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This Mediterranean Salad With Spicy Roasted Chickpeas is healthy, hearty and also full of protein, vitamins and fiber. Perfect for a weekday lunch.
Happy Wednesday guys!
This week time has been flying for me, but I guess that’s a good thing!
With the dessert overload last week, I’m all about light and simple dishes this week 🙂
And today I’m sharing a recipe for Mediterranean Salad.
Chickpeas are a staple in Mediterranean cuisine and used is salads, soups and hummus.
They are also known as garbanzo beans and have a delicious, nutty taste and a buttery texture.
At times I feel that they are a little under appreciated, not very popular, but they have a great nutritional value.
Rich in protein, fiber and antioxidants, they are excellent for weigh loss diets.
Canned chickpeas are widely available in supermarkets in the US and you can easily use them in a lot of recipes.
They are fully cooked and ready to eat.
At times I find them a little too soft, but I don’t have the habit of buying dry chockpeas.
And since I’m from Bulgaria, chickpeas aren’t new to me! I used to snack on a lot of dry roasted chickpeas as a child, and there were no canned ones around back then.
My great grandma used to soak and then roast raw chickpeas and these used to make a favorite snack.
But since I rarely buy dry chickpeas, I’ve been roasting canned chickpeas with some spices.
I usually use them in salads or enjoy them on their own.
Adding a kick of spiciness makes them the perfect addition for a salad.
Today I’m sharing a very quick and simple Mediterranean salad recipe.
I make this salad very often for lunch and to is packed with wholesome ingredients.
This is a vegetarian version (I’m not a vegetarian), but you can easily add chicken or even steak to this salad.
The Mediterranean salad is full of flavors, that come pretty well together.
Besides the spicy roasted chickpeas, I used some tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions, roasted red peppers and feta.
For a dressing -you can add your favorite vinaigrette, but since the chickpeas have some flavor from the spices, I usually dress this salad with olive oil and vinegar, and of course season with salt.
I hope you enjoy it!
MEDITERRANEAN SALAD WITH SPICY ROASTED CHICKPEAS
Video
Ingredients
FOR THE ROASTED CHICKPEAS:
- 1 (15 oz) can of chickpeas, rinsed well and drained
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN SALAD:
- 4 cups romaine lettuce, , chopped (or any lettuce of your choice)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, , halved
- 2-3 large roasted red peppers
- 1 small english cucumber, , cut into cubes
- 2 scallions, , chopped
- 1/4 cup crumbled Feta cheese
- 1/4 cup Kalamata olives
DRESSING:
- salt, , pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2-3 Tbsp vinegar, (apple cider or white)
Instructions
FOR THE ROASTED CHICKPEAS:
- Preheat oven to 400 F (205 C). Line a baking sheet with with aluminum foil.
- Place chickpeas in a bowl, add olive oil, cumin, chill powder, Cayenne pepper and salt. Toss well, making sure chickpeas are evenly covered with spices.
- Spread chickpeas in an even layer over baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, until they are crisp.
- Let them cool, before you add them to the salad.
FOR THE SALAD:
- Add chopped lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, scallions, olives, feta cheese and chickpeas to a bowl.
- Dress with salt, pepper, olive oil and vinegar.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Craving More Salads ?
Greek Inspired Salad With Shrimp
Quinoa, Pomegranate And Spinach Salad
Brussels Sprouts Salad With Cranberry Vinaigrette
Purple Cabbage And Green Apple Salad
What a beautiful looking salad! I love all the colors and flavors going on, so yummy! Pinned 🙂
Now this is my kind of salad Mira. The love to roast chickpeas and pack them in the hubby’s lunch for a healthy, afternoon snack. I’ll have to give your version a try next time. And combining those with feta cucumber and olives…mmm!
What a beautiful salad! I know what I’m having for dinner, tonight! thanks
Mira, those spiced chickpeas sound absolutely delicious! And such gorgeous colors in this bowl. I love how you’re so spot on with creating healthy dishes that are so full of flavor and beautiful!
Mira,. . sorry!! getting caught up! 😛 I LOVE roasted chickpeas in salads!!! love the seasonings you used here!! what a bright, fresh and beautiful salad!! I love this!
I’ve never roasted chickpeas but what a great idea, sounds absolutely delicious AND healthy. Thank you for sharing this with us, Mira! 🙂
If I could reach through my computer screen and take this for myself I would. This is so beautiful, colorful, and healthy.
whoa. not only do these salads LOOK amazing, they’re also really pretty. haha – salads do NOT have to be boring; these look so great!
The amount of times I eat feta+cucumbers+olives in a salad is… well, a lot. Great combo, and I love the addition of crunchy spicy roasted chickpeas- I can’t wait to try this! Pinned 🙂
I love roasted chickpeas – so this looks like a fantastic salad to try!