Scrambled Eggs, Cheese, and Avocado Tortilla Bowl Recipe
September 16, 2025
Tzatziki Chickpea Salad Recipe
Consider this Chickpea Salad as a better-for-you potato salad, with a contemporary Greek edge. Besides – it could accomplish that rather more! Chickpeas toss with tzatziki dressing, use this to make protein-laden salad bowls, super-food sandwiches, function a facet or scoop with crackers.
Whether or not you consider this as chickpeas hidden in tzatziki, or tzatziki crammed out with chickpeas, this large unassuming bowl of little white blobs goes to take you unexpectedly. It’s actually, actually tasty. Which, given it’s made utilizing canned chickpeas and we don’t “do something” to them (like braise in a flavoured liquid or marinate them), is saying one thing from somebody who desires to eat extra legumes however is repeatedly dissatisfied by makes an attempt to show them right into a easy tasty meal.
However this! It’s so good! Wonderful facet dish (I deal with it like potato salad, nice one to take to picnics) or clean canvass for a lot extra, from salads to scooping with crackers to stuffing into bread rolls.
All of the methods you possibly can get pleasure from this
I’ve popped a full part of all types of how to eat this in a piece beneath (lengthier than you’ll count on, so many concepts!). However to provide you some preliminary inspiration, right here it’s in a protein-loaded meal-worthy-salad kind, with some canned tuna. Combine all of it up so it’s jumbled in, and eat with a spoon. Such nice heat climate meals!
And right here it’s, in Chickpea Salad Sandwich kind, with smushed avocado on the bottom which type of acts like a “glue” to maintain extra of the chickpeas in place. This was actually, actually good. So satisfying, and so moreish!
There’s a lot extra concepts within the part beneath, so for now, let me present you ways easy that is to make. And if you happen to’re already pondering – ugh, do I’ve to purchase a complete bunch of dill only for this??! The reply is – extremely beneficial, however I’ve options. Tried and accepted!
Tzatziki elements + canned chickpeas + a little bit of fascinating crunch from celery + a lot wanted briny pops from capers = easy, but oh-so-good!
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Chickpeas – I exploit canned for comfort although it’s further good if you happen to cook dinner your individual chickpeas as a result of it’s obtained a firmness to it that you simply by no means get with canned chickpeas. I’ve popped instructions within the recipe notes.
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Celery – Finely sliced, for a little bit of crunch which I felt this wanted. I additionally like that as a result of it’s pale inexperienced, you possibly can barely see it within the salad. You possibly can substitute with finely sliced cucumber (for a double cucumber hit!!).
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Capers – This provides tang, freshness and salt so it type of does the work of what a handful of different elements would do, like purple onion or inexperienced onion which I’d ordinarily embody for some freshness. Nice shortcut right here since you don’t want a lot (simply 2 tablespoons), and melds properly into the tzatziki!
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Yogurt – Greek yogurt is finest (thicker, richer), else a Greek model yogurt or a plain unsweetened yogurt.
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Cucumbers – You want 2 common cucumbers about 18cm / 7″ lengthy, or one lengthy Telegraph/English cucumber about 30cm / 12″ lengthy. Purpose:3/4 cup cucumber after shredding and squeezing out the surplus water.
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Lemon juice – For a contact of contemporary tang.
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Additional virgin olive oil – I exploit just a little extra on this recipe than I exploit when making common tzatziki, so it’s obtained an fringe of dressing-like richness (as a result of that is meant to be a salad).
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Contemporary dill – This actually elevates this dish, so extremely beneficial! Mint can also be terrific, although use about half the amount. When you don’t have both or they’re outrageously priced, substitute with inexperienced onion plus garlic and onion powder which provides it a ranch-dressing edge as a substitute.
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Garlic – It’s not tzatziki with out garlic! Use one massive clove or 2 common measurement ones.
Actually attempt to squeeze as a lot water as you possibly can out of the cucumber else it’ll dilute the tzatziki and make it watery.
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Grate the cucumber utilizing a normal field grater.
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Squeeze as a lot water as you possibly can out of the cucumber. I exploit a tea towel however you should use your fingers, working one small handful at a time.
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Amount – We wished 3/4 to 1 cup cucumber after the water has been squeezed out. Barely extra that what I exploit for tzatziki so it makes it just a little chunkier which is a deliberate selection as a result of this recipe is meant to be a salad.
