Description
This Fall Chickpea Salad is a vibrant and nutritious salad featuring chickpeas, crisp apples, creamy avocado, crunchy pecans, dried cranberries, and tangy feta cheese all tossed in a light apple cider vinegar dressing. It’s perfect for a healthy and satisfying fall lunch or dinner with a delightful mix of textures and flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 15 ounces chickpeas (rinsed and drained)
- 1 large apple (chopped, Honeycrisp recommended)
- 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)
Dressing Ingredients
- 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, nuts, dried cranberries, and crumbled cheese if using to create the base of the salad.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and minced garlic until well blended. Season with kosher salt and black pepper to your taste.
- Toss Salad with Dressing: Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad mixture. Gently stir everything together to coat all ingredients evenly. Adjust salt and pepper as needed and serve the salad immediately.
Notes
- This salad showcases a wonderful contrast of sweet, tart, creamy, and crunchy textures ideal for fall.
- Swap pecans with walnuts if preferred or based on availability.
- Use goat cheese instead of feta for a tangier flavor or omit cheese to keep it vegan.
- Serve fresh to enjoy the best texture, especially of the avocado and apple.
- For added protein, consider adding grilled chicken or roasted turkey if dairy is used.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 302 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 88 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 6 mg
