Lemon Herb Chickpea Pasta Salad (Printable)

Protein-packed salad with chickpea pasta, fresh herbs, and bright lemon dressing. Ready in 25 minutes.

# What You’ll 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 (omit for vegan)
15 - 1/4 cup kalamata olives, pitted and sliced

# How-To Steps:

01 - Cook the chickpea pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water, then set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a large bowl, combine the diced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, 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 emulsified.
04 - Add the cooled pasta to the vegetables and herbs. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
05 - If desired, fold in the crumbled feta cheese and sliced kalamata olives.
06 - Chill for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The chickpea pasta absorbs the bright lemon dressing instead of turning mushy like regular pasta
  • You can prep everything in the morning and it actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge
02 -
  • Chickpea pasta can go from perfectly cooked to falling apart fast, so set a timer for two minutes less than the package recommends
  • The dressing might taste too sharp when you first make it, but it mellows beautifully as it sits with the pasta
03 -
  • Toast the chickpea pasta in a dry pan for two minutes before boiling to add a nutty depth that most people cannot quite put their finger on
  • Let the diced onion sit in a bowl of ice water for ten minutes while you prep everything else to mellow the bite without losing the crunch
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