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Put all of the tzatziki elements in a big bowl (cucumber, yogurt, dill, capers, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper).
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Combine till mixed.
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Chickpeas – Then add the chickpeas and celery and blend it by means of.
Then that’s it! You possibly can eat it right away although I prefer to go away it for no less than 1 hour to let the flavours meld (the flavour of the capers and garlic spreads all through the yogurt higher) and it’s even higher the subsequent day.
I deal with this as a facet dish that goes with nearly any protein (chicken, pork, fish, prawns/shrimp, lamb) and a clean canvas for a lot extra! Listed here are some concepts:
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Aspect-dish – Serve it such as you would a potato salad. Besides, level out to the eaters that it’s higher for you! 😂 No mayo, and extra dietary worth within the chickpeas than potato. Additionally, it is a two-in-one that mixes each starch (chickpeas) and a good quantity of greens (cucumbers and celery);
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Meal salad (see picture at high) – Add canned tuna, boiled egg, or sliced, chopped or shredded poached chicken for a protein loaded good-for-you meal that may hold you feeling full (thanks Mr Chickpeas!);
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Dipping/scooping – I can completely see myself serving this as a chunky salsa-style dip for scooping with crackers, or pinching with torn up items of Lebanese bread.
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Piling – Think about serving this on a mattress of finely shredded lettuce, aka vegetarian prawn cocktail model. I see it, and suppose it will be scrumptious!
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Fill out Chicken Gyros or Shawarma wraps – Add this to your DIY gyros/shawarma wraps unfold for individuals to roll up with the grilled marinated chicken, to fill it out and add further texture with a built-in tzatziki sauce!
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Chickpea pasta salad – This chickpea salad is beneficiant on the sauce as a result of it’s bulked out with a lot shredded cucumber. Which suggests it might be stretched out to make an an incredible quantity of meals by tossing it by means of cooked pasta. Assume – Greek Chickpea Pasta Salad. Sure! (PS You should definitely cook dinner the pasta in salted water and cook dinner it past al dente, see my large, straightforward pasta salad for ramblings on this matter).
Wow. Who knew a humble chickpea salad may accomplish that a lot. 🙂 I hope you like it! – Johnsat x
Ingredients
- 2 cucumbers , grated using a box grater, excess water squeezed out very well (3/4 cup once squeezed)
- 1 1/4 cups Greek yogurt (or thick plain yogurt)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil , plus extra for drizzling
- 1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh dill , plus extra for sprinkling, or half the quantity chopped fresh mint (Note 1)
- 1 large garlic clove , crushed using garlic press , finely grate or very finely minced using a knife
- 1/2 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt
- 2 x 400g / 14 oz cans chickpeas , well drained (Note 2 for dried)
- 3/4 cup finely sliced celery (1 – 2 stems)
- 2 tbsp chopped capers (sub cornichons or dill pickles)
Instructions
- Mix – Put the Tzatziki ingredients in a big bowl and mix. Add the chickpeas, celery and capers, mix again.
- Wait 1 hour – You can eat it straight away but it's better if you can set aside for at least 1 hour to let the flavours meld (especially salt from capers & the garlic). It's even better the next day. Give it a taste and add a pinch of extra salt if needed (capers saltiness can differ).
- Serve drizzled with extra olive oil and extra dill. Dive in!
- As a side salad or salad meal, stuffed into sandwiches/wraps (+ avocado, good "glue"), add chicken or canned tuna for protein-boost salad meal.
Notes
1. Fresh dill – This really elevates this dish, so highly recommended! Mint is also excellent, but use half the quantity. Though if you don’t fresh herbs or it’s outrageously priced, substitute with green onion plus garlic and onion powder which gives it a ranch-dressing edge instead.
2. Dried chickpeas – Use 1 2/3 cups dried chickpeas (280g). Soak 8 – 24 hours in water, drain, simmer in salted water for 30 minutes for firm (my preference) or 60 minutes for soft. Use cool.
Leftovers keeps for 3 days and honestly, it gets better and better as the flavours meld! Give it a good mix, and let it de-chill for 15 minutes or so before serving.
Servings – With some protein, it will serve 4 as a meal or 8 as a side dish (like you would potato salad).
Nutrition per serving assuming 8 servings as a side dish.
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