Quinoa Chickpea Tabbouleh Salad
This Quinoa Chickpea Tabbouleh Salad is made with all the ingredients of a traditional tabbouleh, but made with quinoa instead, and with chickpeas for extra protein! The dressing is a super simple mixture of lemon juice, garlic, spices, and olive oil, and the salad keeps great in the fridge for several days!
Ingredients
For the salad
- 3/4 cup quinoa, rinsed
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 1 (15.5 ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 3/4 cups diced seedless cucumber
- 1/3 cup finely diced red onion
- 1 bunch flat leaf Italian parsley, chopped
- 1-2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- 2 vine ripe tomatoes, diced
For the dressing
- juice of 2 lemons
- 1 clove garlic, minced or pressed
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
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Make the quinoa. Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Once boiling, add the quinoa, stir, and cover. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 15-18 minutes or until quinoa is fluffy and has absorbed all liquid. Set aside to cool.
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While quinoa is cooking, make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
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Once quinoa has cooled, assemble the salad. In a large bowl, combine the quinoa, chickpeas, cucumber, red onion, parsley, mint, basil, and diced tomatoes. Stir to combine. Add desired amount of dressing (you likely won't use all of it) and stir again to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
*Salad will keep for up to 5 days in the fridge. If you feel like it needs some "freshening up" after a few days, add an extra handful of chopped fresh parsley, basil, and/or mint!
*I love adding crumbled feta, and/or roasted, salted chopped pistachios to this salad!
*Feel free to switch up the grains here too. This salad would be delicious with farro, brown rice, lentils, or bulgur like traditional tabbouleh!