Greek Chickpea Salad

Greek Chickpea Salad is a delicious and nutritious dish that combines chickpeas (garbanzo beans) with various Mediterranean flavors and ingredients. It’s a popular salad known for its freshness and vibrant flavors. Here’s a basic recipe for Greek Chickpea Salad:

Ingredients:

For the Salad:

• 2 cups cooked chickpeas (canned or cooked from dried)
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped (optional)
• Salt and black pepper to taste

For the Dressing:

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a large salad bowl, combine the cooked chickpeas, diced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, chopped red onion, Kalamata olives, crumbled feta cheese, and chopped herbs (parsley and mint if using).
2. In a separate small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.
3. Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients in the large bowl.
4. Gently toss everything together to ensure the salad is well coated with the dressing.
5. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed.
6. Allow the salad to chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
7. Just before serving, you can garnish with additional herbs and feta cheese if desired.

Greek Chickpea Salad is versatile, and you can customize it to your liking by adding other ingredients like diced bell peppers, artichoke hearts, or roasted red peppers. It’s a fantastic option for a healthy and refreshing side dish or a light meal on its own. Enjoy!