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chickpea salad (balela)
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5 from 4 votes

Balela (Middle Eastern Chickpea Salad)

A delicious and healthy chickpea salad with a tangy zaatar and sumac dressing!
Prep Time10 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Assyrian, Middle Eastern
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 314kcal

Ingredients

Salad

  • 1 can chickpeas
  • 2 medium tomatoes
  • 1 persian cucumber
  • ¼ cup red onion (diced)
  • 1 avocado (diced)

Salad Dressing

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon za'atar (see recipe on my blog)
  • 1 teaspoon sumac spice
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Drain the chickpeas and add to a bowl. Chop salad ingredients and add to the same bowl and set aside.
  • Whisk the salad dressing ingredients in a separate bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad, and mix gently to combine.
  • Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning, if needed.
  • Store in the refrigerator for a few hours, or until the flavors come together. Serve as a side with your favorite entree.

Notes

  • Preparing Balela salad ahead of time is great because the flavorful dressing soaks into the beans.
  • For a little added heat, add a sliced Serrano or jalapeno pepper.
  • Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for a couple of days.
  • Serve inside pita pockets for a quick, yummy meal or with a side of hummus.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 314kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 702mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 4g