Description
Greek-inspired chickpea pasta salad delivers Mediterranean flavors with crisp vegetables and tangy feta. Fresh herbs and zesty dressing make you crave each refreshing bite of this easy summer meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (226 g) chickpea pasta noodles
- 15 oz (425 g) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 cucumber, cut into small pieces
- 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
- ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
- ⅔ cup plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt (0%)
- 4 tablespoons (tbsps) dill, finely chopped
- 1 lemon, juiced (about 4 tbsps)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Cook pasta in generously salted water according to package instructions until perfectly al dente. Immediately drain and rinse with cold water to halt cooking and rapidly cool the pasta.
- Dressing Creation: Whisk Greek yogurt with freshly squeezed lemon juice, finely minced dill, and sea salt until smooth and harmoniously blended, creating a creamy, tangy base for the salad.
- Vegetable Transformation: Expertly dice red onion into delicate, uniform pieces, transform bell pepper into elegant thin strips, and segment cucumber into precise bite-sized cubes.
- Ingredient Fusion: Combine chickpeas, precisely chopped vegetables, and cooled pasta in a spacious mixing bowl, gently folding to create a balanced, colorful mixture that promises vibrant flavor profiles.
- Dressing Integration: Cascade yogurt dressing over the pasta blend, meticulously folding to ensure each ingredient is completely and evenly coated with the creamy, herbaceous sauce.
- Flavor Development: Seal the salad and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes, allowing ingredients to marinate and flavors to develop a harmonious, refreshing complexity.
- Final Presentation: Before serving, give a gentle toss and artfully garnish with delicate fresh dill sprigs, providing a final aromatic touch. Refrigerate any remaining salad in a sealed container for optimal freshness up to 3 days.
Notes
- Chill for Maximum Flavor: Refrigerating the salad for at least 30 minutes allows ingredients to marinate and develop deeper, more complex taste profiles.
- Perfect Pasta Texture: Rinse pasta with cold water immediately after cooking to stop the cooking process and prevent overcooking, ensuring a crisp, al dente texture.
- Vegetable Prep Matters: Cut vegetables uniformly to ensure even distribution and consistent bite in every spoonful of the salad.
- Storage Tip: Keep the salad fresh by storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator, consuming within 3 days for optimal taste and texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: None
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg