Fresh Greek Chickpea Salad Recipe 15-Minute Easy Healthy Lunch
A crisp, fresh, and filling Greek chickpea salad with a zesty lemon herb dressing, perfect for a quick and healthy lunch or light dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 medium cucumber, diced small
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- Handful fresh parsley, chopped
- Handful fresh dill, chopped
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 medium lemon)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Vegetables (5 minutes): Rinse and drain the canned chickpeas well. Dice the cucumber into small cubes, halve the cherry tomatoes, finely chop the red onion, roughly chop the parsley and dill, and slice the Kalamata olives thinly.
- Make the Lemon Herb Dressing (3 minutes): In a small bowl or jar, combine lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. Whisk or shake until emulsified and bright.
- Toss the Salad (2 minutes): In a large mixing bowl, combine chickpeas, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, olives, and herbs. Pour the dressing over and toss gently but thoroughly to coat evenly.
- Final Taste and Adjustments (2 minutes): Taste and add more salt, pepper, or lemon juice if needed. Fresh herbs mellow as the salad sits, so add a squeeze of lemon before serving if desired.
- Serve Immediately or Chill (Optional): Serve fresh or chill for 15-20 minutes to meld flavors. Avoid chilling too long to prevent watery cucumber.
Notes
Drain chickpeas thoroughly to avoid watery salad. Use fresh lemon juice for best flavor. Chop vegetables uniformly for balanced texture. Add dressing just before serving if making ahead to keep salad crisp. Optional additions include toasted pine nuts or crumbled feta for extra texture and flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1.5 cups per s
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 8
- Protein: 10
Keywords: Greek chickpea salad, lemon herb dressing, healthy lunch, easy salad, vegan salad, gluten-free salad, quick salad recipe