🥗 Chickpea Salad (Mediterranean Style)

Ingredients

• 1 can (400g) chickpeas, rinsed & drained
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• ¼ red onion, finely chopped
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1–2 tbsp lemon juice
• ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp cumin (optional)
• ¼ cup feta cheese (optional)

Instructions

1. Prep the base
   In a large bowl, combine chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes, onion, and bell pepper.
2. Make dressing
   Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and cumin.
3. Combine
   Pour dressing over salad and toss well.
4. Finish
   Add parsley and feta (if using). Chill 20–30 minutes for best flavor.

 Variations

• Desi twist: Add chopped green chilies + ½ tsp chaat masala.
• High-protein: Add grilled chicken or boiled eggs.
• Weight-loss version: Skip feta, reduce oil to 1 tbsp.
• Meal prep: Keeps 3–4 days in fridge.