Mediterranean Supper Salad (Print version)

Hearty Mediterranean dish with fresh vegetables, chickpeas, feta, and a zesty olive oil dressing.

# What you'll need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large English cucumber, diced
02 - 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
05 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, baby spinach)

→ Protein

06 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
07 - 4 oz feta cheese, crumbled

→ Grains (optional)

08 - 1 cup cooked quinoa or couscous

→ Dressing

09 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
11 - 1 clove garlic, minced
12 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
13 - 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnishes

15 - 1/3 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
17 - Lemon wedges, to serve

# How to make it:

01 - In a large salad bowl, toss together cucumber, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, red onion, and mixed greens.
02 - Incorporate chickpeas and cooked quinoa or couscous if desired; gently mix to combine.
03 - Whisk olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, oregano, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl or jar until emulsified.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Top salad with crumbled feta, Kalamata olives, and chopped parsley.
06 - Serve immediately alongside lemon wedges.

# Expert suggestions:

01 -
  • It's ready in half an hour, which means weeknight dinners stop being a negotiation with yourself.
  • The dressing brings everything together with a brightness that makes you eat slower, actually tasting each bite.
  • Chickpeas give you real staying power without requiring meat or hours of cooking time.
02 -
  • Dress the salad only when you're ready to eat it; letting it sit in vinegar turns the greens from crisp to sad in about twenty minutes.
  • The quality of your olive oil is everything here since it's doing the heavy lifting in the dressing; cheap oil makes this taste forgettable instead of memorable.
03 -
  • Make extra dressing because it's impossible not to want more once you've tasted how it transforms the vegetables.
  • Keep a lemon wedge nearby while eating so you can squeeze in brightness whenever a bite feels like it needs waking up.

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