In case you’re within the temper for a produce-packed salad recipe with a Mediterranean flare, at the moment’s rooster and chickpea salad is one I feel you’ll love. It’s protein-packed, full of satiating fiber and is a superbly vibrant salad due to numerous colourful veggies.
There’s one thing in regards to the onset of spring that has me craving salads. They’re the right clean canvas you’ll be able to customise nonetheless you wish to fulfill many alternative cravings. Need one thing barely candy? This easy summer season chopped salad is a favourite! Craving one thing with grains as the bottom? My black bean and brown rice salad is a go-to. Within the temper for seafood? This shrimp and edamame salad is a taste and texture explosion that’s improbable as a salad or a dip!
After which there’s there’s the form of salad that’s a private favourite: The form of salad that features a bunch of deliciously contemporary produce however no lettuce. I’m not right here to hate on lettuce in any respect however there’s one thing so satisfying a couple of salad overflowing with vibrant elements that doesn’t embody lettuce that makes the salad really feel a little bit extra satiating and distinctive.
Maybe the most important bonus of creating a lettuce-less salad? They’re a lot simpler to prep forward of time and maintain their texture within the fridge. No droopy lettuce allowed!
Rooster and Chickpea Salad Recipe
As we speak’s salad doesn’t embody any lettuce, however I’m going to exit on a limb right here and say you noticed that coming. As a substitute, it’s overflowing with Mediterranean-inspired flavors. We’re speaking golden, buttery chickpeas, crisp crimson onion, tangy feta cheese and deliciously briny kalamata olives. It’s the form of dish that satisfies your starvation whereas additionally supplying you with that feel-good “I simply ate one thing wholesome” vibe. And in the event you’re somebody who’s all about texture like me, this one shall be proper up your alley as so many alternative textures work collectively within the recipe — the tender rooster and garbanzo beans, the crunch of the crimson onion, cucumber and bell pepper, the juiciness of the cherry tomatoes, the creaminess of the feta — it’s mainly a celebration in your mouth!
This rooster and chickpea salad recipe can be fast to throw collectively and lends itself properly to meal prep. (Keep in mind the entire “no soggy lettuce” factor?) It’s a improbable recipe to prep on a Sunday and revel in for lunch all through the week. It’s also possible to change it up as leftovers diminish by including barley or brown rice and leftover cooked pasta to stretch the recipe additional.
Components
Right here is every part it’s worthwhile to make this salad:
- Rooster (rotisserie rooster is ideal for this recipe)
- Chickpeas
- Cucumber
- Tomatoes
- Crimson onion (I desire to soak diced crimson onion in water for about quarter-hour earlier than including it to this salad to take away a few of the chunk)
- Bell pepper
- Feta cheese
- Kalamata olives
And this dressing is a private favourite as a result of it’s so easy to make at house and contains elements I virtually at all times have readily available:
- Olive oil
- Crimson wine vinegar
- Honey (fully non-obligatory — solely add in the event you like a little bit sweetness)
- Garlic powder
- Oregano
- Contemporary lemon juice
- Salt and pepper
See? Nothing too fancy!
Directions
I really like the way in which this salad recipe is basically a “dump every part in a bowl and name it a day” recipe.
Prep the chicken. Cube the cooked rooster breasts into bite-sized items. (Rotisserie rooster is improbable on this recipe however in the event you don’t have cooked rooster readily available, you’ll be able to at all times try my paleo rooster marinade for an easy option to prepare dinner rooster.) In case you desire your rooster heat, be at liberty to maintain the rooster breasts sizzling till it’s time to toss them into the salad.
Whisk collectively salad dressing elements (or shake to mix if making the dressing in a glass jar).
Chop your produce and mix all salad elements collectively into a big bowl. Pour dressing on high of the salad and toss to fully coat all the elements.
Take pleasure in!
Variations of Rooster and Chickpea Salad
In case you’d like to vary issues up a bit, this rooster chickpea salad is a flexible one because the flavors praise quite a lot of veggies and proteins. For a extra flavorful rooster, put together the rooster breast forward of time utilizing my straightforward baked rooster recipe. And in the event you’re within the temper for seafood, I really like swapping out the rooster for salmon or shrimp. In case you’d desire to make this recipe vegetarian-friendly, you’ll be able to merely omit the rooster and even add falafel into the combo!
This rooster chickpea salad recipe additionally tastes improbable with some chilly, cooked pasta stirred in (I desire rotini) and pairs properly with my summer season pasta salad in the event you’re searching for a scrumptious duo of sides to share collectively at an upcoming occasion or cookout.
Additionally, for some shortcuts, I like to recommend utilizing rotisserie rooster on this recipe, in addition to pre-sliced olive and roasted crimson peppers in the event you like a little bit little bit of smokiness. It’s a enjoyable recipe to mess around with and I hope you find it irresistible as a lot as we do. In case you resolve to present this one a attempt, please let me know what you suppose by score the recipe. Your suggestions is appreciated so, a lot!
Rooster and Chickpea Salad
Rooster and Chickpea Salad
Description
A protein-packed salad recipe with a Mediterranean flare, this rooster and chickpea salad is full of satiating fiber and is a superbly vibrant dish due to numerous colourful veggies.
For the salad:
- 8 ounces rooster breasts, cooked and diced (rotisserie rooster works nice!)
- 15 ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 2 English cucumbers, diced (I desire English cucumbers as they don’t have seeds however common cucumbers will work simply nice)
- 1/4 cup crimson onion, diced (and soaked in ice water for about 15 minutes to take away a few of the chunk — not needed nevertheless it helps!)
- 1 cup kalamata olives, sliced in half (pits eliminated)
- 1/3 cup feta cheese, chopped
For the dressing:
- 3 tablespoons crimson wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- Elective: Tiny squeeze of honey in the event you’d like a little bit trace of sweetness
Directions
- Mix all salad elements collectively in a big bowl.
- Whisk collectively all dressing elements.
- Drizzle dressing on high of salad and gently toss to combine every part collectively, ensuring all elements are coated within the dressing.
- Serve instantly and revel in!
