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This Tomato Cucumber Salad with Crispy Chickpeas is like summer in a bowl. With lots of fresh herbs, it's loaded with vibrant flavor. The easy, pan-fried chickpeas add a healthy and delicious touch!
Last week we spent a wonderful, long weekend at our daughter, Cait's lake home. The weather was perfect and our son was also there with his family. It was delightful to be together. After over seven years of having part of the family (Cait and her husband and children) on the opposite side of the Atlantic, we're quite thrilled to having everyone, once again, residing on U.S. soil.
We did lots of swimming, boating and tubing over the weekend and even found a beautiful little deserted island to enjoy a picnic lunch one of the days. The lake water was quite chilly when we first arrived but got warmer as each hot, sunny day progressed and we all turned into quite the water bugs!
Despite the pandemonium when we're all together, early mornings (before "the herd" arouses from slumber) at the lake house are peaceful and beyond beautiful. I love getting up before the sun peeks up over the horizon to soak in the gorgeous beauty and silence. Early one morning Scott caught this beautiful picture from the back deck. I couldn't help but be in awe of our Creator who does "exceedingly, abundantly beyond what we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20)", so obvious in the glorious sunrise!
Cait, Lindsay and I took turns cooking over the weekend, so no one felt overworked, despite the fact that there were twelve hungry mouths to feed for each meal. The last evening we were together, I made pizza and Cait offered to prepare a tomato-cucumber salad.
We all enjoyed her wonderful salad with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, Feta cheese and crispy chickpeas. I was sure you would love it too, so I asked Cait for the recipe. I'll let her tell you about it...
We've loved living in London for the past seven and a half years, but several years into our time abroad, we realized that an escape from the city life for our family would be wonderful. We found a house on Lake Gaston in North Carolina that we fell in love with.
It's been the perfect oasis and antithesis to the constraints of our urban life. At the lake house our kids live like urchins, running barefoot, swimming daily in the lake and, if I'm honest, rarely washing their hair or hands! They spend their days discovering all sorts of bugs, stars and new and different ways of entertaining themselves.
On top of all these contrasts to our London life, I find we eat differently here, too. My dad, aka Papa Scott, makes sure that by the time we roll off the plane, an abundance of herbs are growing strong on our back deck. He also brings us bounty from his gorgeous garden, and we visit the local farmers markets to scoop up any produce we can find.
While heavier foods, like soup and curries, appeal in our London life, here we eat loads of fruit, veggies and grilled meats instead. All year long I find myself wistfully pinning summer recipes to my "Lake Eats" Pinterest board, as I dream of those lake days - this recipe is one of those. It was probably pinned in the dead of winter, as I fantasized about juicy cucumbers, salty feta and toasty chickpeas.
I added tomatoes and a bit of Mom's greek dressing and it was done - the perfect compliment to pizza, grilled chicken, burgers, or whatever's on the dinner menu! It'd be great too, wrapped in a pita with a little greek yogurt.
Happy summer!
Cait
I made Cait's tomato-cucumber salad twice since returning from the lake, once for Scott and I for dinner one evening and again for this photoshoot - so we could share it with you. It's healthy, fresh and so... delicious. After the photoshoot, I sent a platter of it to our neighbors - they loved it too!
Café Tips for making this Tomato Cucumber Salad with Crispy Chickpeas:
- The salad can be mostly made ahead, keep the ingredients separate until just before serving.
- Wait to chop the mint until right before putting the salad together, as it has a tendency to turn brown if it sits around too long. The parsley will be fine if chopped an hour or so in advance.
- The recipe calls for chopped fresh mint. For a pretty presentation, I also like to add small, whole fresh mint leaves.
- You can use either crumbled or block Feta. I think block Feta, cut in small dice, gives a prettier presentation, but either one will be delicious. I love the Kolios Organic Feta Cheese from Costco.
- Use either small cherry or grape tomatoes, halved or larger tomatoes cut in bite-size pieces. Stay away from tomatoes that are really watery.
- I like to use Persian cucumbers or English cucumbers for this salad, as they tend to be less watery than the seeded varieties.
Got a family weekend coming up? A party, picnic or potluck? Or maybe you just need something fresh and delicious to serve with that grilled entree you're planning this week. Put this Moroccan Tomato Cucumber Salad with Crispy Chickpeas on the menu. I promise it will be a hit!
- For the Crispy Chickpeas
- 1 15 ounce can chickpeas rinsed and drained
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ¼ teaspoons ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- fresh ground pepper to taste
- For the salad:
- 4 medium Persian cucumbers washed, trimmed, and diced (about 2 cups)
- 2 cups halved cherry or diced Roma tomatoes
- ¼ of a medium red onion thinly sliced
- ¼ cup loosely packed flat leaf parsley chopped
- ½ cup loosely packed mint leaves chopped
- Zoe's Copycat Dressing
- ½ cup diced or crumbled Feta cheese
- flaky sea salt to taste
- fresh cracked pepper to taste
- ½ fresh lemon
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For the chickpeas, heat olive oil in a medium size sauté pan over medium heat. Add coriander, cumin, cayenne, salt and a few grinds of fresh ground pepper. Cook for 10-15 seconds until fragrant.
