Chana Salad or Chickpea Salad

What is Chana salad or Chickpea Salad

It’s a mouth-watering salad recipe that is a complete meal and comes together in under 30 mins, is low in fat, high in protein, and sinfully delicious.

This delicacy uses nutrient-rich ingredients- Garbanzo beans (chickpeas), fresh veggies, and feta cheese, which are tossed in a tangy dressing, making this recipe an irresistible indulgence.

Serve this Chana salad or Chickpea Salad for lunch or dinner, and I am sure you will garner many compliments for your glamorous creation.

Reasons You’ll ♡ Chana salad or Chickpea Salad

You will love everything about this fantastic Chickpea salad, making it a completely satisfying meal. It is —

• Quick and super easy to prepare
• Healthy, hearty, and nutritious
• Protein-packed family favorite
• Gluten-free, nut-free, and vegetarian
• Can be vegan, too (skip the feta cheese)
• Adaptive and customizable
• Addictive and irresistibly delicious!

The best part is that this mouth-watering salad is portable and loved by all ages.

Chana salad or Chickpea Salad Ingredient List

Chickpeas — Boiled chickpeas are the key ingredient of the recipe. I cooked the chickpeas in the Instant Pot. You may also use store-bought chickpeas for quick preparation. However, before using them, drain and rinse them properly.

Vegetables — Onions, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, cucumbers, cilantro leaves, and scallions all add their unique flavors to the recipe and make it lip-smackingly delicious. 

Feta Cheese — This is an optional ingredient, but if you like a velvety touch to the recipe, you must go for it. 

Seasonings — Add red chili flakes, cumin seeds, and dried mint leaves for more flavoring and spiciness.

Homemade salad dressing — A dash of this hypes the overall flavor of the chana salad or chickpea salad recipe. 

Chana salad or Chickpea Salad Tips and Variations

Chop the veggies small — Vegetables can be cut small and the same size so you can scoop them up along with your chickpeas. This way, you will get to taste all the crunchy veggies in one bite.

Can use canned chickpeas — Canned chickpeas are cooked and ready to eat. So, feel free to use them if you are on a time crunch. However, when using the canned chickpeas, drain and rinse them before adding them to the chickpea salad. 

Toasted chickpeas for extra delight — Toast boiled chickpeas in an oven or air fryer and enjoy the extra crunch which it adds to the recipe. 

Do not skip the Salad dressing — It gives chickpeas and veggies a perfect shine and a tangy flavor. The best part is that natural juices from fresh vegetables and herbs make it even more flavorful once everything is mixed up.

Versatile recipe — This recipe can be prepared with a medley of veggies; the sky is the limit when choosing the combo used here. Roasted butter squash, sweet potatoes, cherry tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, and other veggies can all be a part of this delicious chickpea salad. You may also add toasted nuts and walnuts for a wonderful crunch.

Substitutes of Chickpeas — You can replace chickpeas with other canned beans, like black beans or kidney beans. However, make sure to rinse and drain them before adding them to the salad. 

An excellent addition — Try adding kalamata olives for the ultimate deliciousness. These take the recipe to an entirely new level.

Add salt sparingly — If you are using Feta cheese, add less salt to the recipe because Feta is already a salty cheese. Adding more salt will result in an overly salty salad.

Taste before serving — The salad may need an extra squeeze of lemon, a pinch of salt, or a dash of extra seasoning, so before serving the salad, always taste it and make sure everything is on point.

Dial up a sweet spot — If you like some sweetness in the chana salad, feel free to add a little sugar to it. 

Amp up the protein — Give your salad a protein boost by adding diced avocados. These not only amp up the protein level but also lend creaminess and healthy fats to the recipe. However, save it for the last, just before serving. 

Make-ahead recipe — Boiled chickpeas and veggies can be stored separately in air-tight containers and stored in the fridge for assembly later. For optimal freshness, combine everything close to serving and toss in some exciting dressings. Serve the glammed-up preparation! 

Add a tangy cheer — Lemon adds a nice spicy flavor to the salad. But feel free to add apple cider vinegar to add some zing to the chickpea salad. 

To elevate spiciness — As written, this recipe is not spicy. Add some extra dried chili flakes or cayenne pepper to add an element of spice to the salad. A dash of Sriracha to the dressing also works wonderfully. 

To make a crunchier salad — Green onions add a neutral flavor to the salad and boost the overall taste, but if you are looking for an extra crunch, feel free to add finely diced red onions/ sweet onions instead.

Relish the salad warm or cold — You can devour this fabulous salad warm or cold, as per your preference. To serve it warm, heat the chickpeas in the microwave just before serving. Toss in the veggies and dress the salad. Toss again to coat and serve immediately.

Let me know what you think!

An easy-to-make recipe that takes no time to prepare is always welcoming. Enjoy this delicious vegan recipe that can be scaled according to your requirement and can be prepared in advance too.

If you feel excited about this recipe, then let’s put on our aprons and begin.

Should you make this Yummy Chickpea salad, please let me know your thoughts by sharing your comment below. 

And don’t forget to share it with your family and friends.

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