Chickpea salad with cucumber and cabbage

Created on: May 16, 2022 | Updated: May 16, 2022 | 6 comments

This Chickpea Salad with Cucumber and Kale is crunchy, flavorful, and filling! It’s great as 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 salad! It’s packed with tons of healthy veggies, chickpeas, and fresh herbs, and tossed with a tangy dressing.

Why You’ll Love This Healthy Chickpea Salad!

It’s packed with veggies – This chickpea salad is filled with cucumbers, kale, red onions and fresh herbs.
It has protein – The chickpeas add a good amount of protein, so this salad will fill you up without making you feel overly full.
It’s full of flavor – The fresh herbs give it a great taste, as does the homemade dressing made from red wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice and lots of garlic.
It’s easy to do – All you have to do is chop up some veggies, crack open a few cans of chickpeas and make a simple dressing!

Chickpea Salad recipe ingredients and substitutes

Chickpeas – I used two cans of chickpeas in this recipe. You can cook your own or used cans like I did. If you don’t have chickpeas, you can substitute kidney beans or even 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 pickle will do though!
cabbage – I used kale, but red cabbage would work too. I just loved the combination of the cucumber with the kale.
Red onion – I love adding raw red onions to my salads. If you’re not a fan, you can use scallions for a milder flavor.
Fresh herbs – I used fresh coriander and mint and it was a great combination. But you can use any fresh herbs you like. Parsley or dill would be great too!
sunflower seeds – Sunflower seeds add a nice crunch to this salad. They are optional but recommended!
dressing – I made a simple but delicious dressing for this chickpea salad. I used olive oil, red wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, garlic, Dijon mustard, and tamari.
salt and pepper – Taste. I add some salt and pepper to the dressing and then to the salad once everything is mixed together.

How to make the best chickpea salad with cucumber and cabbage

Start by dicing the cucumber, cabbage, and red onion. I like to make a fairly fine cube so everything is bite sized. Place the vegetables in a large bowl, then add the chickpeas and fresh herbs.
Make the dressing – Place all the ingredients for the dressing in a medium-rimmed bowl and whisk until well combined.
Pour the dressing over the salad and mix everything together. Taste and season with salt and pepper if necessary.
Add sunflower seeds and mix everything. Enjoy!

Frequently asked questions about the recipe

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 actually tastes better after it’s been refrigerated for a few hours. If you want the salad to stay crisp, I wouldn’t recommend making it too far in advance.
How should this chickpea salad be stored? Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Can I use red cabbage instead of kale? Secure! Use whatever veggies you like.

Do you have a question that I haven’t answered? Ask me in the comments section below and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible!

Looking for more summer salad recipes?

Easy vegetarian pasta salad

Rainbow Fruit Salad

Lemon broccoli salad with chickpeas and feta

Sunshine Kale Salad

Cucumber Tomato Salad