternative: Great if you aren’t a fan of leafy greens
Loads of taste: The combination of chickpeas with tomato, olive and feta cheese, and fresh herbs makes it packed with flavor.
What you’ll need to make Greek Chickpea Salad the traditional way
To make the perfect Greek chickpea salad make sure to use some good quality fresh ingredients! Some extra virgin olive oil for the dressing, Greek feta cheese, fresh cherry tomatoes and Kalamata olives.
Kalamata olives are typically considered an essential ingredient in this salad as they provide a distinct flavor and texture. To use Kalamata olives in a traditional Greek Chickpea Salad, you can either pit them and then slice them or leave them whole if you prefer.
If you can’t get Kalamata olives, you can use other types of olives instead, such as black or green olives. While they won’t be exactly the same as Kalamata olives, they will still add a salty, savory flavor to the salad.
Greek Chickpea Salad Key Ingredients
Salad: You’ll need two tins of chickpeas for the recipe, along with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion and olives. Fresh dill and mint add flavor to it.
Vinaigrette: This is made with olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper.
Salad topping: Feta cheese is perfect for crumbling onto the top of the salad.
Greek chickpea salad Key Preparation Tips
There are just two main steps in creating this recipe:
Create the salad
Make the vinaigrette and serve
Create the salad
After draining the chickpeas, rinse them thoroughly under cold running water until the water running out of the bottom of the container runs clear. Then, allow the chickpeas to sit and drain any remaining water.
Cut the cherry tomatoes into four pieces and add them to a big mixing bowl. Slice the cucumber into quarters after peeling it. Add the finely chopped red onion and quartered olives to the tomato bowl along with the cucumber.
Chop the fresh herbs into small pieces and put them in the bowl with the drained chickpeas.
Make the vinaigrette for Greek chickpea salad
Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, salt, and black pepper in a separate bowl. Pour the mixture over the salad and stir until the dressing coats everything.
Add the crumbled feta to the salad and gently mix it with the dressing, ensuring that the cheese is evenly coated while maintaining its texture.
Taste the dish to determine if it requires additional salt and pepper, then proceed with serving it.
Should you use fresh or canned chickpeas for Greek chickpea salad?
Canned chickpeas are already cooked, which saves you time and makes the salad easier to prepare. Additionally, canned chickpeas have a consistent texture, which ensures that all of the chickpeas in the salad will have the same texture and flavor.
When using canned chickpeas, you only need to rinse them and drain them before adding them to the salad.
Using dried chickpeas requires preparation and cooking time, which may not be practical for making a quick and simple salad. While dried chickpeas can be more flavorful and have a better texture than canned chickpeas, they also need time to cook them.
Using canned chickpeas is a quick and easy way to make this Greek Chickpea Salad recipe, but it’s up to you to decide!
Variations
There are many variations of Greek Chickpea Salad that you can make to add your own unique twist to the dish. Here are a few ideas:
Add avocado slices: Avocado adds creaminess and healthy fats to the salad.
Use a different dressing: Try a different dressing, such as a lemon-tahini or balsamic vinaigrette, for a different flavor profile.
Add fresh herbs: Chopped parsley, cilantro, or dill can add freshness and brightness to the salad.
Use different vegetables: Try adding bell peppers, zucchini, or carrots to the salad to add more color and nutrition.
Add protein: Grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu can be added to the salad to make it more filling and satisfying.
Use a different type of cheese: If you don’t like feta cheese, use goat cheese or shaved Parmesan instead.
Add nuts or seeds: Toasted almonds, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds can add crunch and nutrition to the salad.
These are just a few ways to customize your Greek Chickpea Salad. The possibilities are endless!
Making ahead of time and storing
To enjoy Greek chickpea salad at its best, we don’t recommend keeping it in the fridge for more than 24 hours after assembly. You can store it in an airtight container.
If you want to make it ahead, wait to add the vinaigrette until you are ready to serve it to keep the ingredients fresh.
Serving suggestions
Traditional Greek Chickpea Salad is typically served as a main dish for a light and healthy lunch or dinner or as a side dish to accompany a variety of dishes. Here are a few ideas for what you can serve with it:
Grilled chicken or fish: Grilled chicken or fish pairs well with Greek Chickpea Salad for a complete and satisfying meal.
Souvlaki or kebab: Grilled souvlaki or kebab, whether it’s made of meat or vegetables, is a classic Greek dish that goes well with Chickpea Salad.
Roasted vegetables: Roasted vegetables, such as eggplant, zucchini, and bell peppers, are a great side dish to serve alongside the salad.
Couscous: Couscous or quinoa can be cooked and served with Greek Chickpea Salad to make it more filling and satisfying.
Hummus and vegetables: A platter of fresh vegetables, such as carrots, celery, and sliced cucumbers, with a side of hummus, is a simple and delicious side dish that complements the flavors of the salad.
A super healthy, colourful and absolutely delicious Greek chickpea salad made with chickpeas, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, olives, feta cheese and a homemade Greek dressing! The perfect side dish for grilled meats or as a light and satisfying vegetarian meal!
Drain the chickpeas and rinse them until the cold tap until the water coming out the bottom runs clean. Set aside to let any excess water drain.
Quarter the cherry tomatoes and transfer them to a large mixing bowl. Peel the cucumber and cut into quartered slices. Finely chop the red onion, and quarter the olives, adding the cucumber, onion and olives to the tomato bowl.
Roughly chop the fresh herbs, and add them to the bowl along with the drained chickpeas.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the olive oil and vinegar along with a generous pinch of salt and a good amount of black pepper. Pour over the salad and stir until everything is coated in the dressing.
Crumble in the feta, and fold it into the salad carefully, making sure it is coated in the dressing but that it does not break down too much. Check the seasoning to see if it needs any more salt and pepper, and serve.
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