Cottage Cheese and Chickpea Salad Recipe
A refreshing and protein-packed Cottage Cheese and Chickpea Salad combining creamy cottage cheese, hearty chickpeas, crisp cucumber, and vibrant cherry tomatoes, all tossed with fresh parsley and a zesty lemon-olive oil dressing. Perfect as a light lunch, side dish, or healthy snack.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes (including chilling time)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No cooking required, mixing and chilling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-inspired
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Dressings & Seasonings
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Combine base ingredients: In a large bowl, mix 1 cup of cottage cheese and the drained and rinsed chickpeas thoroughly to create a creamy and hearty base for the salad.
- Add fresh vegetables: Incorporate the diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, and finely chopped red onion into the bowl, adding crisp texture and vibrant flavor.
- Include fresh herbs: Toss in the chopped fresh parsley gently to distribute its fresh, aromatic notes throughout the salad.
- Dress the salad: Drizzle the olive oil and lemon juice evenly over the mixture to brighten and bind the flavors together.
- Season to taste: Sprinkle salt and pepper according to your preference, adjusting gradually to balance the savory and tangy elements.
- Mix ingredients: Gently fold all ingredients together until they are well combined, ensuring the dressing coats everything evenly without breaking down the cottage cheese too much.
- Chill before serving: Cover and refrigerate the salad for 15-20 minutes to let the flavors meld and serve cool for the best taste experience.
Notes
- Use low-fat or regular cottage cheese depending on your calorie preference.
- For extra crunch, add some chopped celery or bell peppers.
- The salad can be prepared a few hours in advance to enhance flavor.
- Serve it as a side dish or a light main course for a healthy meal.
- Can be enjoyed as a vegetarian dish suitable for a low-fat diet.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 13 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
Keywords: Cottage cheese salad, Chickpea salad, Healthy salad, Vegetarian salad, Mediterranean salad, Protein salad
