Mediterranean Chickpea Tomato Basil Salad (Printable)

Vibrant salad with chickpeas, tomatoes, basil, and zesty lemon dressing. Ready in 15 minutes.

# List of ingredients:

→ Salad Components

01 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 small cucumber, diced
04 - 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
05 - 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
06 - 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
07 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)

→ Lemon-Garlic Dressing

08 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
09 - 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
10 - 1 clove garlic, minced
11 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
12 - 1/4 tsp salt, or to taste
13 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

# Steps:

01 - In a large salad bowl, combine chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, olives, and basil.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper until well combined.
03 - Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently to coat evenly.
04 - Add feta cheese if using, and toss lightly once more.
05 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld together.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It actually tastes better after sitting for an hour, making it perfect for meal prep or potlucks
  • The dressing comes together in seconds but tastes like something from a fancy restaurant
02 -
  • The salad needs at least 15 minutes for the dressing to penetrate the chickpeas and tomatoes
  • Red onion can overpower everything if you slice it too thick or add too much
  • Room temperature ingredients absorb dressing better than cold ones straight from the fridge
03 -
  • Dry your chickpeas thoroughly with paper towels before tossing them with the vegetables
  • Taste the dressing before adding it and adjust the lemon or salt based on your tomatoes sweetness

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