Description
This Fall Chickpea Salad combines a delightful mix of textures and flavors with chickpeas, crisp apple, creamy avocado, dried cranberries, pecans, red onion, and optional feta cheese, all tossed in a light, tangy apple cider dressing. Perfect for an easy, healthy lunch or dinner during the fall season.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 15 ounces chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1 large apple, chopped (preferably Honeycrisp)
- 1 avocado, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese (optional)
For the Dressing:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the chickpeas, chopped apple, avocado, lemon juice, red onion, pecans or walnuts, dried cranberries, and crumbled feta cheese if using. This forms the base of your salad with a variety of textures and flavors.
- Prepare dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, pure maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and minced garlic until well combined. Season with kosher salt and black pepper to taste for a balanced tangy-sweet dressing.
- Toss salad with dressing: Drizzle the dressing over the salad ingredients and gently stir to combine everything evenly. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately to enjoy fresh flavors and textures.
Notes
- Omit the feta cheese to make the salad vegan.
- You can substitute pecans with walnuts or pistachios for a different nutty flavor.
- For variation, add greens like arugula or romaine to bulk up the salad.
- Use red wine vinegar or white balsamic vinegar as alternatives to apple cider vinegar if desired.
- Adding cooked quinoa or grilled chicken can make this salad a full meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
