This Chopped Chickpea Salad with Italian Vinaigrette was inspired by a visit to our favorite local Italian Gourmet Imports shop. So you know it’s good!
Dom, Luc and I took a drive this past Saturday to do a little shopping. In the midst of our travels it dawned on us that we were feeling peckish. So Dom, in usual Dom fashion, “knew just the place!” Our favorite little Italian food shop, Vince’s Gourmet Imports, which makes the most amazing chicken riggie subs, among other Italian specialties.
While pondering lunch, we shopped a bit and relished in the cozy atmosphere. With scents of freshly grated Romano cheese, fried meatballs, fresh garlic and Italian bread keeping us company, we could have hung there all day.
After staring too long at the menu – we finally made decisions – we each ordered the chicken riggie sub with a side salad. Luc had the pasta, while Dom and I each ordered the chopped chickpea.
This gorgeous salad is loaded with:
- chickpeas
- bell peppers
- zucchini
- red onion
- celery
- fresh herbs
- baby arugula
- and a tangy vinaigrette
I took a mental note of each ingredient, as this salad’s a keeper! Colorful, crunchy, and loaded with flavor – we’re talking perfect springtime bite.
As wonderful as the variety of veg, it’s the dressing that pulls it together. Composed of flavors I grew up with…olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and pepper – so wonderfully nostalgic – so perfectly Mom’s. I had a moment.
Whether you’re pairing it with charcuterie, panini, meatballs, or pizza, this quick and simple Italian inspired chopped salad is one that you’ll want in your repertoire.
Buon Appetito!
CHOPPED SALADS FROM AROUND THE WEB:
Winter Chopped Salad with Roasted Sweet Potato and Blood Orange Vinaigrette from How Sweet It Is
Sesame Ginger Crunch Salad with Shredded Brussels Sprouts from Earth & Oven
Honey Citrus Chicken, Blood Orange, and Avocado Chopped Salad from Spices in My DNA
Chopped Chickpea Salad with Italian Vinaigrette
- Category: Salad
Description
This Chopped Chickpea Salad with Italian Vinaigrette was inspired by a visit to our favorite local Italian Gourmet Imports shop. So you know it’s good!
Ingredients
- Chickpea Salad
- 2 (15 ounce) cans of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 small red onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 – 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil, thinly sliced (or flat-leaf parsley, chopped)
- 1 small zucchini, chopped
- A couple handfuls of baby arugula
- Italian Vinaigrette
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 plump garlic clove, minced
- 1 – 2 tsp. dried oregano, to taste
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Grated Romano cheese, to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the chickpeas, red onion, bell peppers, celery, basil, zucchini, and arugula.
- In a separate medium sized bowl, whisk the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper and grated cheese.
- Toss vinaigrette with the salad.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle with more Romano.
- Serve.
Notes
I’m IN! Anything with chickpeas and colorful veggies! Purple onions are way underused. And although they can be strong, I love them more-so than any other! Isn’t it great when inspiration comes while dining out? Even the simplest of recipes can make big impressions! Thank you for passing this on to us Annie! xo
It is…I find some of my greatest inspirations from dining out! So happy you like the salad, Traci! Thank you, my friend! xo
The best things are made with simple ingredients and this salad does not disappoint! I look forward to warm weather and summer zucchini to toss in here. It sure sounds like y’all had a fine time at that little shop!
I couldn’t agree more, Rachelle! Hope your day is great, my friend!! 🙂
I could eat this everyday, Annie! Fresh, clean and delicious- just what a salad should be. Love that you were inspired from a local restaurant’s recipe. I do that all the time – try and recreate something delicious I’ve eaten.
This is one of my favorites salads, and favorite ways to be inspired! Thanks, Geraldine!! 🙂
I’ve enjoyed a version of this salad many times, but none so colorful as yours! GREG
Thank you, Greg! 🙂
So beautiful. Chickpeas are so filling and tasty and this will be a perfect fit for those energy meals.
You bet! We can never have enough! Thanks, Cindy!!
