American Cuisine, Lunch, Salads
Easy Dill Pickle Chickpea Salad Recipe
This salad combines the heartiness of chickpeas with the crunch of cucumbers, celery, and red onions, all topped with the zesty kick of dill pickles and fresh dill leaves. The dressing adds a creamy and tangy twist to the mix. Whether you’re looking for a light and satisfying meal or a flavorful side dish, this Dill Pickle Chickpea Salad is sure to please your taste buds and leave you craving more. Get ready to enjoy a burst of unique flavors in every bite!
Ingredients & Substitutions
This Dill Pickle Chickpea Salad is a delightful dish with a unique blend of flavors. You’ll need canned or cooked dried chickpeas, cucumbers, celery, and red onions for crunch and freshness.
Additionally, include both dill pickles for a tangy twist and fresh dill leaves for a herby taste. If fresh dill is unavailable, dried dill can be used as an alternative.
The dressing requires vegan mayo (or tahini) for creaminess, red wine vinegar (or apple cider vinegar) for acidity, and dijon mustard (or honey mustard) for a zingy kick. Don’t forget the dill pickle juice to enhance the dill flavor! Salt, pepper, and garlic powder are included to add depth to the dressing.
Helpful Tools
- Whisk: A whisk is essential for creating a smooth and well-mixed dressing. It helps blend the vegan mayo (or tahini), lemon juice, dijon mustard, dill pickle juice, salt, pepper, and garlic powder into a cohesive and flavorful dressing.
- Cutting Board and Sharp Knife: A good cutting board and a sharp knife are essential for chopping the cucumber, celery, red onion, dill pickles, and fresh dill. A sharp knife will make the chopping process easier and more precise.
- Mixing Bowl: A large mixing bowl is perfect for combining the chopped celery, red onion, dill pickles, fresh dill, and chickpeas. It provides enough space to toss the ingredients together with the dressing effectively.
- Measuring Spoons: Accurate measurements are crucial for creating a balanced and flavorful dressing. Measuring spoons will ensure you add the right amounts of vegan mayo, lemon juice, dijon mustard, dill pickle juice, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Tongs or Salad Servers: Tossing the salad with the dressing requires gentle handling. Tongs or salad servers will make it easier to mix the ingredients without smashing the chickpeas or damaging the vegetables.
How to Make This Dill Pickle ChickPea Salad Recipe
To prepare the mouthwatering Dill Pickle Chickpea Salad, start by making the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the vegan mayo (or tahini), lemon juice, dijon mustard, dill pickle juice, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until the dressing is smooth and well-combined.
Next, prepare the vegetables for the salad. Finely chop the cucumber and celery, and thinly slice the red onion. Chop the dill pickles into small pieces and finely chop the fresh dill leaves to infuse the salad with delightful herbaceous flavors.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped celery, sliced red onion, dill pickles, and fresh dill. Open and drain two cans of chickpeas, then rinse them thoroughly under cold running water to remove any excess liquid. Add the chickpeas to the mixing bowl with the other chopped ingredients.
Now, it’s time to bring all the elements together. Pour the prepared dressing over the chickpeas and vegetables in the mixing bowl. Gently toss everything together to ensure that the dressing coats each ingredient evenly.
Taste the salad and adjust the seasonings according to your preference, adding more salt, pepper, or garlic powder as needed.
Your Dill Pickle Chickpea Salad is now ready to be served. Present it in a dish or plate, and enjoy the delightful combination of tangy dill pickles, fresh dill, and crunchy vegetables, all mixed with the hearty chickpeas. This salad can be a refreshing and flavorful side dish or a satisfying light meal on its own.
Tips & Tricks
- Let It Marinate: For an even more flavorful salad, allow it to marinate for a while before serving. After combining all the ingredients, cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld together. This will result in a tastier and more cohesive dish.
- Pick the Right Pickles: The type of dill pickles you choose can impact the overall taste of the salad. Use high-quality dill pickles that you enjoy eating on their own. Whether you prefer sweet or sour pickles, their taste will shine through in the salad.
- Add Some Texture: If you enjoy contrasting textures in your salads, consider adding a crunchy element. You can sprinkle some toasted nuts (like slivered almonds or chopped walnuts) or sunflower seeds on top of the salad just before serving for added texture and flavor.
- Customize the Veggies: While the recipe calls for cucumber, celery, and red onion, feel free to get creative with your vegetable choices. You can add bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, or shredded carrots for added color and variety.
- Garnish with Fresh Herbs: Before serving, consider garnishing the salad with some additional fresh dill or parsley. It not only adds a pop of color but also enhances the herbal flavor profile of the dish.
FAQ: Dill Pickle Chickpea Salad
Yes, you can use dried chickpeas. Soak them overnight in water, then cook until they are tender before using them in the recipe.
Absolutely! The flavors of the Dill Pickle Chickpea Salad develop even more when it’s allowed to marinate in the dressing. You can make it a few hours or even a day ahead of time. Just store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Certainly! Feel free to customize the salad to suit your taste. You can add diced bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, shredded carrots, or even chopped avocado to add more flavors and textures.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. However, keep in mind that the longer it sits, the more the flavors will meld together.
Absolutely! This salad is a crowd-pleaser and works well for potlucks, picnics, and gatherings. It’s a unique and flavorful dish that will impress your friends and family.
Dill Pickle Chickpea Salad Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 19oz cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1 cucumber, finely chopped
- 2 ribs celery, finely chopped
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup dill pickles, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh dill, finely chopped
Dressing
- 2 tbsp vegan mayo (or tahini)
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp dijon
- 2 tbsp dill pickle juice
- salt and pepper to taste
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together vegan mayo, lemon juice, dijon mustard, dill pickle juice, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Add chopped celery, onions, dill, dill pickles, and chickpeas into a bowl and combine with the dressing. Serve and enjoy!
Video
Conclusion
Dill Pickle Chickpea Salad is a delightful and versatile dish that brings a burst of unique flavors to your table. With its tangy pickles, fresh dill, and hearty chickpeas, this salad is a refreshing and satisfying option for any occasion. Whether you enjoy it as a light meal or as a flavorful side dish, its creamy dressing and crunchy vegetables are sure to leave you craving more!
The balance of flavors in this recipe is perfect. I’ll be adding it to my regular rotation.
Thanks so much for the review Hannah!
I love this healthy and flavourful salad option! Thanks Essy
Thank you so much for the feedback Aria!
Delicious salad thank you, chickpeas make this one more filling and The taste and texture of this dish are spot on.
Thank you so much for the review Sophie so happy you loved the salad!
I love anything dill and absolutely love this dill salad. So delicious 🤤
Thanks so much Andrea!