Fiber-Forward Chickpea Salad (Printable version)

Vibrant chickpeas, cabbage, and carrots tossed in creamy tahini-lemon dressing for a light meal.

# What you need:

→ Salad

01 - 2 cups cooked chickpeas (or 1 can, drained and rinsed)
02 - 2 cups shredded green or red cabbage
03 - 1 cup shredded carrots
04 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
05 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
06 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
07 - 2 tablespoons toasted sunflower seeds (optional)

→ Tahini-Lemon Dressing

08 - 3 tablespoons tahini
09 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
10 - 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
12 - 1 clove garlic, minced
13 - 2 to 3 tablespoons cold water (as needed to thin)
14 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
15 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
16 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large bowl, combine chickpeas, cabbage, carrots, red bell pepper, green onions, parsley, and sunflower seeds.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, maple syrup or honey, minced garlic, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Gradually whisk in cold water until the dressing is creamy and pourable.
03 - Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated.
04 - Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately or chill for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes flat, making it the answer when you need lunch but don't want to heat up the kitchen.
  • The tahini dressing is impossibly creamy without any dairy, and it's genuinely addictive on everything else you make.
  • High in fiber and protein, so you'll actually feel full for hours instead of hungry again in thirty minutes.
02 -
  • If your dressing breaks or looks grainy when you first whisk it, keep whisking and add water slowly; it will come together once the tahini fully incorporates.
  • Don't dress the salad too far in advance unless you like it very soft, because the acid in the lemon juice will start to wilt the cabbage.
03 -
  • Tahini can separate in the jar, so stir the bottom first before measuring out what you need, and your dressing will taste balanced instead of too oily.
  • If you're making this for someone with a nut allergy, double-check that your tahini was processed in a facility that doesn't cross-contaminate with tree nuts.
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