Chickpea Salad with Creamy Smoky Tahini Dressing
Creamy, smoky, crunchy, and fresh. This easy chickpea salad is bursting with bold flavor. It’s made with pantry-friendly ingredients and tossed in a luscious smoky tahini dressing that will have you licking the spoon. Perfect for meal prep, potlucks, BBQs, or quick lunches. Naturally vegan, high-protein, and ready in just 15 minutes!
Servings: 6 (6-8 as a side, or 4 as a main)
Ingredients
For the smoky tahini dressing:
- ¼ cup tahini
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (sub water for oil-free)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice (or lemon juice)
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup or agave
- ¾ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 -2 tablespoons water as needed
For the salad:
- 2 cans (14oz each) chickpeas drained and rinsed (3 cups)
- ½ English cucumber diced (1 cup)
- 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ small red onion finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh dill finely chopped (or sub parsley or cilantro)
- ¼ cup roasted salted pepitas (or sub pistachios, sunflower seeds, or slivered almonds)
Instructions
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the tahini, olive oil, lime juice, smoked paprika, Dijon, maple syrup, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking until the dressing is creamy and pourable.
- Assemble the salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, and dill. Pour about half of the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Taste and add more dressing as desired, you may not need it all. Sprinkle the pepitas on top just before serving.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. If prepping ahead, keep the pepitas separate and add just before serving so they stay crunchy. The flavor gets even better as it sits!
Notes
Serving Suggestions
- Enjoy as a light main dish.
- Serve as a side salad for burgers, BBQ mains, or Mediterranean-style meals.
- Stuff into pitas or wraps with leafy greens for a satisfying sandwich.
- Scoop up with tortilla chips or crackers for a party-perfect appetizer.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving (recipe makes 6 servings) | Calories: 283kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Sodium: 327mg | Potassium: 464mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 496IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 4mg
Find it online:
https://itdoesnttastelikechicken.com/chickpea-salad-with-creamy-smoky-tahini-dressing/Scan the QR code for updates, tips, and to ask me any questions!
