Description
Fresh, vibrant, and packed with flavor, the Chickpea Feta Avocado Salad combines creamy plant-based feta, buttery avocado, and protein-rich chickpeas with crisp vegetables and a zesty dressing. This quick and wholesome salad is perfect for lunch, a side, or a light dinner, offering balanced nutrition, bold flavors, and a refreshing meal any time of the year.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 1 can chickpeas (canned or cooked), drained and rinsed
- 1 cup plant-based feta (crumbled)
- 1 ripe avocado, cubed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
Dressing Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (natural)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (natural)
- 1 teaspoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Fresh Vegetables: Rinse the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and fresh herbs. Slice the cherry tomatoes in half, dice the cucumber into bite-sized pieces, thinly slice the red onion, and chop the parsley or cilantro finely. Set aside.
- Drain and Rinse Chickpeas: Drain the canned chickpeas and rinse them thoroughly under cold water to remove excess sodium or canning liquid. Allow them to drain completely before using.
- Cube the Avocado: Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, and scoop out the flesh. Chop the avocado into medium-sized cubes to retain its creamy texture without becoming mushy too quickly.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together freshly squeezed lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Combine All Ingredients: In a large bowl, gently toss the chickpeas, plant-based feta, avocado cubes, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and fresh herbs. Pour the dressing over the top and mix carefully to avoid mashing the avocado.
- Chill and Serve: Let the salad rest in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld beautifully. Serve chilled or at room temperature for best taste.
Notes
- Choose ripe yet firm avocados to avoid mushiness in the salad.
- Toss the salad gently to keep avocado cubes intact and plant-based feta from crumbling too much.
- Taste and adjust lemon juice and seasoning just before serving for maximum freshness.
- Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil to elevate the flavor and richness of the salad.
- Allow the salad to chill before serving so ingredients absorb the dressing perfectly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No-cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: chickpea salad, avocado salad, plant-based feta, vegan salad, healthy salad, gluten free, easy lunch