Description
A fresh, protein-rich vegetarian salad made with hearty chickpeas, tangy lemon vinaigrette, sweet dried cranberries, and creamy feta. This quick-prep dish is ideal for healthy lunches, meal prep, BBQs, or potlucks. Serve it chilled or at room temperature it’s zesty, satisfying, and full of texture in every bite.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
• 1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
• ⅓ cup dried cranberries
• ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
For the Lemon Vinaigrette:
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare the Salad
• In a large bowl, add drained chickpeas, crumbled feta, cranberries, red onion, and chopped parsley.
• Gently toss to combine all ingredients evenly.
2️⃣ Make the Lemon Vinaigrette
• In a small bowl or jar, whisk olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
• Mix until smooth and well emulsified.
3️⃣ Combine and Chill
• Pour the vinaigrette over the salad mixture.
• Toss well to ensure every chickpea is coated.
• Chill for 15–20 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Notes
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For extra flavor, toast the chickpeas in a pan for 5–7 minutes before mixing.
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To make it vegan, substitute feta with dairy-free crumbles or marinated tofu.
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Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
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Add-ins like quinoa, cucumber, or pistachios offer additional texture and nutrition.
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For a balanced meal, serve with grilled chicken, pita, or leafy greens.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes (no heating required)
- Category: Dinner, Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 410mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: chickpea salad, lemon vinaigrette, dinner salad, feta salad, cranberry salad, vegetarian meal prep, healthy summer salad, no-cook salad, quick dinner idea