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    Home » Recipes » Easy Weekday Meals

    Pesto Chickpea Salad

    April 19, 2018 by Stephen & Elise Compston, RD, LDs 6 Comments

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    Feeling alllll the emotions this week as our baby boy turned 1. This year went FAST and we've found ourselves spending these last few weeks reminiscing on the milestones and first moments this incredibly joyous, and short, year has brought. Needless to say, it was back to the basics in the kitchen and nothing screams simply delicious like our 10-minute Pesto Chickpea Salad. Colorful, flavorful and the perfect weekday lunch or star of any backyard bbq.

    Overhead shot of a bowl of pesto chickpea salad
    Pesto Chickpea Salad is the perfect anytime meal!

    This recipe highlights another SOC Kitchen staple: simple basil pesto. If you want to talk about a way to completely elevate a dish from satisfactory to utterly drool worthy then having a good pesto recipe under your belt is key. Homemade pesto is probably one of the easiest sauces to create and tastes 100000000% better than anything store bought. Just sayin'.

     

    Close-up shot of fresh basil pesto

    Pesto Chickpea Salad is the perfect anytime meal!

    In true Compston fashion, this recipe is completely modifiable based on what ingredients you have on hand. We chose a few fresh and few pantry items but you can swap out with anything you and your family prefers.

    To get started, let's prepare our pesto. We believe you can achieve a total wonderful, flavorful pesto incorporating dried herbs but it's really important that your basil (aka the base of your pesto) is fresh. Wash basil leaves and remove any large stems.

     

    Overhead shot of fresh basil leaves

    Place the leaves into a food processor or blender. 

    Overhead shot of basil leaves in a food processor 

    Add garlic, remaining herbs, and of course, olive oil.

    Basil leaves in a food processor with garlic cloves and dried herbs

    Now, it's time to blend! Do you like magic? Watch how a full food processor will practically disappear once you start blending:

    Overhead shot of blended pesto in a food processor

    Thankfully, pesto packs a flavorful punch so we don't need much to make this dish shine. Blend until pesto is semi-smooth and even in texture. Set aside as we prepare our veggies.

    Up close shot of basil pesto

    Next, pick your salad add-ins. We opted for zucchini, tomatoes, red onion, but have also made this with bell peppers, mushrooms, and black olives. Dice into bitesized pieces along with chickpeas (fiber, protein) and mozzarella (protein) for well roundedness, aka, satiety.

    An assortment of diced vegetables on cutting boards

    We tossed our zucchini in a pan with a splash of evoo for a quick sauté but you can skip of you are short on time or are planning to bring this to a cookout. That said, if you DO have time we sincerely recommend keeping this step as it adds another level of yum. Oh, and when it mixes with the mozzarella and makes it ever so melty it is pure heaven.

    Diced zucchini in a large saute pan

    Cooked, diced zucchini in a saute pan

    Finally, it's time to start tossing everything together! First, toss a heaping scoop of pesto onto the zucchini and mix until well combined.  

    A scoop of pesto above a bowl of zucchini

    A bowl of zucchini tossed with fresh pesto

    Add your remaining salad ingredients,

    A bowl of vegetables with pesto

    and another healthy scoop (or two) of pesto.

    A bowl of vegetables with a scoop of pesto on top

    And toss until well combined. 

    A bowl of vegetables tossed with pesto

    Friends, it's time to eat!

     

    Nutrition Notes: This salad is packed full of vitamins, minerals, and protective compounds. The phytochemicals found in garlic and onions (namely the allium genus) have been associated with anti-cancer and anti-inflammation benefits - to name a few! It has 7 grams of filling fiber, protein, and the right touch of heart healthy fats to keep you full for hours. 

    Overhead shot of a bowl of pesto chickpea salad
    Print Recipe
    5 from 7 votes

    Pesto Chickpea Salad

    Colorful, flavorful and the perfect weekday lunch or star of any backyard bbq.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 5 servings
    Calories: 204kcal

    Ingredients

    • 4-5 medium zucchini washed and sliced into quarters
    • 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced into halves
    • ⅓ cup red onion diced
    • 1 15 oz can chickpeas rinsed and drained
    • 4 oz mozzarella sliced into small pieces

    Basil Pesto

    • 4 oz fresh basil
    • 2 cloves minced garlic
    • ¼ teaspoon each, dried rosemary, thyme, oregano, and parsley
    • ⅛ tsp salt
    • ⅛ tsp black pepper
    • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

    Instructions

    • Pesto: To a food processor, add basil, olive oil, and dry seasonings and pulse until you reach desired consistency. Add additional olive oil, as needed, to thin; set aside
    • Add diced vegetables and mozzarella to a large mixing bowl along with pesto. Toss until well mixed. Serve immediately.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 204kcal
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sydney McGill

      November 11, 2022 at 8:49 pm

      This recipe looks so good and easy to make! As a college student, I don’t have much time to make my meals and this seems like a great, healthy meal I can make for myself and roommates. I will definitely be trying this!

      Reply
      • Stephen & Elise Compston, RD, LDs

        November 20, 2022 at 9:33 am

        Hi Sydney, we hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Sofia Ramos

      August 26, 2022 at 9:36 am

      5 stars
      This looks so delicious! Love the addition of mozzarella! I will definitely be making this! Love your page!

      Reply
      • Stephen & Elise Compston, RD, LDs

        August 26, 2022 at 9:45 am

        Hi Sofia, thank you so much for the feedback! We hope you enjoy.

        Reply
    3. Nikki Kaldas

      June 11, 2021 at 11:26 am

      5 stars
      Since finding this salad just about a year ago - I have probably made it about 30 times - we absolutely love it! We eat it alone, as a side, as a snack. It last in the fridge for a couple days too! It’s utterly delicious!

      Reply
      • Stephen & Elise Compston, RD, LDs

        June 14, 2021 at 1:24 pm

        Hi Nikki, what a compliment!!! We are so glad to hear the recipe is a hit and you've found it so versatile! Thank you!

        Reply
    5 from 7 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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    The Compstons

    We're Stephen and Elise Compston! Husband and wife registered dietitians, recipe revitalizers, and developers of upgraded everyday eats. We create simple, affordable, plant-focused recipes with fun, fresh, and creative spins on classic dishes and tasty new favorites.

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