Lemon Herb Chickpea Pasta Salad (Printable)

Vibrant Mediterranean salad combining chickpea pasta with fresh herbs, cucumber, tomatoes, and bright lemon dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 9 oz chickpea pasta

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 large cucumber, diced
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1/4 red onion, finely chopped

→ Fresh Herbs

05 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped

→ Dressing

08 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
09 - Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
10 - 1 garlic clove, minced
11 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
12 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Optional Additions

14 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
15 - 1/4 cup kalamata olives, pitted and sliced

# How-To:

01 - Cook the chickpea pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water until completely cooled, then set aside.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped red onion, parsley, dill, and mint.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon zest and juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well emulsified.
04 - Add the cooled pasta to the vegetable and herb mixture. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently until all components are evenly coated.
05 - If desired, fold in the crumbled feta cheese and sliced kalamata olives.
06 - Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and develop.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The chickpea pasta holds up beautifully, never getting mushy even after days in the fridge
  • Fresh herbs make everything brighter, and the lemon dressing ties it all together
02 -
  • Chickpea pasta can go from perfect to overcooked quickly, so set a timer for two minutes less than the package suggests
  • The salad actually tastes better after sitting for an hour, giving the dressing time to work into everything
03 -
  • Taste the cherry tomatoes before adding them, and skip the lackluster ones
  • Use a vegetable peeler to shave thin ribbons of cucumber if you want a more elegant presentation
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