Description
This Turkish Chickpea Salad is a refreshing, flavorful, and nutritious dish combining cooked chickpeas with fresh vegetables such as cucumber, tomato, and red onion. Enhanced with a zesty lemon dressing and aromatic spices like cumin, paprika, and sumac, it offers a perfect balance of textures and flavors. Ideal as a light meal or side dish, this no-cook recipe comes together quickly and effortlessly, making it a great option for healthy eating anytime.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chickpeas
- 1 medium cucumber, diced
- 1 medium tomato, diced
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Dressing & Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground sumac
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Add Chickpeas: In a large mixing bowl, place the cooked chickpeas as the base for the salad.
- Prepare Cucumber: Dice the cucumber into small, bite-sized pieces and add them to the chickpeas in the bowl.
- Add Tomato: Dice the tomato into small chunks and add it to the bowl combining with the other vegetables and chickpeas.
- Add Onion: Thinly slice the red onion and add it to the mixture to provide a sharp and crunchy texture.
- Add Parsley: Finely chop the fresh parsley and add it to the salad for a bright, herbal note.
- Drizzle Olive Oil: Pour the extra virgin olive oil over the ingredients to provide a rich and smooth flavor base.
- Add Lemon Juice: Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the salad to bring brightness and tanginess to the dish.
- Add Cumin: Sprinkle ground cumin for warm, earthy undertones enhancing the Middle Eastern character.
- Add Paprika: Add paprika for subtle smokiness and mild spice.
- Add Sumac: Sprinkle ground sumac to introduce citrusy and slightly tangy notes typical in Turkish cuisine.
- Season: Add salt and black pepper to taste, balancing the flavors perfectly.
- Toss Salad: Gently toss all ingredients together using a spoon or hands to combine everything evenly.
- Let Flavors Marinate: Allow the salad to rest for about 10 minutes so the flavors meld and deepen.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste and modify the seasoning if needed before serving.
- Serve: Present the Turkish chickpea salad as a refreshing side dish or light meal, perfect for warm weather or as part of a mezze spread.
Notes
- This salad is best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours; the flavors intensify when chilled.
- Use cooked chickpeas from scratch or canned for convenience; just rinse and drain canned chickpeas thoroughly.
- Sumac powder can be found in Middle Eastern stores or online; it adds a unique tart flavor.
- Adjust lemon juice and salt according to your taste preference for acidity and seasoning.
- Add a sprinkle of toasted pine nuts or crumbled feta cheese for extra texture and richness, if desired.
- This salad is naturally vegan and gluten-free.
