Chickpea Strawberry Spinach Salad
Chickpea Strawberry Spinach Salad is a vibrant, nutritious, and delicious dish that combines sweet, tangy strawberries with hearty chickpeas and fresh spinach. This salad offers a perfect balance of flavors and textures, making it ideal for a healthy lunch, light dinner, or impressive side dish. Naturally gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly, it’s easy to prepare and highly versatile for various dietary preferences.
- Author: Emily
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Salad Base
- 4 cups fresh spinach, washed
- 1 cup ripe strawberries, sliced
- 1 cup canned or cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
Add-Ins
- 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup toasted nuts (almonds or pecans), roughly chopped
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette
- Prepare the Ingredients: Begin by thoroughly washing the spinach and strawberries. Slice the strawberries into bite-sized pieces. Drain and rinse chickpeas if using canned. Thinly slice the red onion and roughly chop the nuts.
- Assemble the Base: In a large salad bowl, combine the fresh spinach, sliced strawberries, chickpeas, and red onion. Toss gently to mix the ingredients evenly.
- Add the Cheese and Nuts: Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese over the salad, and then add the toasted nuts for extra flavor and crunch.
- Dress the Salad: Drizzle the balsamic vinaigrette over the top and toss lightly to coat all ingredients without bruising the delicate spinach and strawberries.
- Serve: Serve immediately to enjoy the fresh flavors and varied textures, or chill briefly if you prefer a cooler salad.
Notes
- Use fresh, ripe strawberries for the best sweetness and juiciness.
- Lightly toast nuts before adding to bring out their oils and enhance flavor.
- Rinse chickpeas well if canned to remove excess salt and starch.
- Dress just before serving to keep spinach crisp and vibrant.
- Experiment with fresh herbs like mint or basil for added freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: chickpea salad, strawberry salad, spinach salad, healthy salad, gluten free salad, vegetarian salad, easy salad, nutritious meal