Description
Chickpea medley delight delivers Mediterranean comfort with protein-packed ingredients from Greece. Mediterranean herbs and spices create a simple, nourishing meal you will savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups (720 ml) cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups (480 ml) mixed yellow and red grape tomatoes, halved
- ½ English cucumber, diced
- ½ cup (120 ml) kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- ½ cup (120 ml) pickled red onions
- ½ cup (120 ml) chopped fresh parsley
- ¼ cup (60 ml) chopped fresh dill
- ¼ cup (60 ml) chopped fresh mint
- Whole mint leaves for garnish
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Dressing Preparation: Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, mustard, sea salt, and black pepper in a large bowl until fully integrated and smooth.
- Ingredient Fusion: Transfer dressing to a serving bowl, add chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumber, pickled onions, and olives, tossing thoroughly to ensure complete coating with the vibrant vinaigrette.
- Herbal Infusion: Incorporate chopped parsley, dill, and mint into the mixture, gently folding to distribute herbs evenly and create a layered flavor landscape.
- Flavor Calibration: Taste and refine the seasoning, adjusting with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice to achieve a perfectly balanced and harmonious profile.
- Elegant Garnish: Sprinkle fresh mint leaves across the surface just before serving, adding a final touch of visual appeal and aromatic complexity to the chickpea medley.
Notes
- Enhance Herb Freshness: Chop herbs just before adding to maintain maximum flavor and prevent wilting, releasing their essential oils for a more vibrant taste experience.
- Dressing Emulsion Technique: Whisk dressing ingredients vigorously to create a stable, well-blended emulsion that coats ingredients evenly and prevents separation.
- Marination Magic: Let the salad rest for 15-20 minutes after mixing to allow flavors to meld, giving chickpeas time to absorb the dressing’s zesty notes.
- Texture Preservation: Add cucumber and soft ingredients just before serving to maintain their crisp texture and prevent unwanted sogginess.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg