A chickpea and cucumber salad is a light and refreshing dish with a delightful mix of textures and flavors. It is a perfect side dish or a balanced light dinner option.
Simple, nutritious, and super delicious!
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Why this Cucumber and Chickpea Salad Recipe is a Keeper
The combination of creamy chickpeas, cool cucumber, and a tangy dressing creates a satisfying and refreshing salad. It’s light enough for a side dish or lunch, but also has enough protein and healthy fats to keep you feeling full. The different textures add interest to each bite, while the various flavor components create a balanced and harmonious taste experience.
- 10 Minute Meal: You will love this recipe because you can prep this salad quickly and just mix everything together.
- Easy Ingredients: Using Canned chickpeas makes it easy and is such a great source of protein.
- Family Friendly: This salad is light and refreshing and perfect for a spring and/or summer meal.
- Adaptable: Can make it with roasted red peppers, and crisp cucumber or any other fresh vegetables such as red onion.
- Makes Great Leftovers: Salad like this is great for meal prep. I like to use vegetables fresh from the garden.
If you’re looking for more chickpea inspired recipes, try these Marinated Chickpeas, Air Fryer Chickpeas and Dark Chocolate Hummus.
Are chickpeas high in protein?
Yes, chickpeas are a good source of plant-based protein. A one-cup serving (164 grams) of cooked chickpeas packs about 14.5 grams of protein and fiber.
Chickpea Salad Ingredients
You will love this salad because it is made with simple ingredients from the pantry and garden. Making it with protein-packed chickpeas makes this salad or side a breeze to make.
- Canned chickpeas: You need 1 can of chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, for this salad.
- Fresh Cucumber: I like to use English cucumber, but you can use regular cucumber or whatever you like.
- Cheese: Feta cheese provides a nice salty bite to finish the salad.
Salad Dressing:
- Olive Oil: I use an extra virgin olive oil for this great recipe for salad.
- Greek seasoning: Any type of seasoning will work but the Mediterranean flavors of this seasoning are ideal. But you can use simple salt and pepper and fresh oregano if you like.
- Balsamic vinegar: Use a good quality vinegar for this vinaigrette.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions for Cucumber Salad with Feta
- Red Wine Vinegar: You can replace the balsamic vinegar with red wine vinegar if you prefer.
- Persian Cucumbers: You can make this great salad with any type of cucumber you can find.
- Goat Cheese: If you are not a fan of feta in this salad, try a creamy goat cheese.
- Make the Dressing: You can make this dressing or buy a bright lemon vinaigrette dressing.
Pro Tip
For a creamier base to the salad, mash a third of the chickpeas with a fork before combining them with the other ingredients.
How to Make Cucumber Chickpea Salad with Feta
Experiment with different flavors, textures, and add-ins, and discover your perfect version of this healthy and delicious dish!
These are the basic steps for making this canned garbanzo beans salad. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Chop the Vegetables and add the Chickpeas to a Salad Bowl
First, rinse and chop your baby carrots and your red bell pepper. Then rinse your chickpeas and add all the ingredients to a large bowl.
2. Make the Salad Dressing
Next, in a small bowl or mason jar, mix olive oil, balsamic vinegar and seasoning.
3. Toss to Combine the Greek Salad
Finally, add the dressing over the vegetables and refrigerate for 12 hours or overnight.
Summer Salad Recipe FAQs
Expert Tips for Making This Chickpea and Feta Salad Recipe
This salad is a great main dish or as a side salad. Make this salad even better with additional protein such as chicken or salmon. Or juicy fresh tomatoes. This salad is great because it is so versatile.
- Mediterranean Twist: Add chopped kalamata olives, red onion and grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes. A squirt of lemon juice is perfect too for this chickpea and tomato salad.
- Spicy Fiesta: Include diced jalapeño pepper, chopped fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice for a Mexican flair to this super simple salad.
- Fresh Herbs: Add fresh parsley or a combination of fresh dill and fresh mint for a bright and fragrant bean salad.
- Creamy Dream: For a richer texture, stir in a dollop of plain Greek yogurt or mashed avocado to this healthy recipe.
- Crunchy Delight: Top the simple chickpea salad with toasted nuts like almonds or chopped walnuts for an extra textural element to the salad and toss.
More Easy Salad Recipes
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Chickpea and Cucumber Salad
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Ingredients
- 15 ounces Chickpeas, 1 can
- ½ Cucumber
- 10 Baby carrots
- 1 Red pepper
- ½ cup Feta cheese
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Greek seasoning, or a seasoning of your choice
- 3 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Chop your vegetables and mix them in a bowl. Add in the feta cheese.
- In a small bowl, mix olive oil, balsamic vinegar and seasoning.
- Mix dressing and vegetables and let sit in the fridge overnight.
Christina’s Notes
- Mediterranean Twist: Add chopped kalamata olives, red onion and grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes. A squirt of lemon juice is perfect too for this chickpea and tomato salad.
- Spicy Fiesta: Include diced jalapeño pepper, chopped fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice for a Mexican flair to this super simple salad.
- Fresh Herbs: Add fresh parsley or a combination of fresh dill and fresh mint for a bright and fragrant bean salad.
- Creamy Dream: For a richer texture, stir in a dollop of plain Greek yogurt or mashed avocado to this healthy recipe.
- Crunchy Delight: Top the simple chickpea salad with toasted nuts like almonds or chopped walnuts for an extra textural element to the salad and toss.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.