Chickpea Cucumber Feta Salad

6 people
10 min

This Chickpea Cucumber Feta Salad is light, fresh, and full of Mediterranean flavor. It comes together in minutes with simple ingredients like chickpeas, cucumbers, creamy feta, tomatoes, and a lemon-garlic olive oil dressing. Naturally gluten-free and perfect for lunch, meal prep, or an easy side dish any time of year.

Chickpea Cucumber Feta Salad in a white bowl with a sprig of dill on top.

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I make this salad all year long, but especially when cucumbers are at their peak. The combination of chickpeas, juicy tomatoes, and briny feta makes every bite satisfying and refreshing. Fresh dill adds a bright herbal note that ties everything together.

This salad stays fresh in the fridge, making it perfect for weekday lunches or easy entertaining. You can serve it on its own, alongside grilled chicken or fish, or as part of a larger Mediterranean spread.

Along with my Mediterranean Tuna Salad, Italian Pasta Salad, and Italian White Bean Salad, this salad is on repeat in my house!


Ingredients


You will need the following ingredients to make this chickpea salad:

Ingredients include chickpeas, onion, olive oil, lemon, feta, tomatoes, persian cucumber, dill, salt, pepper, and garlic.

Ingredient Notes


  • Chickpeas - I chose to use canned chickpeas in this recipe as it's an easy Mediterranean pantry staple. You can use dried chickpeas that have been re-hydrated overnight. When testing this recipe dried chickpeas taste better but using canned made this salad an easy weeknight meal.
  • Persian Cucumbers - These are crisp, sweet, and have a thinner skin and fewer seeds than an English cucumber. If you can’t find them, an English cucumber works just as well. I love using Persian cucumbers for all of my recipes that call for a cucumber. They are small and simple to cut.
  • Feta - I use a block of feta instead of pre-crumbled feta. Block feta is typically packed in brine, which keeps it moist, creamy, and full of flavor. Pre-crumbled feta, on the other hand, is often coated with anti-caking agents that dry it out and make it less flavorful. When you crumble it yourself, you get softer, richer pieces that melt beautifully into the salad.


See the recipe card for quantities.


Variations:


  • Dill - Are you having trouble finding dill? I sometimes cannot find dill in our grocery stores depending on the time of year. You can substitute mint or parsley for this recipe.
  • Veggies - There are a lot of vegetables that you can add to this salad. Consider artichokes, hearts of palm, radishes, roasted red peppers, or even Kalamata olives.
  • Protein - Make this a meal by adding canned tuna, roasted chicken, or cooked salmon.
  • Nuts - If you would like added crunch, throw in some toasted pinenuts, pistachios, slivered almonds or toasted walnuts.


How To Make Chickpea Cucumber Feta Salad: Step-By-Step


Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with the exact ingredients are in the printable recipe card:

Whisking the dressing ingredients in a measuring bowl.

Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and black pepper. Set aside.

Adding the cucumber, chickpeas, and tomatoes to a clear bowl.

Step 2: In a large bowl, combine the chickpeas, diced cucumbers, and tomatoes.

Adding the rest of the vegetables to the bowl.

Step 3: Add the red onion, dill, and feta. Gently combine the ingredients.

Mixing the dressing into the vegetables.

Step 4: Pour the dressing over the top and mix to combine.


Recipe Tips


  • Taste and adjust - Once the salad is finished, taste the salad. You may feel that you need more lemon or salt depending on your taste.


Confidence Tip


If you let the salad sit for 15 minutes before serving, the dressing and the vegetables will meld together better.


This salad is reminiscent of the Greek Village Salad and the Greek Lentil Salad!

Chickpea Cucumber Feta Salad in a white bowl with a spoon.
Frequently Asked Questions


Can you eat chickpeas straight from the can to a salad?

Yes! Canned garbanzo beans and chickpeas are fully cooked, so they can be eaten right out of the can with no additional cooking. This makes them perfect for salads. You will want to rinse them off before adding to salads, soups, and other recipes.

Can I make this salad ahead of time?

Yes! This salad gets better after it sits. You can make it up to a day in advance—just wait to add the feta and fresh herbs until right before serving to keep everything fresh.

How long does this salad last in the fridge?

It will keep well for up to 3 days in an airtight container. The cucumbers may release some water over time, so give it a stir and taste before serving.


Main Course Meals To Serve With This Salad
A slice of the halibut on a plate with the lemon caper artichoke sauce over the top.

Halibut With Artichokes And Lemon

Grandma's chicken soup in a black bowl with a spoon lifting some out.

Grandma's Chicken Soup

Middle Eastern chicken thighs on a white plate with a bowl of yogurt sauce on the side.

Middle Eastern Chicken

Chicken breasts in a skillet with a creamy dijon mustard sauce.

Chicken Dijon


Chickpea Cucumber Feta Salad
Recipe details
  • 6  people
  • Prep time: 10 Minutes Cook time: 0 Minutes Total time: 10 min
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Ingredients
Dressing
  • ▢ 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • ▢ 1 lemon zested and juiced
  • ▢ 1 garlic clove minced or grated
  • ▢ 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • ▢ 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Salad
  • ▢ 15 oz chickpeas canned, drained and rinsed
  • ▢ 6 Persian cucumbers sliced and quartered, or one English cucumber
  • ▢ 1/2 cup red onion diced small
  • ▢ 10 large cherry tomatoes quartered, or 12 small cut in half
  • ▢ 3 tbsps fresh dill chopped
  • ▢ 4 oz feta cheese crumbled
Instructions
Dressing
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and black pepper. Set aside. ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, 1 lemon, 1 garlic clove, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Salad
In a large bowl, combine the chickpeas, diced cucumbers, and tomatoes.15 oz chickpeas, 6 Persian cucumbers, 10 large cherry tomatoes
Add the red onion, dill, and feta. Gently combine the salad. ½ cup red onion, 3 tbsps fresh dill, 4 oz feta cheese
Pour the dressing over the salad.
Using a spoon, gently toss the ingredients to combine.
Adjust the seasoning as desired. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Tips
  • Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
A Sweet Thyme | Gwen
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