What Makes This Simple Chickpea Salad Awesome?
Chickpeas. The main reason I eat chickpeas? Simply because they are delicious. Chickpeas are soft, creamy, substantial, and just great.Simple. I think my mom lied to me about this Indian Chickpea Salad. She said this was junk food so I would eat it, but now that I’m older I’m not sure how it’s junk food? It’s chickpeas and vegetables. But I’m glad she did because I love this salad. Delicious. I have no idea why I don’t eat it more often. This was the first time in years I’ve made it. I only made a little and it was gone in one sitting. I’m actually looking forward to making more!
Are Chickpeas Healthy?
Glycemic Index. The thing to know about chana or chickpeas is that while they aren’t low carb, they do have a lower glycemic index than many other beans. Fiber. If you’re trying to control blood sugar surges, chickpeas, when eaten in small quantities, won’t give you an immediate sugar spike. Since they have high fiber content, they also tend to be very filling.Affordable. Using dried chickpeas not only gives you better, less mushy texture, but it’s much less expensive and allows you to control how they’re made and what ingredients are used when cooking.
How To Make A Simple Chickpea Salad
Cook. Cook the chana or chickpeas.Chop. While they’re cooking, chop the veggies. Combine. Mix the cooked chickpeas with onions, tomatoes, cilantro, salt, cayenne, and lemon juice. You eat it.
How to Cook Chickpeas
Stovetop. Soak the beans with water that covers them up to two inches overnight. Simmer and cook for 1.5-2 hours. You have to keep an eye on them so the water doesn’t boil over, so you’re best off using a much deeper pot than you think you will need. Instant Pot. Add one cup of dried chickpeas to your Instant Pot, and three cups of water. Cook at high pressure on the BEAN setting for 20 minutes. Allow it to naturally pressure release (NPR) for 10 minutes, and then do a quick release (QR) to release all remaining pressure.
Can I Use Canned Chickpeas?
Absolutely. Drain and rinse the chickpeas before using, and then use them as you would cooked chickpeas.
How to Make Roasted Chickpea Salad
Roasted Chickpeas would make a great addition to this salad. I would not recommend using ALL roasted chickpeas. Part of the beauty of this salad is the softness and chewiness of the chickpeas.
Roasting. To roast chickpeas, it really helps to have an air fryer. Place the chickpeas straight into the air fryer basket. Set the air fryer to 400F, and cook for 8-10 minutes until they are crunchy. Drying. Once the chickpeas are cooked, you can allow them to dry for a little bit. Drizzle with salt, and then add any other spices you choose.
Is Chickpea Salad Vegan?
This simple Chickpea Salad recipe is vegan! It’s just a beautiful blend of vegetables, spices, and lemon juice to create an easy dish you’re going to love.
Tips and Tricks for Chickpea Salad
Cucumber. I used about 1/2 cup of cucumber when I made this Garbanzo Bean salad. Use more or leave it out altogether if you are not a cucumber fan. Store-bought. If you really want to make this chana recipe fast, buy store-bought pico de gallo and canned chickpeas and mix it all up. Roasted. If you use roasted chickpeas, consider using only as much as you would croutons in a salad, for a great crunchy addition.Slicing. I will say that my Kuhn Rikon pull chopper makes this thing a breeze. It cuts through those veggies with just a few small pulls and I do like that.
Variations for Chickpea Salad
Indian Chickpea Salad. Cook as directed and add chaat masala as the seasoning. Avocado Chickpea Salad. Replace the cucumber with half a cup of sliced avocado.Meats. Add 1 cup canned tuna, add 1 cup rotisserie chicken or canned chicken, or add 1 cup steamed shrimp. This makes for delicious chickpea salad sandwiches!
Want More Chickpea Recipes?
Coconut Chickpea Curry - delicious and simple!Morrocan Chickpea Soup - warm and tasty!Chickpea Soup - the ultimate comfort food!Chickpea Brownies - you’ll never believe it!
This delightfully simple Chickpea Salad is a dish you will make again and again, and you’ll never get tired of it. It’s so easy and has so many variations - what’s not to love? Make sure to pin on Pinterest or share on Facebook so you don’t lose the recipe!
Don’t forget to check out my other Best-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!
Indian Instant Pot, Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy, Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot. This post was originally published on June 25, 2017, at 11:17 AM.
