Fiber-Forward Chickpea Salad (Printer-friendly)

Chickpeas, cabbage, carrots in a creamy tahini-lemon dressing for a fresh, fiber-rich dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 2 cups cooked chickpeas (or 1 can, drained and rinsed)
02 - 2 cups shredded green or red cabbage
03 - 1 cup shredded carrots
04 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
05 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
06 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
07 - 2 tablespoons toasted sunflower seeds (optional)

→ Tahini-Lemon Dressing

08 - 3 tablespoons tahini
09 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
10 - 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
12 - 1 clove garlic, minced
13 - 2 to 3 tablespoons cold water, as needed to thin
14 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
15 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
16 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How To Make It:

01 - In a large bowl, mix chickpeas, cabbage, carrots, red bell pepper, green onions, parsley, and toasted sunflower seeds.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, maple syrup or honey, minced garlic, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Gradually add cold water until the dressing reaches a creamy, pourable consistency.
03 - Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss thoroughly to ensure even coating of all ingredients.
04 - Taste the salad and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes to enhance flavor melding.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It stays fresh for days in the fridge, making it perfect for meal prep without any fussy reheating.
  • The tahini dressing is creamy and rich without dairy, so it satisfies that comfort-food craving completely.
  • You can throw it together in less time than it takes to order takeout, but it tastes like you spent real effort.
02 -
  • Tahini separates and hardens in the fridge; if your dressing becomes too thick, just whisk in a bit more water to restore it to creamy perfection.
  • The real secret is tasting as you go with the dressing—tahini strength varies wildly between brands, so you might need more or less lemon and garlic than the recipe suggests.
03 -
  • If you're making this ahead, keep the dressing separate and only toss everything together an hour or so before eating, unless you like softer vegetables and are okay with the salad breaking down slightly.
  • Toasted seeds add incredible texture, but even better is toasting your own sunflower seeds in a dry skillet for two minutes—the difference is remarkable.
Go Back