Mediterranean Roasted Chickpea Salad
This roasted Chickpea Salad with cucumbers and tahini is nutritious, flavorful, and the perfect meal-prep lunch, summer picnic, or weeknight dinner. A tangy lemon dressing with honey brings everything perfectly together, along with fresh herbs, cucumbers, and thinly sliced red onions.
Ingredients
For the Roasted Chickpeas
- 1 can chickpeas , drained and rinsed
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Pinch of kosher salt and black pepper
For the Lemon-Maple Dressing
- 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- kosher salt and black pepper
For the Salad
- 1/2 cup greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 1/4 cup red onion , thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup persian cucumber , diced
- 1 tbsp pine nuts , toasted
- 1 tbsp flat leaf parsley , chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh mint , chopped
- 1 tbsp sumac
Instructions
- Prepare the chickpeas. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Spread the drained chickpeas on a clean kitchen towel and pat dry.
- Transfer the dried chickpeas to a baking sheet. Drizzle with the olive oil, add the minced garlic, then season with oregano, cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Toss well until evenly coated.
- Roast the chickpeas. Roast for 20 minutes, shaking the pan halfway. The chickpeas should be crisp and golden. Remove from the oven and let them cool.
- Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking until emulsified.
- Prepare the salad. In a bowl, combine the diced cucumbers and sliced red onions. Drizzle with the dressing. In a separate bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt and tahini until smooth.
- Assemble the salad. Spread the yogurt-tahini mixture onto the bottom of a shallow bowl or plate. Add the salad and top with the crispy chickpeas.
- Sprinkle with the sumac and garnish with toasted pine nuts, mint, and parsley. Enjoy while the chickpeas are crispy!
This step is important to achieve a crispy exterior when roasted.
Notes
Don't Skip the Drying Time - To achieve the ultimate crispy texture, ensure your chickpeas are completely bone dry before tossing them with oil and spices. If they are even slightly damp, the heat from the oven will cause them to steam rather than roast, leaving them soft instead of crunchy.
Meal Prep Tip - For the best meal prep, store the vegetables and dressing in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. Keep the roasted chickpeas in a container on your counter at room temperature, as refrigerating them introduces moisture.