Fresh and Flavorful Chickpea Avocado Salad to Brighten Your Day
Learn how to make delicious Fresh and Flavorful Chickpea Avocado Salad. Easy recipe with step-by-step instructions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed (or 1½ cups cooked chickpeas)
- 2 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted, and diced
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced (about 1 cup)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional, but adds a bright note)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Juice of 1 large lemon (about 3 tablespoons)
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Optional: 1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds or walnuts for crunch
If you’re looking to put your own spin on this, feel free to swap out parsley for fresh basil or mint, especially if you’re craving a more summery vibe. And if avocados aren’t your thing, small cubes of feta cheese can add a lovely tang and creaminess instead.
Instructions
- Start by draining and rinsing your chickpeas thoroughly. This helps wash away any excess sodium and starch, giving the salad a cleaner flavor.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the chickpeas, diced avocados, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber. I like to chop everything into bite-sized pieces, so each forkful carries a bit of every flavor.
- Add the chopped parsley and cilantro. Fresh herbs are like the secret handshake of a good salad — they bring freshness and lift the whole dish.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, ground cumin, salt, and pepper. This simple dressing marries the ingredients with a bright, zesty note that Mama Lu would have called just right.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently but thoroughly, making sure every morsel is coated without mashing the avocado.
- If you want a little crunch, sprinkle toasted pumpkin seeds or walnuts on top just before serving.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed — sometimes a little extra lemon or salt is just what the salad needs to sing.
One tip I learned from Mama Lu was to let the salad sit for about 10 minutes before serving, especially on warmer days. It gives the flavors time to meld, much like a good story shared slowly on the porch.
