Green Chickpea Salad with Yogurt Dressing

Couple of months back, a lovely friend had requested me to share a spring recipe for her online magazine. As much as thrilled and excited I was, it also got me thinking. There were loads of ideas popping in my mind! Torn between preparing something sweet or savory, I decided to settle with a salad.

The recipe should have simultaneously appeared here long time back but my tiny brain totally forgot about it! The other day, I was clearing some unwanted files from the laptop, these photos caught my attention and that’s when I remembered.

The green chickpeas that I used were dried and required to be soaked overnight. Once that is done, it takes hardly any time to prepare the salad. I prefer to make it in advance and letting it rest for a while as it helps the flavors to blend nicely with the raw vegetables. Green chickpeas are easily available in any Indian store, but you could also substitute it with any beans of your choice. I had once replaced the chickpeas in the salad with couscous and that was equally delicious.

The dressing is pretty much like Indian raita; creamy, tangy and gives a refreshing mouth-feel. It is made with yogurt, roasted cumin, extra-virgin olive oil and refreshing mint.

We tried to pair the salad with baked fish on the side. It somehow worked as a great combination and eventually, became one of our favorite meals. Having said that, it also tastes great just on it’s own. There is the crunchy bite from the green chickpeas, refreshing tangy kick from the yogurt dressing and sweetness from the vegetables.

Green Chickpea Salad with Yogurt Dressing

Green Chickpea Salad with Yogurt Dressing

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried green chickpeas, soaked in water overnight
  • 2 shallots, thinly sliced
  • 1 yellow pepper, finely chopped to tiny bite size
  • 1 cup sweet cherry tomatoes, chopped in half or quarters

for the dressing

  • 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
  • 1/2 cup sour plain yogurt
  • 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
  • 1 teaspoon lime juice
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon aamchur, dry mango powder
  • salt

Instructions

  1. Heat a pan and dry roast the cumin seeds for a few seconds until they change color to a darker shade.
  2. Using a coffee grinder or mortar and pestle, grind the roasted cumin seeds to a fine dust.
  3. In a food processor, add all the ingredients of the dressing and give it a mix.
  4. Take it out in a bowl, add the roasted cumin powder to it and mix properly again.
  5. Put the green chickpeas soaked with water in a microwave proof bowl and let it cook for 10 minutes at high temperature.
  6. In a salad bowl, add green chickpeas, chopped pepper, chopped cherry tomatoes and shallots.
  7. Pour the dressing and give it a good mix.
  8. Salad is ready!

Notes

You can also use store bought cumin powder in the dressing. However, freshly grounded, roasted cumin powder adds more flavor and warmth. If you are using canned chickpeas, you do not need to soak or cook them in the microwave.

© Playful Cooking

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May 23, 2012
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Comments are closed.

  • Reema
    May 23, 2012 at 10:23 PM

    Perfect for hot weather like Chennai,feeling and sumptuous…:)

  • Raji
    May 23, 2012 at 10:29 PM

    Salad looks really wonderful..I love green chick peas, mostly make it in form of south Indian sundal, but would love to have it dressed this way.

  • Spandana
    May 23, 2012 at 10:50 PM

    Looks so colorful and bright! Beautiful pictures!

  • Nandita
    May 23, 2012 at 11:59 PM

    The salad looks awesome Kankana. Just loved the dressing. I do not have the hara chana on hand. I guess I will have to try this with the kaala chana 😉

  • Maureen
    May 24, 2012 at 1:20 AM

    This is the most beautiful salad!! I love it.

  • nisha
    May 24, 2012 at 1:20 AM

    i recently did a chickpea salad n was pleasantly surprised at how much i liked it. i have never seen green chickpeas..interesting!

  • Deeps @ Naughty Curry
    May 24, 2012 at 1:59 AM

    such a nice fresh looking salad..

  • Rosa
    May 24, 2012 at 3:19 AM

    What a beautiful salad! Lovely colors and flavors. Very summery.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  • Tes
    May 24, 2012 at 3:36 AM

    Your chickpea salad is so beautiful, and yum, it’s packed with flavors 🙂

  • Eha
    May 24, 2012 at 3:40 AM

    What a beautiful salad! For once the two sides of this Gemini: being a foodie but also a nutritionist, have absolutely no arguments one with the other. Whichever lentils or beans one used, the dish would be scrumptious and SO healthy! Thanks Kankana!

  • Sihi
    May 24, 2012 at 5:09 AM

    Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

    Best,
    Sihi

  • Kitchen Belleicious
    May 24, 2012 at 8:00 AM

    so beautiful and bright and colorful! i love that you used green chickpeas. I love when something so amazing is also so healthy for you!

  • Ameena
    May 24, 2012 at 8:37 AM

    Your pictures are amazing! Love this dish…it’s perfect for summer.

  • Sydney @ The Crepes
    May 24, 2012 at 9:14 AM

    That mint is absolutely gorgeous! I hope I see some that looks half as healthy in my neighborhood this summer.

  • Baker Street
    May 24, 2012 at 11:18 AM

    Green chickpea salad never looked so pretty! The shot of mint is just stunning. Looks great, K!

  • Grishma @ZaikaZabardast
    May 24, 2012 at 12:35 PM

    lovely clicks!!!! and such refreshing salad.

  • kale
    May 24, 2012 at 2:21 PM

    Couscous would be good but I like that you went with chickpeas. So filling and yummy!

  • Debjani
    May 24, 2012 at 6:04 PM

    It looks and sounds fabulous. Mint and cumin in yogurt dressing!
    You know, I never thought about green chickpeas before. Never cooked with it. You got me thinking. We have a yellow chickpea salad recipe in the family but I just might start adding amchur to it now.

