Description
This Fall Chickpea Salad is a delightful and healthy combination of chickpeas, crisp apple, creamy avocado, dried cranberries, crunchy pecans, red onion, and optional feta cheese, all tossed in a light apple cider vinaigrette. Perfect for an easy fall lunch or dinner, it offers a wonderful balance of textures and flavors, bringing together sweetness, tanginess, and a hint of earthiness in a nutritious, vegetarian dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 15 ounces chickpeas (rinsed and drained)
- 1 large apple (chopped, preferably Honeycrisp)
- 1 avocado (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese (optional)
Dressing Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- Kosher salt and black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the rinsed and drained chickpeas, chopped apple, chopped avocado, fresh lemon juice, chopped red onion, chopped pecans or walnuts, dried cranberries, and crumbled feta or goat cheese if using. This creates a foundation of fresh and flavorful components.
- Prepare Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, pure maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and minced garlic. Season the dressing with kosher salt and black pepper according to your taste to balance the flavors.
- Toss Salad: Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients. Gently stir to combine everything evenly without mashing the avocado. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve the salad immediately to enjoy the fresh textures and flavors.
Notes
- This salad is best served fresh to maintain the crispness of the apple and the creaminess of the avocado.
- You can substitute pecans with walnuts or other nuts of your choice for different texture and flavor.
- Feta or goat cheese is optional; omit for a dairy-free version.
- Adjust the dressing's sweetness by varying the amount of maple syrup to suit your taste.
- Use fresh lemon juice to prevent the avocado from browning quickly.
- For a vegan option, skip the cheese and ensure the maple syrup is pure and vegan-friendly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 302 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 88 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 6 mg
