Description
Cranberry Walnut Chickpea Salad with Orange Vinaigrette is a fresh, vibrant, and nutritious salad combining tender chickpeas, crunchy walnuts, and tart dried cranberries, all tossed in a zesty and sweet orange vinaigrette. Perfect as a light lunch or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 2 cups mixed greens or baby spinach
- 1 orange, juiced and zested
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine chickpeas, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, red onion, and mixed greens.
- In a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, orange zest, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Pour the orange vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Let the salad sit for 5-10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature as a light meal or side dish.
Notes
- Toast walnuts lightly to enhance their flavor and crunch.
- Substitute dried cranberries with raisins or pomegranate seeds for variety.
- Add crumbled feta or goat cheese for extra creaminess (optional).
- Great for meal prep as flavors develop over time.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: chickpea salad, cranberry walnut salad, orange vinaigrette, healthy salad, vegetarian salad