Chickpea Feta Avocado Salad (Printable Version)
Protein-packed Mediterranean salad with chickpeas, feta, avocado, and zesty lemon dressing in 15 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables & Legumes
01 - 1 can (14 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 large avocado, diced
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 small cucumber, diced
05 - ¼ small red onion, finely chopped
06 - 2 cups baby spinach or mixed greens
→ Dairy
07 - 3.5 oz feta cheese, crumbled
→ Fresh Herbs
08 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
09 - 1 tbsp fresh mint, chopped (optional)
→ Dressing
10 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 1½ tbsp fresh lemon juice
12 - 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
13 - ½ tsp dried oregano
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How To Make It:
01 - In a large salad bowl, combine the drained chickpeas, diced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, finely chopped red onion, and baby spinach or mixed greens.
02 - Scatter the crumbled feta cheese and chopped fresh parsley and mint over the salad mixture.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, honey or maple syrup, dried oregano, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until well emulsified.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss everything together, ensuring all ingredients are evenly coated without mashing the avocado.
05 - Serve immediately, garnished with additional herbs or extra crumbled feta if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Zero cooking required, which means your kitchen stays cool and you get to eat in fifteen minutes flat.
- The creamy avocado and salty feta do all the heavy lifting so the dressing stays simple and bright.
02 -
- Once dressed, the avocado starts browning within an hour so this is a salad that waits for no one.
- Taste a chickpea straight from the can before adding it because some brands are significantly saltier than others.
03 -
- Let the chickpeas sit in the dressing for ten minutes before adding the avocado so they absorb more flavor without getting mashed.
- A pinch of sumac sprinkled over the finished bowl adds a tangy complexity that makes people ask what your secret is.