Chickpea, Cucumber And Feta Salad

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Need a quick refreshing dish to take to your next potluck? This Chickpea, Cucumber And Feta Salad with and basil is loaded with fresh greens, sweet and salty flavors and crunchy deliciousness in each bite.

cucumber salad with chickpeas in bowl on table.

What Sets This Chickpea Cucumber Salad Apart

This salad is a bit different than what you may be used to in a cucumber salad. Common cucumber salad recipes include onion, a vinegar-based dressing, and dill. Here's why this one stands in a class all its own:

Lots of varying textures and flavors. The saltiness of the cheese, the sweetness of the cranberries, and the crunchy cucumbers all come together in a satisfying bite. And the basil adds just the right touch of herby-ness to make it interesting.
Hefty enough to be considered a main dish. The chickpeas in this salad really pull their weight and push this salad from "side dish" territory to a full-on main entree.
Comes together super quickly. Like, "Oh crap, I forgot I have to bring a dish to share to our neighborhood party" quickly. And no cooking involved!
Simple ingredients. I usually have most of these on hand so I don't need to go buy a bunch of extra things at the store.
Works great as a potluck dish. This salad is versatile enough to go with most themes. Oh, and everyone LOVES it!

Key Ingredients

Just a few ingredients make up this simple summer salad. Here's what you'll need:

Cucumbers. I like using English cucumbers or seedless cucumbers for salad recipes.
Chickpeas. I just used canned chickpeas here to make this easy, but if you prefer soaking your own, that's fine too. The chickpeas provide some great protein, making this salad ideal for a light lunch or dinner.
Basil. The basil adds an unexpected hit of flavor to this salad. Feel free to substitute it with other fresh herbs you have growing in your garden. Mint would work great here.
Feta cheese. The tangy, saltiness of the feta gives this salad a decadent feel.
Dried Cranberries. For a touch of sweetness!
Citrus vinaigrette. A bright vinaigrette made with lemon and orange provide the perfect topping .

How To Make Cucumber Salad

Throwing this salad together is as easy as chopping everything up and adding it to a bowl. Here's what to do:

Combine the main ingredients. Mix your cucumbers, chickpeas, torn basil, cranberries and feta together in a large bowl and mix to combine well. (Bonus - there's absolutely NO COOKING involved here, making it an easy dish to through together on a hot summer day.)

bowl of chickpeas on table surrounded by other salad ingredients.

Make the vinaigrette. Next, make your vinaigrette, made citrusy from fresh lemon and orange juice and grated lemon zest.
Toss well to combine. Finally, pour the vinaigrette over the salad, mix until well coated, and you're done!

This cucumber salad is great as a side, but it could also be a great vegetarian main-dish option. the chickpeas add a bit more "meat" to the salad and make it pretty filling on its own. For an easy summer dish, you can't beat it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of cucumber should I use?

I prefer to use English cucumbers in my salads. They're generally sweeter and have fewer and smaller seeds than a standard pickling cucumber. In addition, the skin of an English cucumber is thinner, making it easier to eat.

Can I make this salad ahead of time?

If you want to prep the salad, combine everything except the cheese and dressing. When you're ready to serve, add the dressing, toss,and sprinkle the cheese on top.

How long can I store leftovers

If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

cucumber salad with chickpeas, feta, basil and cranberries.

Try this one at your next potluck meal, or at home paired with burgers or grilled chicken. It may become your next standby dish too!

If you try this easy Chickpea, Cucumber And Feta Salad, please leave me a comment below and tell me what you think! And don't forget to tag me on Instagram - I love to see your creations!

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