Make a protein-rich, healthy, and delicious Mediterranean chickpea salad recipe at home.
When it comes to chickpeas, you either hate them or love them. I love chickpeas because they can be used in so many different recipes. Chickpea salad and its variations are some of the most popular chickpea dishes, but often, such salads lack flavor.
In this Mediterranean chickpea salad recipe with a twist, I’ve added sausage for extra protein, fresh veggies and a zesty dressing to add depth to the dish. The recipe is full of flavor and you can make it in under 20 minutes.
Jump to RecipeWhy you’ll love this recipe
- It’s easy to make: If you buy canned chickpeas, the hardest part of this recipe will be chopping the ingredients and tossing everything together.
- It’s flavorful: Sausage and zesty dressing give this Mediterranean chickpea salad a rich flavor.
- It’s affordable: Most ingredients in this recipe are cheap and you can find them in most grocery stores or your local farmers’ market.
How to make chickpea salad
Main ingredients
- Garbanzo beans (chickpeas): Use canned chickpeas for convenience. You can buy dried grains, but it’ll take much more time to soak and boil them to reach the right consistency.
- Tomatoes: Use cherry, grape, or regular tomatoes to add sweetness and color to this salad recipe.
- Sausages: I’ve added chicken sausages, but you can choose pork or beef sausages. It’s up to you.
- Arugula: I’ve used arugula because I like its flavor, but you can opt for different greens like lettuce or lamb’s lettuce.
- Red onion: Sweet and a bit spicy, red onion adds more flavor and crunch to the salad.
- Mozzarella balls: If you can’t find mozzarella balls, buy a regular block of mozzarella and chop it into small bits.
Mediterranean chickpea salad recipe in five steps
Step one: Sear the sausages
Mediterranean chickpea salad tastes better cold, so before you begin arranging the other ingredients, start by searing the sausages. Sear them whole and cut them into small pieces later, or cut them beforehand. Choose whichever method is easier for you. Once they’re cooked, remove the sausages from the pan and let them cool down.
Step two: Drain or boil the chickpeas
If you choose to use canned chickpeas, drain and rinse them with cold water. Let the water drip before adding the chickpeas to a salad dish.
If you went the hard way and bought dry chickpeas, soak them for at least 8 hours or overnight before boiling. Then, boil water, season it with salt, add the soaked chickpeas, and boil them for at least 30 minutes to an hour. Around the half-hour mark, taste them to check the consistency.
Step three: Chop the veggies
Wash and dice the tomatoes, red onions, parsley, and mozzarella. Combine the ingredients in a large salad bowl with the chickpeas.
Learn how you can reduce food waste at home.
Step four: Make the dressing
In a mixing bowl, pour in 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of honey, a small amount of fresh lemon juice (adjusted to taste), and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Stir everything together.
Step five: Mix everything
In the bowl with the chickpeas and other ingredients, add the cold sausages and arugula. Season everything with salt and pepper, pour in the dressing, and add a handful of fresh parsley. Mix everything thoroughly and serve. Skanaus!
Did you like the recipe? Rate it below and leave a comment to let me know how it went!
Quick Mediterranean chickpea salad recipe
Delicious Mediterranean Chickpea Salad Recipe in 5 Steps
Ingredients
Salad
- 400 g Chickpeas
- 150 g Cherry tomatoes
- 3 Sausages
- 1/4 Red onion
- 50 g Arugula
- 150 g Mozzarella balls
Dressing
- 3 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 tsp Honey
- 1/4 Lemon juice
- Balsamic vinegar a splash
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Sear sausages. Once they're done, set aside and let them cool down.
- Canned: Drain, rinse with cold water, and let drip dry. Dry chickpeas: Soak for 8+ hours, then boil in salted water for 30-60 minutes until tender.
- Wash all vegetables. Dice tomatoes, thinly slice red onions, chop parsley, and cut mozzarella into small cubes.
- Combine in a large salad bowl prepared chickpeas, diced vegetables, cubed mozzarella, and arugula.
- In a separate bowl, mix :3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon honey, juice of half or quarter of a lemon, and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Whisk ingredients together.
- Add cooled, sliced sausages to the salad bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour dressing over the salad. Add a handful of fresh parsley, and toss everything together until well combined.
- Serve and enjoy the Mediterranean chickpea salad cold!
Leave a Reply