Name: Chickpea Cucumber Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 can chickpeas ((garbanzo beans) 15 ounces (1 1/2 cups) rinsed and drained); 1 small cucumber (or 1/2 English cucumber, sliced lengthwise, seeds removed, and sliced into 1/4 inch slices); 2 medium tomatoes (chopped); 1 small red onion (diced); 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley; 1 cup pitted black olives; 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1/4 cup olive oil; 1 clove garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup; salt and pepper (to taste)

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Special diet: gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, vegan

Chickpea Cucumber Salad is a healthy summer recipe. It's easy to make in 15 minutes with common ingredients, and it's delicious as a starter or light meal. And you can make this Mediterranean chickpea salad in advance and enjoy it throughout the week.

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

One thing I love about a plant-based Mediterranean diet is the focus on fresh fruits and vegetables.

Combine pantry basics like olives and garbanzo beans with seasonal produce, and you come up with a simple tasty meal.

Plus I'm a sucker for anything with tomatoes, cucumbers, and fresh herbs.

I practically live on these ingredients during the warm summer months, combining them in different ways to make delicious dishes.

And this Chickpea Cucumber Salad is one of my favorites.

Simple ingredients

This Chickpea Cucumber Salad combines healthy Mediterranean diet components:

Chickpeas (garbanzo beans): High in fiber and protein, these legumes support blood sugar control and help control appetite. Read more in the article 8 Great Reasons to Include Chickpeas in Your Diet.
Cucumber: Low in calories hydrating, and a good source of phytonutrients according to Cucumbers: Health Benefits & Nutrition Facts.
Tomatoes: Rich in vitamin C and lycopene, you can learn more in the article Tomato Nutrition Facts.
Red onions: Dr. Joel Fuhrman includes raw onions in his list of The Healthiest, Anti-Cancer Foods: G-BOMBS.
Fresh parsley: Parsley is a rich source of anti-oxidants and provides a vibrant flavor to this salad and other foods.
Black olives: A healthy source of fat in the Mediterranean diet.

Chickpea salad dressing

The dressing for this simple chickpea salad couldn't be easier to make.

I like to use a small glass jar when making salad dressing so I can shake the ingredients together to combine.

Here's what you'll need:

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fresh lemon juice, but a good quality bottled lemon juice will work if fresh lemons aren't available. Santa Cruz Organic 100% Lemon Juice is the one I keep in my refrigerator.
olive oil
fresh garlic
pure maple syrup, like 365 Everyday Value Organic.
salt and pepper

How to serve Chickpea Cucumber Salad

This Mediterranean chickpea salad can be eaten as a complete meal for lunch or a light dinner.

Or try it with a grain salad such as Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad or Greek Millet Salad.

I also love it as a starter or side with Lemon Baked Tofu or Vegan Pasta Bake.

And I recommend bringing it to potlucks.

It's always a hit and a great choice when you're not sure if there will be anything there for you to eat.