Looking for an easy chickpea salad recipe that's both refreshing and satisfying? This Mediterranean Chickpea Salad with Queso Fresco is loaded with crisp vegetables, sweet pops of dried cranberries, and creamy crumbles of Spanish Fresh Cheese — all tossed in a bright honey-lemon dressing. It's the perfect light lunch, refreshing side, or potluck salad and comes together in just minutes.
Ingredients for Chickpea and Queso Fresco Salad
- 1 cup crumbled Spanish Fresh Cheese (Queso Fresco)
- 2 cups chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ red onion, finely diced
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped (optional: mint)
Dressing
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1½ tbsp lemon juice (fresh preferred)
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
How to Make Mediterranean Chickpea Salad (Step by Step)
- Prepare the chickpeas. Rinse and drain chickpeas thoroughly and set aside.
- Prep the mix-ins. Chop cucumber, tomatoes, parsley, and red onion.
- Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Assemble the salad. In a large bowl, combine chickpeas, crumbled Spanish Fresh Cheese, cranberries, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, and herbs.
- Dress and toss. Pour dressing over and toss until well coated.
Finish and Serve
Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Let it sit before serving — the longer it rests, the more flavourful it becomes.
