This Mediterranean Chickpea Salad with Whipped Tahini is about to become your new favorite dish if you enjoy a delicious falafel and hummus platter but are looking for something that is lighter, more fresh, and easier to make (and is also SO wonderful). It has all of the typical flavors and textures that you enjoy, but it comes in a packaging that is uncomplicated and requires little to no preparation.
The chickpeas are marinated for a short period of time in a pungent garlic oil that is flavored with a lot of lemon, and then they are accompanied with crisp cucumbers, fresh herbs, and nutty sesame seeds. In order to achieve the ideal harmony between wholesomeness and enjoyment, everything is arranged over a bed of whipped tahini that is creamy in texture.
The dish is simple enough to prepare for a weekday supper or for meal preparation, but it is also impressive enough to present to visitors without requiring a lot of effort on your part. An added bonus is that it is vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, pantry-friendly, and tasty for several days after it has been prepared.
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Why you’ll love this recipe
A true flavor bomb.
This is not your typical chickpea salad, which consists of chickpeas that have been canned, tomatoes, and a vinaigrette made with red wine. This is the sort of salad that will sing to your taste senses and make them happy.
Using an infused oil that contains garlic and spices, a large amount of lemon, and fresh herbs, you can transform the ordinary canned chickpeas into a flavor explosion that is bright and zesty, reminiscent of Middle Eastern cuisine. If you try to put down your fork, you won't be able to!
Gourmet but pantry friendly and minimal cooking
In spite of the fact that you are feeling fancy, you may make this delicious salad with a majority of pantry essentials, including chickpeas that have been canned, tahini, lemon, garlic, additional spices, and olive oil.
Feel free to take this meal to the next level by using the preserved lemon and sumac, which are both optional. However, if you do not have any of those ingredients, you need not worry about it since this salad is still excellent even without them.
Bonus: the only cooking that is necessary is the extremely fast infused oil, which just takes a few of minutes to prepare, making this dish a dream come true on a hot summer day.
Super versatile
Not only does this salad have a delicious flavor, but it also has a wide range of applications. The dish is not only stunning and elegant enough to serve at your next dinner party or outdoor get-together, but it is also simple enough to prepare for a weeknight supper or to meal prep for lunches throughout the week.
The salad can be stored for up to five days, and the whipped tahini can be kept for a week, making it an excellent choice for times when you are pressed for time.
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Ingredient notes
Chickpeas are the finest source of plant-based protein that can be found in a can, and they serve as the foundation for a wide variety of delicious vegetarian recipes, including tacos, soup, and even qusadillas made with buffalo.
Spiced Garlic Oil
In place of the typical vinaigrette made with oil and vinegar, this chickpea salad takes things to the next level by using an oil that has been infused with flavor.
Following the toasting of whole cumin and coriander seeds in olive oil, the heated oil is then poured over chopped garlic and chili flakes to create a spicy sauce.
- The only cooking that is required for the dish is the preparation of the infused oil, and it is well worth it for a variety of reasons:
- When you toast spices, their nutty scents and tastes are brought out, and this is especially true when you toast them in oil (since spices are fat-soluble).
- When heated oil is poured over garlic, it cuts through the raw bite that garlic often has.
- Since garlic and chili flakes both contain fat-soluble chemicals, the flavor of both ingredients is enhanced when they are fried in heated oil for a short period of time.
