This Mediterranean chopped salad is a filling 10 minute chickpea salad packed with fresh vegetables and herbs tossed in a homemade Greek vinaigrette. With no lettuce to wilt, it’s perfect for meal prep, easy lunches or a fresh summer side dish.
Combine all the ingredients for the dressing in a jar, bowl or at the bottom of the bowl you will be tossing the salad in.
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 1 teaspoon dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon sea salt, ½ teaspoon dried oregano
Chop all of the veggies into bite size pieces. Note, be sure to chop the cucumbers a bit thicker than usual as the vinegar dressing can make them watery if they are too thin. Add the veggies to a large bowl.
1 large English cucumber, chopped, 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, chopped, 1 large bell pepper (yellow, orange, red), chopped
Rinse and drain the chickpeas, add them to the bowl with the veggies.
1.75 cups chickpeas (1 15 oz can, drained and rinsed)
Cut the olives in half and finely chop the capers and flat leaf parsley. Add to the bowl with the veggies and chickpeas.
¼ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and chopped, 2 tablespoons capers, chopped, 2 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley
Pour the dressing over the veggies if you prepared it in a separate container. Stir well for 1-2 minutes ensuring all the veggies are well coated in dressing.
Serve immediately if needed or let the salad rest in the fridge for 1-2 hours to let all the flavors come together. Serve cold or at room temperature.
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Notes
Let the salad chill before serving. I think this salad has the best flavor after it sits in the fridge for 1-2 hours. This gives the vegetables and chickpeas time to soak up some of the dressing and lets all the flavors come together.
Blend the dressing for the best texture. For a thicker, well-emulsified Greek dressing, use an immersion blender to blend the dressing ingredients together. This is especially helpful if you're doubling or tripling the recipe.
Add more dressing if you're adding grains. If you add pasta or quinoa to make the salad heartier, I recommend doubling the dressing so there's enough to coat everything.
Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.