Italian Chickpea Salad Recipe – An Italian in my Kitchen

This Italian Chickpea Salad is made with tomatoes, potatoes, olives, arugula and spices. Then tossed with a simple olive oil dressing. The perfect side dish or main dish salad recipe idea!

 

I love salads anytime of the year, from a white bean salad to a roasted red pepper pasta salad to a simple fruit salad. And this Chickpea salad in my opinion is one of those anytime salads. It’s a hearty type of salad which means not only is it perfect as a side dish but also makes a great main dish too! Plus it’s good for you!

Recipe Ingredients

• Cooked chickpeas – also known as garbanzo beans, either canned or dried and soaked overnight
• Grape tomatoes – or cherry tomatoes
• Potatoes – cooked and cubed
• Red onion – or white onion if you prefer
• Cucumber – sometimes I like to use an English cucumber that way I don’t have to peel it
• Back olives – pitted and halved kalamata olives
• Arugula – also known as rocket
• Olive oil – extra virgin olive oil
• Red wine vinegar – or you could use lemon juice
• Oregano
• Salt
• Black pepper

You could always substitute a few ingredients or add a few, for example you could add a chopped red bell pepper, sliced avocado, some chopped fresh herbs including parsley,

How to make a Chickpea Salad

Cook your chickpeas and potatoes until tender and let cool. In a large bowl add the chickpeas, halved grape tomatoes, chopped cucumber, onion, olives and potatoes.

In a small jar add the olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and oregano and shake to combine. Combine the salad with the dressing and refrigerate for short amount of time to combine the flavors. Add the arugula just before serving (so it doesn’t wilt).

Are chickpeas good for you?

Chickpeas are definitely good for you, they are a rich source of vitamins, minerals and fiber. They may even help  improve digestion, help with weight loss and reduce the risk of several diseases. They are also high in protein which makes them a perfect substitute in vegetarian cooking.

Can I use canned chickpeas?

I like to use dried chickpeas but canned would work also. Just make sure to drain and rinse them well.

How to prepare dried chickpeas

In a large bowl add the dried chickpeas and cover well with water. Let the dried chickpeas sit for about 8 hours then drain and cook until tender. Let cool before adding to the salad.

How to store the Chickpea Salad

The Chickpea Salad should be well covered or placed in an airtight container and refrigerated. It will keep for up to three days in the fridge.

More Delicious Salads to Try

So if you are looking for a Healthy Delicious Salad to try, I hope you give this Chickpea Salad a try and let me know what you think. Buon Appetito!

Updated from August 18, 2019

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