Description
This Middle Eastern Spiced Chickpea Salad combines warm, spiced chickpeas with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, and herbs, all tossed in a vibrant lemon and sherry vinegar dressing. Perfect as a light, flavorful meal or side dish, it offers a delightful balance of textures and aromas typical of Middle Eastern cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
Spiced Chickpeas
- 400g / 14 oz can chickpeas, drained but still wet
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 1/2 tsp allspice
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/4 tsp salt
Salad
- 2 cucumbers, diced
- 2 tomatoes (or 3 medium tomatoes), diced
- 1 small red onion, diced
- 1/4 cup coriander leaves, roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup parsley, roughly chopped
Dressing
- 1 1/2 tbsp sherry vinegar
- Zest of half a lemon
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp caster sugar
- 1 garlic clove, smashed
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Dressing: Combine sherry vinegar, lemon zest, lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, caster sugar, smashed garlic clove, salt, and pepper in a jar. Shake well and set aside for 20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Spice Chickpeas: Place the drained chickpeas in a large bowl. Sprinkle over the ground cumin, allspice, ground cardamom, and salt. Toss gently to coat the chickpeas evenly; the moisture on the chickpeas will help the spices adhere.
- Cook Chickpeas: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan over high heat. Add the spiced chickpeas and fry for a couple of minutes, shaking the pan occasionally or stirring gently to ensure even cooking without removing the spice coating. Once cooked, transfer the chickpeas to a bowl and allow them to cool slightly.
- Assemble Salad: In a separate bowl, combine diced cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, coriander, and parsley. Drizzle a bit of the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently to coat.
- Combine and Serve: Transfer the dressed salad to a serving bowl. Top with the warm or room temperature spiced chickpeas. Drizzle more dressing over the top and toss very gently if desired to avoid removing spices from the chickpeas. Serve immediately.
- Serving Suggestion: This salad is excellent served with a dollop of yogurt and pita bread, perfect for stuffing with the salad.
Notes
- Note 1: Keeping the chickpeas slightly wet helps the spices stick better during seasoning.
- Note 2: Sherry vinegar adds a mild sweetness and depth; you can substitute with red wine vinegar if unavailable.
- Note 3: Smashed garlic allows for subtle infusion in the dressing; remove before tossing if a milder garlic flavor is preferred.
- For best flavor, allow the dressing to rest for 20 minutes before using.
- This salad is best served fresh to enjoy the contrast of warm spiced chickpeas and crisp vegetables.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Keywords: Middle Eastern chickpea salad, spiced chickpeas, healthy chickpea salad, vegetarian salad, easy Middle Eastern recipe, warm chickpea salad
