When it’s just too hot to turn on the oven, there’s nothing better than a refreshing, chilled salad that can be made in minutes. This Mediterranean-style salad is the perfect side dish to your warm-weather staples or it can be served as the main event. For even more protein, consider adding a cup of pre-cooked quinoa or sliced Kalamata olives for a briny twist.
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Mediterranean-Inspired Chickpea Salad
Description
There’s nothing better than juicy summer tomatoes and refreshing mint, and this Mediterranean-style salad combines both. We like this dish as a side, but it can be served as a vegetarian-friendly main dish, too.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 cups chickpeas
- 1/2 lemon
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 medium seedless cucumbers
- 1/2 red onion, sliced
- 2 small sprigs mint
- Salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup feta cheese (optional)
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Drain and rinse chickpeas.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, and juice of half a lemon. Set aside.
- Slice cucumbers into 1/2-inch thick disks. Cut a red onion in half and slice into 1/4-inch thick slices. Pull mint leaves from the sprigs.
- Transfer vegetables to the bowl with the oil, vinegar, and juice mixture and toss gently to coat. Add optional feta cheese and red pepper flakes.
- Season with salt and pepper, serve, and enjoy!
Are chickpeas a good source of protein?
| The chickpea, or garbanzo bean, is a legume that’s a great addition to Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes alike. They’re made up of almost 70% of carbohydrates. If you eat a cup of cooked chickpeas, you’re consuming approximately 45 grams of carbs. The same amount of cooked chickpeas contains about 14 grams of protein. They also have a healthy dose of fiber, which is great for a balanced meal. |