Who doesn't love an easy avocado chickpea salad, perfect for summer picnics, barbecues, and make-ahead meals?! Perfect for anything! To make this garbanzo bean salad combine roasted chickpeas (canned or freshly cooked), some lettuce, simple fresh veggies, and a light olive oil-based salad dressing.
¾cupfeta cheese, cubed or crumbled from a block of feta
1red onion, medium, sliced thin
½cupcucumber, sliced thin
1-2avocado, large, sliced thin or cut into cubes
1cupplum tomatoes, mix of red and orange
2-3stalksgreen onion, sliced thin
Pan Roasted Chickpeas
2 15 ozchickpeas, canned
1 ½tablespoonavocado oil
2tablespoonssmoked paprika
1teaspoongarlic powder
1teaspoononion powder
salt , to taste
black pepper, to taste
Salad Dressing Ingredients
4teaspoonextra virgin olive oil
1teaspoonlemon juice, or lime juice, freshly squeezed
3teaspoonliquid honey, or maple syrup
½smallgarlic clove, minced
1tablespoonapple cider vinegar
1teaspoondijon mustard
½teaspoondried oregano
2tablespoonfresh parsley, chopped or basil
salt , to taste
black pepper , to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
Prepare all the salad ingredients and mix the dressing in a medium bowl or mason jar. This way you’ll have them ready to assemble the salad once the chickpeas are roasted.
Rinse and dry the chickpeas with kitchen towels or paper towels. Remove any loose skins. If you have enough time, leave the chickpeas on an even dry surface to dry completely. This will result in perfectly crisp roasted chickpeas.
In a large nonstick skillet heat avocado oil over medium-high heat and once the oil is hot add chickpeas. Toss them in oil until coated and toast them for a couple of minutes. Sprinkle chickpeas with smoked paprika, garlic and onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Cook the chickpeas until they have turned golden brown and dry, about 10 minutes stirring once in a while. I like to add the chickpeas to the salad while they are still hot, but this salad is almost equally as good when served cold.
Assemble the salad. Combine chickpeas and all the remaining salad ingredients in one large bowl and drizzle the dressing right before ready to serve. Top with feta and freshly cut avocado on top. (Avocado will brown quick, while cutting it drizzle plenty of lime or lemon juice on top).
Any leftover chickpeas can be reheated in the oven at 350 F until warmed through.