This Chickpea Salad with Cucumber and Cabbage is crunchy, flavorful, and filling. It’s great for a vegan side dish or a healthy lunch!
It’s salad season, and this chickpea salad with cucumber and cabbage might be my new favorite! It’s full of healthy veggies, chickpeas, and fresh herbs and tossed with a flavorful dressing.
Why You’ll Love This Healthy Chickpea Salad!
- It’s packed with veggies – This chickpea salad is full of cucumber, green cabbage, red onion, and fresh herbs.
- It has protein – The chickpeas add a good amount of protein, so this salad fills you up without making you feel too stuffed.
- It’s full of flavor – The fresh herbs add great flavor, and the homemade dressing is made of red wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, and lots of garlic.
- It’s easy to make – All you need to do is chop up a few veggies, open a couple of cans of chickpeas, and throw together an easy dressing!
Chickpea Salad Recipe Ingredients and Substitutions
- Chickpeas – I used two cans of chickpeas in this recipe. You can boil your own or use canned like I did. If you don’t have chickpeas, you can substitute white or black beans if you like.
- Cucumber – I like to use English cucumbers because they have fewer seeds, and their skin isn’t quite as thick and waxy as regular cucumbers. Any cucumbers will do, though!
- Cabbage – I used green cabbage, but purple cabbage would also work. I just liked the combo of the cucumber with the green cabbage.
- Red Onion – I love adding raw red onion to my salads. You can use green onion for a milder taste if you’re not a fan.
- Fresh Herbs – I used fresh cilantro and mint, which was a great combo. You can use any fresh herbs you like, though. Parsley or dill would be great, too!
- Sunflower Seeds – Sunflower seeds add a nice crunch to this salad. They’re optional but I recommend them!
- Dressing – I made a simple but delicious dressing for this chickpea salad with olive oil, red wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, garlic, dijon mustard, and tamari.
- Salt and Pepper – To taste. I add salt and pepper to the dressing and the salad once everything is mixed.
How To Make The Best Chickpea Salad with Cucumber and Cabbage
- Start by dicing up your cucumber, cabbage, and red onion. I like to make pretty fine dice so that everything is bite-sized. Add the veggies to a large bowl, then add chickpeas and fresh herbs.
- Make the dressing – Add all dressing ingredients to a medium-sized bowl and whisk until combined.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and mix everything together. Taste it and season with salt and pepper, if needed.
- Add in sunflower seeds and toss to combine. Enjoy!
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
- Is this chickpea salad gluten-free? Yes!
- Is this salad vegan? Yes! If you’re not vegan, crumbled feta would be a great addition!
- Can I make this salad ahead of time? Yes, it tastes better after sitting in the refrigerator for a few hours. If you want the salad to stay crunchy, I wouldn’t suggest making it too far in advance.
- How should this chickpea salad be stored? Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
- Can I use purple cabbage instead of green cabbage? Sure! Use whatever veggies you like.
Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below, and I will get back to you ASAP!
Looking For More Summer Salad Recipes?
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Chickpea Salad with Cucumber and Cabbage
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Chickpea Salad with Cucumber and Cabbage is crunchy, flavorful and filling!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 extra large cucumber, or two small cucumbers (I like to use English cucumbers)
- 1/2 large green cabbage
- 1/2 large red onion
- 2 (15 oz) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh herbs, I used cilantro and mint
- 1/2 cup roasted and salted sunflower seeds
Dressing:
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- Juice of one lemon
- 1 tablespoon tamari, or soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Dice up the cucumber, cabbage and red onion. I like to dice them pretty finely so they’re similar sized to the chickpeas. Add the diced vegetables to a large bowl and then adding the chickpeas and fresh herbs.
- Add all dressing ingredients to a medium sized bowl and whisk together. Pour dressing over the salad and mix until everything is combined. Add in the sunflower seeds and mix again. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Category: Side, Salad, Vegan
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
Do you know how much fiber is in each serving?
I don’t currently, but I will look into trying to get that info!
Made the recipe as is and really enjoyed it. Next time I’m going to add some shredded fennel.
Ooo, I love that idea!!
I loved this salad! So refreshing and filling.
I’m so glad to hear it!!
Just made this – so delicious and healthy. LOVE IT! Thanks for sharing.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!
This was great, I had some flavored vinegars to use up and swapped in the cilantro/garlic balsamic vinegar and added feta as suggested.
I’m so glad you liked it! Garlic balsamic sounds amazing!!
Do I drain or rinse the chick peas?
Yes!