Easy and delicious this healthy Mediterranean chickpea salad is perfect for whenever you are craving a refreshing summer salad. Loaded with bright flavors, tender and nutty chickpeas, crunchy vegetables, and salty chopped olives this is the ultimate summer salad. It’s perfect for a light appetizer with pita chips or served as an easy dinner side dish.
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This light and hearty chickpea salad is the perfect accompaniment to any summer meal. Because it’s made with chickpeas which are naturally filling, this easy summer salad will keep you full for hours. We often love to enjoy this salad with crackers as an easy appetizer or light lunch on the weekends or throughout the week, but it would be excellent served with roasted lamb, beef, or burgers as a delicious side salad.
In the summertime any excuse to NOT turn on the oven is well appreciated, so summer salads are on repeat! This simple chickpea salad is loaded with flavor and great to meal prep at the beginning of the week so it can last you for several days. Even if you aren’t a fan of chickpeas this chickpea cucumber and tomato salad is sure to change your mind!
If you are looking for more summer salads check out these family favorites!
- Summer Kale Salad with a Lemon and Garlic Vinaigrette
- Kale Chicken Salad
- Farro Summer Salad with Feta
- Classic Chicken Salad without Grapes
- Chicken Salad Sandwich
Recipe Ingredients
- Chickpeas – Also known as garbanzo beans. You can use canned drained chickpeas or cook them from scratch on the stovetop or in a pressure cooker.
- Chopped Vegetables – Cucumber, red onion, red bell pepper, and tomato.
- Olives – I really feel like the olives are what take this chickpea salad to the next level. I used a mix of kalamata olives and green olives marinated in olive oil and herbs. We love this giant bag of olives and also these Sicilican Valley olives – both are our favorite go-to brands.
- Fresh herbs – Freshly chopped or torn basil adds a nice brightness and herby freshness to this salad. I also like to add fresh or dried thyme as well for added flavor.
- Olive oil – To make a light salad dressing and to add healthy fats to this vegan salad.
- Lemon juice – I love the brightness and flavor that freshly squeezed lemon juice adds to this salad. It is also a nice complement to all the other fresh flavors.
- Salt and pepper – Season to taste.
How to Make Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
All ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Into a large bowl add cooked chickpeas, chopped veggies, fresh herbs, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Allow your chickpea salad to chill for at least 30 minutes or serve immediately with pita chips or alongside your favorite roasted meat or main dish. Enjoy!
How To Prepare Chickpeas for Salad
I always cook my chickpeas from scratch either on the stovetop or my Instant Pot. On the stove it takes them at least 2 hours to cook, so more times than not I cook them in the Instant Pot which takes 35 – 40 minutes. Either way, you want the beans to be tender but not mushy or to the point where they are falling apart.
Variations
- This is a vegan chickpea salad but feel free to add salted dry cottage cheese or crumbled feta cheese, both would be delicious.
- Switch out the chickpeas for black beans if you prefer!
- For a more Mediterranean feel, add chopped sun-dried tomatoes and use red wine vinegar instead of lemon juice.
- Use more or less of the vegetables used in this recipe or swap in or add your favorites.
- Use fresh parsley or cilantro in addition to the basil and thyme or in place of it.
- Add a pinch of red crushed pepper flakes if you want a little kick of heat.
- Creamy avocado for added fat and flavor.
- Arugula or your favorite leafy greens.
Recommended Tools
- Instant pot or pressure cooker for cooking the garbanzo beans from scratch
- Large mixing bowl
- Sharp knife and cutting mat
- Glass storage containers
Ways to serve this summer chickpea salad
- With pan-seared chicken thighs
- With these lamb meatballs
- Alongside this lamb burger with tzatziki sauce
- With your favorite pita chips, crackers, or a crusty loaf of bread.
Looking For More Summer Salad Recipes?
- Smoked Salmon Caesar Salad
- Blacked Salmon Caesar Salad
- Farro Salad with Feta
- Kale Chicken Salad
- Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe without Anchovies
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Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup chickpeas cooked
- ½ large cucumber 1 cup chopped
- ½ large red bell pepper chopped
- 1 medium tomato diced
- ½ cup mixed olives sliced in half
- ¼ cup red onion sliced
- Few leaves of fresh basil chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 – 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional
- Few sprigs of fresh thyme or ¼ teaspoon of dried thyme
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine all the ingredients together. Gently mixing with a spoon. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve right away or allow it to chill for at least 30 minutes, then enjoy with pita chips or alongside your favorite main dish. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information is automatically generated and should be only used as a rough estimate. This recipe card may contain affiliate links.
