Donna's Chickpea Salad

A family favorite from the Nicholas Markets kitchen — bright, fresh, and made entirely without seed oils.

Made with 100% extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon, and herbs,
this recipe comes together in minutes and gets better as it rests.

24 oz

TOTAL YIELD

4 oz

PORTION SIZE

7 Days

SHELF LIFE

170

CAL / SERVING

Fresh & Simple

ABOUT THIS RECIPE

This vibrant salad is everything a great side dish should be — clean, bright, and full of Mediterranean flavour. The secret is a quality extra virgin olive oil and time to rest so the chickpeas absorb all the lemon and herb notes.

Total Time: 15 to 20 minutes
Prep Time: 10 to 15 minutes
Rest Time: 5 to 10 minutes

What You'll Need

Ingredients

Everything for one 24 oz batch.

AmountIngredient
1 (15.5 Oz) CanCanned Garbanzo Beans
¾ CupDiced Tomato
3 TablespoonsLarge Diced Red Onion
1 CloveMinced Garlic
¼ CupFresh Chopped Italian Parsley
½ TeaspoonLemon Zest
2 TeaspoonsFresh Lemon Juice
1 Teaspoon100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil
To TasteSea Salt
To TasteBlack Pepper

Step by Step

HOW TO MAKE IT

Follow these simple steps for the best result.

DRAIN & RINSE

Open and drain the can of garbanzo beans. Rinse well under cold water and allow to drain completely. Pat dry with a paper towel.

Prep the Vegetables

Dice tomato into small even pieces. Large-dice the red onion. Mince the garlic clove finely. Roughly chop the Italian parsley — leaves only.

Zest & Juice the Lemon

Using a microplane, zest the lemon directly over the bowl to capture the fragrant oils. Then cut and juice the lemon, removing any seeds.

Combine Everything

In a mixing bowl, combine chickpeas, tomato, red onion, garlic, and parsley. Add lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil.

Season & Taste

Season with sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Toss gently to combine. Taste and adjust — the flavors should be bright and balanced.

Rest & Serve

Let the salad rest for at least 15–20 minutes before serving. This allows the chickpeas to fully absorb the lemon and olive oil flavors.

Chef’s Notes

TIPS FOR THE BEST RESULT

METHODPROFESSIONAL ADVICE
Rinse wellRunning canned chickpeas removes excess sodium and improves texture significantly.
Zest firstAlways zest the lemon before cutting and juicing – much easier this way.
Rest timeThe longer it sits, the better it tastes. Overnight is ideal if you can wait.
ServingFinish with an extra drizzle of your finest extra virgin olive oil and flaky sea salt.
StorageRefrigerate airtight. Best within 3 days. Do not freeze.

Serve chilled or at room temperature alongside grilled fish, warm pita, or a sharp cheese board.
Finish with an extra drizzle of your finest extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of flaky sea salt.

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FOOD NEWS

Is Olive Oil a Seed Oil?

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