Healthy Easy Cucumber Chickpea (Print view)

Refreshing salad with cucumbers, chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, herbs, and lemon vinaigrette dressing.

# Ingredient List:

→ Salad

01 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 large English cucumber, diced
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1/4 small red onion, finely diced
05 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
06 - 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped

→ Lemon Vinaigrette

07 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
08 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
09 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
10 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
11 - 1/2 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
12 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the chickpeas, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, parsley, and mint.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, Dijon mustard, honey or maple syrup, salt, and pepper until well emulsified.
03 - Pour the vinaigrette over the salad ingredients and toss gently to coat everything evenly.
04 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
05 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes, meaning you can make it while your coffee is still hot.
  • The chickpeas give you real staying power, so you won't be hungry an hour after eating.
  • It tastes better the longer it sits, so you can prep it the night before and actually have an easier morning.
02 -
  • If you make this more than a few hours ahead, keep the dressing separate and add it just before serving, because the vegetables will eventually weep and dilute everything.
  • Don't skip rinsing the canned chickpeas, as the starchy liquid genuinely muddles the bright, clean flavors you're trying to achieve.
03 -
  • Squeeze your lemon juice just before mixing the vinaigrette, because citrus oxidizes and loses its brightness sitting around in bottles.
  • If your cucumber releases a lot of water as you toss, don't panic—just drain the bowl gently and add dressing to taste, because the ratio shifts slightly when that happens.
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