15 Minute chickpea salad with lemon basil dressing is a bright, protein rich, herbaceous and spicy dish perfect for quick, nourishing lunches and meal prep. It is naturally vegan, gluten free and nut free.
The key part of this spicy chickpea salad is the zesty lemon basil dressing. Fresh basil, zesty lemon, spices and a fabulous extra virgin olive oil elevate the salad and transform it into something unforgettable.
This chickpea salad proves that healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring. It’s vibrant, quick to prepare and endlessly adaptable depending on what you have in the kitchen.
It is a versatile dish as a meal prep salad, filling enough to serve as a complete lunch or as a light dinner without needing any side dishes. It’s also an excellent choice for picnics, road trips or anytime you need fresh, portable meal that’s easy to pack and enjoy on the go.
I used Little Olive Oil’s superior quality extra virgin olive oil, an Albanian single varietal oil that transforms a simple salad into a sophisticated one. Check out their collection here.
Notes On Ingredients
Here’s everything you’ll need to make this recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
Spices and Pantry Ingredients: Ground cumin, chilli flakes, salt
Vegetables: Fresh basil leaves, red onion, tomatoes, cucumber, garlic and lemon. I used mini san marzano tomatoes.
Oil: Extra virgin olive oil. I used the brand ‘Little Olive Oil’. Check out their collection here.
Chickpea: I used canned chickpeas, but you can use dried chickpeas and cook them if you have time.
How To Make Chickpea Salad With Spicy Lemon Basil Dressing?
(This is an overview with process photos, the full recipe is at the bottom in a recipe card)
As always, I recommend watching the recipe video and checking out these step-by-step instructions first. Then you can find the full recipe with the exact measurements in the recipe card below!
Step 1: In a blender jar, place fresh basil leaves, chilli flakes, salt, ground cumin and extra olive oil.
Step 2: Blend until smooth.
Step 3: In a mixing bowl, toss chickpeas, vegetables and dressing.
Enjoy fresh chickpea salad with spicy lemon basil dressing.
Variations and Substitutions
Vegetables: Add more vegetables such as capsicum/bell peppers, corn kernels or avocado for extra nutrition.
Extra Heat: Add finely chopped green chillies along with chilli flakes for a fiery kick.
Tomatoes: You can substitute mini San Marzano tomatoes with cherry tomatoes or baby plum tomatoes.
Storage
If you are planning it for a meal plan, make the dressing 2 days ahead and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Prep and store vegetables in separate airtight containers. Toss everything just before serving. This helps vegetables stay crisp.
Store leftover salad in an airtight container for up to 3 days, though vegetables release moisture and soften. But the salad actually tastes better as the flavours meld.
Serving Suggestions
As salad: Serve it chilled or at room temperature as a standalone salad for lunch or a light dinner.
In wraps or pita: Stuff in warm pita bread with fresh greens and a dollop of Greek yogurt or tahini. It’s a great addition to tortilla wraps.
As a side dish: Serve it with garlic herb roasted vegetables, roasted turnips, crispy baked tofu or yogurt marinated tofu.
Tips and Tricks
Taste and Adjust: Too bland? add more lemon juice or a pinch of extra salt. Not too spicy? add another 1/4 teaspoon chilli flakes. Too acidic? add a splash of olive oil.
Let Salad Rest: Allow salad to rest for 10-15 minutes so the chickpeas can absorb the dressing and the flavours have time to meld.
Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice provides brighter and more vibrant flavours than bottled juice.
FAQ
Yes, prepare dressing and store it in an airtight container, prep vegetables and store in separate containers, cook and store chickpeas in a container, if using dried chickpeas. Combine everything 1 hour before serving.
Absolutely. Soak dried chickpeas overnight and cook as per your preferred method – pressure cooker or stovetop. Drain liquid and use it in the recipe.
Koroneiki is one of the most popular olive varieties known for producing fresh, flavourful oils that are naturally rich in polyphenols.
Albania has Mediterranean weather with ideal conditions for growing olives and it has a long heritage of growing olives. While it is less popular than Greece, Italy or Spain, it produces exceptional extra virgin olive oils that can compete with the best from across the region.
Little olive oil Koroneiki superior extra virgin olive oil has fresh green notes of grass and herbs with a balanced peppery finish, which is typical of high quality extra virgin olive oil.
Chickpea Salad With Spicy Lemon Basil Dressing
Equipment
- 1 Blender
- 2 spoons
Ingredients
1 Cup = 250ml ; 1 Tablespoon = 15ml ; 1 Teaspoon = 5ml
For Dressing
- 1 cup (or) 12 gms fresh basil leaves
- ½ teaspoon chilli flakes adjust to taste
- salt as required
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 clove garlic
- juice from ½ lemon
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
For Salad
- 1.5 cups (or) 300 gms canned chickpea drain liquid
- ¾ cup cucumber chop into 1 inch cubes
- ½ cup red onion chop finely
- 5-6 tomatoes chop each into quarters
Instructions
- In a blender jar, place 1 cup (or) 12 gms fresh basil leaves, ½ teaspoon chilli flakes, salt, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, 1 clove garlic and 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil.
- Blend it until smooth. Set it aside to use later.
- In a mixing bowl, add 1.5 cups (or) 300 gms canned chickpea, ¾ cup cucumber, ½ cup red onion, 5-6 tomatoes and dressing.
- Toss until everything is well combined.
- Enjoy fresh, crisp chickpea salad with lemon basil dressing.
Notes
Nutrition
More Salad Recipes
More Chickpea Recipes
Maple Cinnamon Roasted Chickpea
Roasted Chickpea Salad With Avocado Dressing
KEEP IN TOUCH
Do let me know if you try this easy Mediterranean Indian fusion chickpea salad with spicy lemon basil dressing recipe. If you like this recipe, kindly consider rating it using stars in the comment section or on the recipe card to help more people find this recipe online. You can stay up to date by following me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram or subscribing to my Youtube channel. Or why not subscribe to my blog and get simple recipes straight to your inbox?
Welcome to Flavours Treat. I share vegetarian recipes made with wholesome, mostly fresh ingredients. Every recipe has easy-to-follow instructions with process shots (detailed step-wise pictures), a short video and lots of tips to help your cooking journey. Read more
