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Nutritious and delicious Chickpea Tahini Salad is made with cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers, and topped off with a tahini sauce.
I love eating salads, especially those without leaves. Lol. I know, I know. This Chickpea Tahini Salad is inspired by the famous Persian Shirazi Salad topped with tahini sauce.
This salad makes a delicious and festive side for the holidays since it’s so colorful. Additionally, a touch of pomegranate really gives the salad that holiday look and feel.
What is Chickpea Tahini Salad?
In a traditional Shirazi Salad, there are cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, green bell pepper, mint, parsley, olive oil, and lemon juice.
Similarly, for my chickpea salad, I added all the Shirazi Salad ingredients along with cilantro. I then topped my salad with a creamy tahini sauce which really elevates the flavors.
Ingredients for Chickpea Tahini Salad
- Veggies – Cucumber, Red Onions, Tomatoes, Green Bell Pepper.
- Chickpeas – I used organic canned chickpeas rinsed & drained. You may also use dry chickpeas that you can soak overnight and pressure cook.
- Olive Oil – you’ll need a tablespoon of olive oil for the salad and some for the tahini sauce.
- Lemon Juice – freshly squeezed lemon juice for both the salad and tahini sauce.
- Salt & Black Pepper
- Sesame Seed Paste or Tahini Paste – You’ll need to use a good brand here for sesame seed paste and Trader Joe’s brand won’t cut it. I highly recommend Joyva Tahini which can be found at most grocery stores or on Amazon.
- Water – you need water to dilute the paste slightly.
- Cayenne Pepper – you need a little cayenne for the tahini sauce.
- Garlic – fresh garlic cloves for tahini sauce.
Why You’ll Love this Chickpea Tahini Salad
- Nutritious and delicious
- Satisfying
- Festive and colorful
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
How to make Chickpea Tahini Salad step by step
Make Tahini Dressing
1. Add all the ingredients for the tahini dressing to a blender –
2. Blend until thick and creamy.
Prep
1. Chop cilantro, mint, and parsley.
2. Chop tomatoes, cucumbers, serrano peppers, red onions, and green bell pepper. I just used my favorite chopper – this works amazing!
Make the Chickpea Salad
1. In a large bowl, add cucumbers.
2. Add green bell peppers.
3. Add red onions.
4. Add drained tomatoes.
5. Add serrano peppers. You can use jalapenos instead if serrano is too spicy.
6. Add the herbs – cilantro, parsley, and mint.
7. Add salt, black pepper, olive oil, and lemon juice.
8. Add chickpeas.
9. Transfer to a serving platter. Drizzle tahini. Garnish with pomegranate and chopped parsley. Enjoy as a side or main.
Tips to make Chickpea Tahini Salad
- Prepare the tahini salad dressing.
- Chop all the veggies and herbs.
- Combine all the veggies, herbs, chickpeas, olive oil, lemon juice, and seasonings in a large bowl. Mix well.
- Assemble. Drizzle tahini sauce on top.
Serving Suggestions
Chickpea Tahini Salad can be served as a side. This salad pairs well with Chicken Seekh Kebabs, Baked Falafel, or these Chicken Kebab Burgers.
Alternatively, you may serve this salad as a main instead of a side.
Substitutions
- Cilantro – I know many folks have issues with cilantro, so feel free to omit the cilantro and replace it with parsley.
- Green Bell Pepper – you can substitute green bell pepper with red bell pepper.
- Chickpeas – feel free to replace chickpeas with white cannellini beans which work well in this recipe. Alternatively, you may skip the chickpeas altogether.
- Tahini Sauce – Tahini sauce tastes amazing in this salad, but if you want to skip the sauce, that works. You’ll end up with Shirazi Salad which takes refreshing and incredible.
Variations
- Spice Level – if serrano peppers are too spicy, opt for jalapenos. You may deseed the jalapeno if you wish.
Storage
Chickpea Tahini Salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
If you plan on storing the salad for a few days, then don’t add tahini sauce on top else the salad will get watery. Instead, top with tahini sauce when you’re ready to eat.
Top Tip
If you plan on having leftovers, don’t top all the salad with tahini sauce else the salad will get watery. Instead, add tahini sauce as needed when you’re ready to eat.
FAQ
Yes. This salad is completely vegan.
Yes. This salad is completely gluten-free.
Yes. This salad is nutritious and healthy. You will feel full and satisfied with this salad.
Yes. It absolutely does! My mom has been using Joyva Tahini for as long as I can remember so I love this brand. You can find Joyva at most grocery stores, I’ve also seen it at Whole Foods, else try Amazon.
More Salad Recipes
Pin & Enjoy!
Chickpea Tahini Salad
EQUIPMENT
INGREDIENTS
for spicy tahini sauce (you’ll have leftovers)
- 1/2 cup sesame tahini, I like Joyva brand
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice, more if needed
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, more if needed
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 tsp salt
for chickpea tahini salad
- 1 1/2 cups cucumber, chopped
- 1 cup red onion, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups tomatoes, chopped & drained
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 serrano pepper, finely chopped, more if needed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- black pepper to taste
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 3 tbsp fresh mint leaves, chopped
- 15 ounces canned organic chickpeas, rinsed & drained
- drizzle tahini sauce as per taste
INSTRUCTIONS
Make Tahini Dressing
- Add all the ingredients for the tahini dressing to a blender –
- Blend until thick and creamy.
- Prep
- Chop cilantro, mint, and parsley.
- Chop tomatoes, cucumbers, serrano peppers, red onions, and green bell pepper. I just used my favorite chopper – this works amazing!
Make the Chickpea Tahini Salad
- In a large bowl, add cucumbers.
- Add green bell peppers.
- Add red onions.
- Add drained tomatoes.
- Add serrano peppers. You can use jalapenos instead if serrano is too spicy.
- Add the herbs – cilantro, parsley, and mint.
- Add salt, black pepper, olive oil, and lemon juice.
- Add chickpeas.
- Transfer to a serving platter. Drizzle tahini. Garnish with pomegranate and chopped parsley. Enjoy as a side or main.
