A Taste of Summer During the Winter: Mediterranean Chickpea Salad Recipe
When the winter season stretches on with endless grey skies, we often find ourselves yearning for the warmth and vibrance of summer. The cold days and snowy nights make us crave something bright and fresh on our plate.
That’s where this crisp colourful salad comes in! Packed with vibrant ingredients and rich in nutrients, this tasty recipe is the perfect way to push aside the winter blues.
Feel free to add any other veggies or proteins to this recipe to make it more to your liking.
This recipe makes a large bowl that can be enjoyed for lunches or as a quick snack on those busy school days. Making nutritious food choices while in school is crucial as it is proven to have numerous benefits, providing you with the energy you need for successful learning and studying as well as developing healthy eating habits (1).
Total time: ~20 mins
Serving size: 4-6 persons
Make sure you have washed and dried your hands, and that your cooking area and equipment are clean! Wash all your veggies and fresh herbs with water.
Ingredients
For the salad
1 bell pepper, diced
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 cucumber, diced
1 cup Cherry tomatoes, halved
1 Red onion, diced
½ cup of feta cheese (optional)
1 cup Kalamata olives, halved or quartered
2 tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped
2 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped
Vinaigrette
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1-2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
Salt and black pepper (as desired)
Instructions:
In a small bowl, stir together the olive oil, honey, lemon juice, vinegar, salt, and pepper, and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the bell pepper, chickpeas, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, feta, olives, mint, and basil. Drizzle with the dressing and toss thoroughly to coat.
Enjoy!
References
Government of Canada. Healthy eating on campus [internet]. Canada: Health Canada; 2024 [cited 2025 Feb 7]. Available from: https://food-guide.canada.ca/en/tips-for-healthy-eating/healthy-eating-campus/#shr-pg-pnl1
Post Written By: Claire Kuntz
#recipes #salad #fresh #vegetables #healthy #wellness