Description
This vibrant Balela Chickpea Salad celebrates the Mediterranean tradition of transforming simple ingredients into extraordinary flavors. Hearty chickpeas mingle with fresh vegetables, aromatic herbs, and briny olives, all brought together by a zesty dressing that brightens every bite. Perfect as a side dish, light lunch, or the star of a mezze platter.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Salad:
- 3½ cups cooked chickpeas (or 2 15-ounce cans), drained and rinsed
- ½ green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1 jalapeño, finely chopped (optional)
- 2½ cups grape or cherry tomatoes, halved or whole
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, sliced into strips
- 3-5 green onions, chopped (both white and green parts)
- ⅓ cup pitted Kalamata olives
- ¼ cup pitted green olives
- ½ cup fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
For the Dressing:
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon sumac
- ½ teaspoon Aleppo pepper
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the chickpeas, bell pepper, jalapeño (if using), tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, green onions, Kalamata olives, green olives, parsley, and mint.
- In a separate small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, minced garlic, sumac, Aleppo pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and gently toss until everything is well coated.
- For best flavor, allow the salad to rest for at least 30 minutes before serving. This gives the chickpeas time to absorb the dressing and allows all flavors to meld together beautifully.
- Before serving, give the salad a gentle toss and adjust seasoning if needed. Enjoy chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
Tip: For a complete meal, serve in warm pita pockets with a drizzle of tahini sauce, or add to a Mediterranean mezze platter with baba ganoush and hummus.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Tossing
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 servings
- Calories: 303 kcal
- Sugar: 10.4g
- Sodium: 235mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 1.9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11.1g
- Carbohydrates: 36.8g
- Fiber: 10.5g
- Protein: 11g