This is a beauty and while I usually go Middle Eastern when using chickpeas this has me drooling. Love the Italian way! This is definitely happening this evening, so Dave will thank you for this… me too. 🙂
Mmmm- Middle Eastern flavors are fabulous! And this Italian way is perty good, too!! Thanks, Kevin!
how delicious and easy! love this Annie!
You bet! Thanks, Manali!
Ah, I love the Italian tunes playing in the background! 🙂 . And this chickpea salad is my kind of salad, tasty, colorful, healthy, and that satisfies me at lunch. If in Vince’s salad the zucchini were raw, no thanks, for me, I prefer your variation! 🙂
The zucchini was raw – but now I’m thinking I’ll try it with roasted zucchini! Love it! Thanks, friend!
Vince’s sounds like my kind of place. Chickpea salads are a must in our house!! This one is fabulous and I love your dressing calls for red wine vinegar. ?Take care!
It’s one of my favorite places!! Thanks, friend! 🙂
Well Vince’s Gourmet Imports sounds like my kind of store, because any place that smells like cheese and meatballs is alright with me! 😉 I am chickpea OBSESSED, so you already know I am drooling over this salad!!! Love me a good chopped salad, and this one is just gorgeous and loaded with so much fresh flavor! I might make a big ‘ole batch of this to have on hand for easy lunches next week. Yay! Pinned! Cheers, friend! xo
Yaaas! I can get behind a weeklong of chickpea salads for lunch!! Thanks, my dear! Have a great weekend! xo
I could seriously eat a salad like this every day for lunch. I love having something like this waiting for me in the fridge when I stare in at 12:00. Looks delicious!
And it really is better the longer it marinates in the fridge! Thanks, Karen!!
Oooooh! Love the color! Now that we are in warm weather I could eat salads twice a day for the meal. I look at the salad and think “Mardi Gras”! A celebration of flavors and colors. 🙂
Oh yeah! It’s like confetti on a plate!! Thanks, Marisa! 🙂
I adore chickpeas and will never find enough ways to eat them! Thank you for giving me one more!
So true! I’ll eat them straight from the can, sometimes!! Thanks, Kelsie!
Chopped salads are the best!! I love how colorful this is and now I NEED to make it up to North Syracuse to try that chicken riggies sub. my hubs will love it!
Oh my! You absolutely need to make your way over to Vince’s for that sub! Thanks, friend!
Next Friday my daughter and I are going picnicking to catch the finale of The Vampire Diaries and I’m gonna have to make this – I love chopped salads like this where my mouth doesn’t have to do a juggling act with huge chuncks of lettuce and the likes!
That will be a fun night!! Enjoy the finale and the salad!! 🙂
What a great idea! Such a delicious combination! Pinned to try it!
So fresh and bright! Thanks, dear!
This looks SO GOOD!
It’s a great chopped salad! Thanks, Meredith!
I need more of these kinds of salads in my diet Annie! Nice and hearty, full of bright colors, and so healthy! I would enjoy it with the chickpeas or the zucchini. Can’t wait to try! Happy weekend!
I am with you! Salads like this are perfect staples! The zucchini is a nice addition, as well! Thanks, friend!
Chickpea salads are my favorite! I seriously can’t get enough of them and love seeing different variations. This chopped version sounds like it would make the perfect light lunch or dinner. Love that vinaigrette in here, too! Happy almost weekend, Annie!
Never met a chickpea dish I didn’t love! Thanks, Gayle!
Lots of times when hubby and I are running around doing errand and whatnot on Saturday, we often forget to eat lunch. How is that even possible, right? When we do realize, ‘hey, I’m hungry….maybe we would eat’ we want something kinda light cause usually on Saturday I love to make something special for dinner, something that may take a little more time that, say, weekdays. This salad would be perfect! Love the chickpeas in there…something that’s healthy and will fill ya up, but not make ya fell blah, ya know? Plus, so pretty and fresh! Lovely salad, Annie! Hope you have a wonderful weekend! XOXO
I’d love to tell you we stopped at the salad but we also enjoyed a chicken riggie sub! hahaha! But that was our big meal of the day! 😉 Normally – the salad would be enough! It’s packed with all sorts of fun and filling ingredients! Have a great weekend, my dear! XOXO