Description
This Buffalo Chickpea Salad is a vibrant, flavorful dish that combines crispy roasted chickpeas tossed in spicy buffalo sauce with fresh vegetables and optional feta cheese. Perfect for a light lunch or a hearty snack, this salad offers a delightful balance of spicy, tangy, and fresh flavors in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Chickpeas
- 2 cans (15 oz each) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Buffalo Sauce Mix
- 1/4 cup buffalo sauce (adjust to taste)
Salad Ingredients
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup diced cucumber
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
- Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped, for garnish
Optional Dressing
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for roasting the chickpeas.
- Prepare Chickpeas: Pat dry the drained and rinsed chickpeas with paper towels to remove excess moisture, ensuring they roast evenly and become crispy.
- Season Chickpeas: In a bowl, toss the chickpeas with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until they are evenly coated with the seasoning.
- Roast Chickpeas: Spread the seasoned chickpeas in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even cooking.
- Roast Until Crispy: Roast in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through to ensure the chickpeas brown and crisp evenly.
- Toss with Buffalo Sauce: Transfer the roasted chickpeas to a mixing bowl and toss them with buffalo sauce until they are well coated. Adjust the quantity of buffalo sauce to your preferred level of spiciness.
- Assemble Salad: In a large salad bowl, combine the buffalo-coated chickpeas with halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, and diced red onion, mixing gently to distribute ingredients evenly.
- Add Feta Cheese: If desired, sprinkle crumbled feta cheese over the salad to add a creamy, tangy contrast to the spicy chickpeas.
- Garnish: Garnish the salad with freshly chopped parsley or cilantro to add a fresh, herbal note.
- Serve: Serve the Buffalo Chickpea Salad with ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side, if you like, to balance the heat with a cool, creamy dip.
Notes
- For extra crunch, you can increase roasting time by a few minutes but watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Adjust buffalo sauce quantity based on desired spice level or substitute with your favorite hot sauce.
- Feta cheese is optional and can be omitted for a vegan-friendly version; consider adding avocado for creaminess.
- Serve immediately to enjoy chickpeas at their crispiest; leftovers may soften over time.
- For a gluten-free meal, ensure the buffalo sauce and dressings used are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
