Chickpea Cucumber Salad

4.50 from 6 votes

Enjoy a taste of the Mediterranean in this crunchy salad.

Sometimes, a terrific salad is just a matter of thinking of what types of foods are popular in the Mediterranean region, and combining them into one crunchy, tangy, delicious bowl! The Mediterranean diet is famed for its healthy, vegetable-based approach, and this Chickpea Cucumber Salad recipe is an excellent example of the most nutritious and flavorful ingredients found in Turkey, North Africa, Greece, and Italy.

The base for this salad is the crunchy, mellow chickpea, a favorite of those who stick to a vegetarian diet, but still crave the protein and satisfying texture that legumes offer. Chickpeas are rich in lean protein and high in fiber, and are a great source of iron for those of us who don’t get enough meat in our diets to keep our iron levels where they should be! Add a dose of tomatoes, and you’ve got immune boosting vitamin C and antioxidant lycopene. Cucumbers provide even more fiber and contain high amounts of antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and cancer-fighting agents.

A salad like this doesn’t need a creamy, heavy dressing to weigh it down. A fatty dressing will only drown out its innate flavor and texture! For this salad, we use a classic Mediterranean pairing with honey and mint. Mint, when paired with a sweet flavor such as honey, is both refreshing and delicious, and enhances the flavors of the veggies and legumes in this fabulous salad. Get ready for a great taste and crunch!

4.50 from 6 votes

Chickpea Cucumber Salad

With Mediterranean flavors and a hearty bite, this salad is just what you need for a change in your menu.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Yield 4 people
Serving Size 1.5 cups
Course Dinner, Lunch, Salad
Cuisine Mediterranean
Author SkinnyMs.

Ingredients

  • 1 cucumber large, (peel if preferred), diced
  • 15 ounces garbanzo beans can, drained and rinsed (aka chickpeas)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar or white balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/4 cup mint parsley or dill for substitute, chopped
  • 1/2 cup grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 red onion sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  • Combine the honey, olive oil, vinegar, and salt, and pepper in the bottom of a large bowl. Add the other ingredients and toss to coat.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1.5cups | Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 446mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 10g |
SmartPoints (Freestyle): 5
Keywords Quick and Easy, Vegetarian

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SkinnyMs.

The SkinnyMs. team believes that all people, regardless of age, size, and fitness level, have the power to transform their lives — they just need the resources to do so. The SkinnyMs. method promotes healthy living through a combination of clean eating and regular exercise. We offer everything you need to be successful.

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29 Comments

  1. I have made this salad and it is delicious, pallatable and nutritious. I give it a 5 stars! Thank you for sharing your recipes with us! I have found your on Pinterest!

  2. Yum! I made this recipe yesterday for the first time. So good! A little sweet, though.. will definitely make it again but will cut back on the honey a little bit 🙂

    1. Rhea, Yes, it should be good for up to two days. If you can add the cucumber just before eating, it will last a few days in the fridge.

  3. My body does not process oils, fats, butter, etc., I get severe gastrointestinal problems. I substituted plain greek yogurt for the olive oil, and it was delish!

  4. I love these type of dishes but I have to watch my sodium. I can’t have canned peas. I have tried several times to try to make them from dry beans but they just don’t turn out soft. Do you have any ideas to help.

    1. Hi Kerry!

      Dry Beans can be tricky! Place your dry beans in cool water in an air tight container and refrigerate overnight. The next morning, drain and rinse the beans. Transfer the rinsed beans to a large soup pot and cover with water or vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for about 1 hour or until tender. If you have an Instant Pot or Pressure cooker you can cut the cook time in half. Make sure to cool the beans before using in the salad. Good luck with your beans!

  5. A note to Kerry. Make sure not to add any acid until beans are soft. Like Tomato, Lemon juice, or Vinegar. Salt and garlic are fine. Acid added to soon and Beans will never soften.

    1. The nutritional data and Smartpoints listed are per serving, not the whole recipe. The Smartpoints listed are from the old calculation format, we’re working on updating all of our recipes to the new Freestyle points format!

  6. I really wanted to try this but my smart points allowance is only 22 a day, if I were to eat this, more than half my points for an entire day will be gone. Can anyone suggest what I can adjust to make the points a little lower?

    1. Hi Sarah – the points for this recipe were the old SmartPoints. We have updated the serving size and the points to the new FreeStyle points making this only 5 points per serving! Hope this helps!

  7. What do you think of substituting lemon juice for the vinegar? I like the brightness that citrus adds. I’m thinking of bringing this to a potluck for my synagogue’s first choir rehearsal of the year. Thanks!

    1. Crystal, I like “True Roots” Oil-free Lemon Hummus. It may only be in the southern U.S., not too sure.

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