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Add chickpeas and stir to coat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until chickpeas begin to brown. Continue to pan-fry until the chickpeas become as toasty as you’d like.
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In a large mixing bowl, combine chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, parsley, and mint.
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Drizzle with a bit of Zoe’s Copycat Dressing, and toss to combine.
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Top with Feta and crispy chickpeas.
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Finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt, a grind of fresh ground pepper and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Recipe adapted from Sonima Please note nutritional information below does not include the Zoe's Copycat Salad Dressing. See Zoe's post for that information.
LaRae says
I see slices of red onion in the pictures of the salad, but that ingredient is not listed in the recipe.
Chris Scheuer says
You're right, LaRae (and very observant!) I will add that to the recipe!
anna says
dear Chris :))
chickpeas weight 453.59 g is net weight or drained weight?
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Anna, that would be the net weight of the can, before draining.
Lynne says
This flavorful little simple salad is full of crunch and summer flavors. The squeeze of lemon over the top of the salad once it was composed, made the flavors sing. The salad comes together in a snap and was a yummy light dinner for us on a warm summer day. I oven roasted the chickpeas and made this into a main meal by adding grilled chicken to the salad. I also served warmed naan on the side. We just loved this salad and will be eating this all summer long. Chris, the numerous recipes I have tried from your blog have been winners! Not only are they our favorites, but have become our friends fave's as well. The pictures from the blog make me want to try every single recipe! Happy 4th!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks so much Lynne for taking the time to leave a comment. So happy you enjoyed this salad and other Café recipes. We love to hear from friends out there like you!
Sandra Garth says
As a mom of a large brood, I totally identify with the warm feelings of all the family being together. I also look forward to serving this beautiful salad now and when all of our kids and grands are home again.
Susan says
Nothing like a lake house in the summertime! Both of our parents used to have one and we have many happy memories of those days. I LOVE this salad and it reminds me a little of a Serbian salad that I enjoy making in the summer with tomatoes and cukes from my garden. The fried chick peas in your version sound delicious too!
John/Kitchen Riffs says
Nice that your family is all together again! Anyway, he chickpeas in this are brilliant! I make a similar salad -- I think we all do -- and I've toyed with the idea of adding legumes, but have never done it. Gotta try this -- really good. Thanks.
cheri says
Beautiful salad, love summer cucumbers and tomatoes. Enjoyed reading your daughter Cait's words, sounds like you are all very close. Lovely post!
Jenna says
Your salads are always so pretty Chris!
Abbe@This is How I Cook says
So glad Cait shared. So glad you were all together. Always so nice to hear about families getting together. I miss mine so much!
Liz says
YUM! I could eat this winner all week long for lunch! I roast edamame all the time, but have been meaning to roast chickpeas. This is just the push I needed---some for this fabulous salad and some for snacking 🙂 Sounds like you had a wonderful time with Cait and family!!!
Ginny Hartzler says
I am so happy for you that your family is back !! And a Lake House too; just perfect! Sounds like the kid's are living the way we did when growing up, not spending all their time on the couch with phones and computers. I have a small herb garden inside the house myself. I found pots of herbs organically and locally grown for less then $3.00.
Chris Scheuer says
I love having herbs growing inside the house too Ginny, it's so handy!
Wendy sondo says
I am loving cooking with chickpeas lately! Canned or dried, whole or pureed. They are so versatile and delicious. The crisp chickpeas sound (and look) great in this salad.
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Wendy, I love the versatility of chickpeas!
sue | theviewfromgreatisland says
Wow, the lake house sounds like a glorious place to wake up! And please, I want ALL those crispy chickpeas!!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Sue, it is a beautiful lake and the sunrises and sets are quite spectacular!
Pat Morreim says
Can you tell me how I find Zoe's Copycat Dressing? I would really like to try this, but I am not familiar with this dressing.
Chris Scheuer says
Sorry Pat, I just realized the links had disappeared. I replaced them.
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
Your family time sounds perfect and how great that everyone is back on this side of the Atlantic 🙂 Love the addition of chickpeas to this salad and crispy, no less! Great Summer salad!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Jennifer, it is a perfect summer salad although I'm happy that it calls for ingredients that can be found any time of year as I have a feeling I might be craving it when the cold winds blow too!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
Scott is an excellent photographer, Chris. The early morning view of lake looks amazing, so is this light and fresh summer salad!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Angie,
Yes, Scott is definitely the genius behind the camera. I'm so... happy people don't have to look at my photography 🙂
Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert says
I am so happy for you all Chris - it sounds like a wonderful time for your family. And I could eat this salad as a complete meal and am fascinated with the crispy chickpeas. This is a must make for our next family get-together (which we do once a month) Happy gardening and thanks for sharing this lovely recipe. (Love the gorgeous sunrise photo!)
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks so much Tricia, I love that you get together with your family every month. I know it's fun planning meals they will all enjoy!