Middle Eastern Chickpea Salad
3
Points®
Total time: 30 min • Prep: 20 min • Cook: 10 min • Serves: 4 • Difficulty: Easy
Fresh and flavorful, this 30-minute salad offers a wonderful combination of flavors and textures. Chickpeas are a staple of Middle Eastern cuisine. They are high in protein and are often utilized in soups, stews, and salads and are the traditional base for the ever-popular hummus. Here they are paired with shredded romaine, cherry tomatoes, red onion, sliced cucumbers, and fresh parsley. Once the vegetable and chickpea mixture is tossed with the homemade dressing, let it sit for at least 10 minutes so the flavors can mingle. This salad can be made one day ahead but don’t add the pita pieces until just before serving so that they stay crisp.
Ingredients
Olive oil cooking spray
3 spray(s)
Whole wheat pita
1 large
Kosher salt
¾ tsp
Ground cumin
½ tsp
Fresh lemon juice
3 Tbsp
Water
2 Tbsp
Olive oil
1½ Tbsp
Black pepper
¼ tsp
Canned chickpeas
2 cup(s)
Cherry tomatoes
2 cup(s)
English cucumber
⅓ medium
Red onion
¼ cup(s), sliced
Fresh parsley
½ cup(s)
Romaine lettuce
6 cup(s), shredded
Instructions
1
Place oven rack in middle position. Preheat oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or coat with cooking spray.
2
Coat both sides of split pita with cooking spray; place rough side up on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle tops with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and cumin. Bake until crisp, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
3
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together lemon juice, water, oil, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/4 teaspoon cumin and pepper.
4
Add chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumber, onion and parsley; toss to coat. Let stand tossing occasionally, at least 10 minutes for flavors to blend.
5
To serve, line each of four plates with 1 1/2 cups lettuce. Top each with a slightly heaping 1 1/4 cups chickpea mixture. Break 1/2 of each pita into small pieces over each salad. Drizzle any dressing left in bottom of bowl evenly over salads. Serve. Yields 1 salad per serving.
People Also Like
Join the #1 doctor-recommended weight-loss program*
*Based on a 2023 survey by Cerner Enviza of 500 doctors who recommend weight-loss programs to patients.