  • torviewtoronto and createwithmom
    May 24, 2012 at 7:17 PM

    flavourful delicious salad looks wonderfully healthy

  • Yadsia @ShopCookMake
    May 24, 2012 at 8:30 PM

    I had never seen green chickpeas before. And I only saw black ones for the first time the other day at whole foods. So much to discover!

  • [email protected]'s Recipes
    May 24, 2012 at 8:57 PM

    I could eat this as the main. It looks filling and delicious.

  • Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen
    May 25, 2012 at 3:17 AM

    I have yet to try green chickpeas, you have me curious now.

  • Nami | Just One Cookbook
    May 25, 2012 at 9:16 AM

    What a gorgeous salad Kankana! I love the soft effect on the pictures a lot. I’m also curious to try the yogurt dressing. Sounds delicious! Have a great long weekend my friend!

  • wokandspoon
    May 25, 2012 at 2:15 PM

    Stumbled across your blog and I love the colours of the salad! The photos make it look extra appetizing!

  • nipponnin
    May 25, 2012 at 2:59 PM

    I never had chickpeas but photos looks awesome! The yogurt dressing sounds refreshing! Love it!

  • IshitaUnblogged
    May 25, 2012 at 4:22 PM

    Very refreshing salad. I love chickpeas – so probably I’m going to enjoy this without any accompanying dish!

    Your photographs are so amazing… there’s so much to learn:)))

  • IshitaUnblogged
    May 25, 2012 at 4:24 PM

    Again – I look at your header and I do exactly that – SMILE!

  • Candace
    May 25, 2012 at 4:57 PM

    Your blog just makes me so happy! I love your header! Your photos are gorgeous and this salad looks soooooooo good. I must look for green chickpeas. I have never seen them before.

  • Rekha
    May 25, 2012 at 7:40 PM

    Nothing else cheers me up like a big bowl of refreshing salad :). More colors in it makes it so healthy …though we are not getting green chickpeas any more in india… but looking to build one with normal chickpeas !

  • Shumaila
    May 25, 2012 at 9:00 PM

    I will definitely be trying this salad out! And as always kankana, absolutely beautiful captures!

  • Foodlvr
    May 25, 2012 at 9:40 PM

    What a beautiful salad. Looks so good. Interesting too.

  • easyfoodsmith
    May 25, 2012 at 10:27 PM

    Congrats on Top 9…the salad looks very refreshing and a salad is the only way I like to savour the green chickpeas.

  • Charles
    May 26, 2012 at 10:42 AM

    Looks wonderful Kankana – nothing else needed with this. It’s boiling hot here and cool, easy salads are all I want to eat right now. That and ice-cream of course 😀

  • CJ at Food Stories
    May 26, 2012 at 11:44 AM

    Congratulations on your foodbuzz top 9, today!

  • Hester @ Alchemy
    May 26, 2012 at 2:50 PM

    Gorgeous salad and the yoghurt dressing is a lovely alternative to mayo.

  • DB-Foodie Stuntman
    May 26, 2012 at 5:40 PM

    Glad you found this recipe. Congratulations on making the foodbuzz Top 9!

  • Thyme (Sarah)
    May 27, 2012 at 5:31 AM

    Those photos are just gorgeous. Thank goodness you didn’t delete them and now we get to enjoy the salad and the recipe. I made a raita and used it to pair with vegetarian chickpea samosas that I made for a party. I loved the flavors in the raita.

  • Vijitha
    May 27, 2012 at 6:20 PM

    A bowl of colorful goodness!

  • Sublime Palate
    May 28, 2012 at 2:39 AM

    I have seen dried green chana in Indian stores here and wondered what to do with it! Looks so simple to make.
    The props, the styling and the photos just look so bright and cheerful! The mint shot is pretty!:)

  • Jennifer (Delicieux)
    May 28, 2012 at 2:59 AM

    What a gorgeously colourful salad! I’ve never had green chickpeas, nor have I seen them in the stores here in Australia.

  • shruti
    May 28, 2012 at 6:16 AM

    i make chickpea salad sometimes, but not tried with yogurt yet. so colorful 🙂

  • Maja
    May 29, 2012 at 1:12 AM

    Looks so colorful and bright, Kankana! Congrats on Top 9, I’m so happy for you 🙂

  • Sanjeeta kk
    May 29, 2012 at 1:26 AM

    This is really simple pleasure of life..such a refreshing platter!

  • Ansh
    May 29, 2012 at 8:34 AM

    Love Chickpeas in salads. But I have not used the green ones for a salad yet. This looks so colorful and delicious

  • Cakewhiz
    May 29, 2012 at 8:38 AM

    I have had regular chickpeas but not the green ones. i want to try them and see what they taste like…hehe. your salad looks wonderful… healthy and perfect for me as i am trying to lose all this pregnancy weight…lol

    Oh and the pictures are beautifulllll!

  • Aldy @ Al Dente Gourmet
    May 29, 2012 at 5:43 PM

    Such a beautiful post Kankana! Your lovely salad look simply scrumptious–I love chickpeas but I’ve never had green chickpeas…now I’m curious. Congratulations on your foodbuzz top 9!

    Hugs <3

  • chinmayie @ love food eat
    May 31, 2012 at 11:41 PM

    Yummy! Such a flavorful salad! Makes my mouth water 🙂

  • Tadka Pasta
    June 1, 2012 at 7:27 AM

    Lovely salad and fantastic pictures! Would love a bowl of that for lunch! Can’t wait to try this with fresh green chickpeas.

  • Asmita
    June 1, 2012 at 5:01 PM

    I love all kinds and types of salads. This looks wonderful!

  • Magic of Spice
    June 3, 2012 at 6:29 PM

    I am a salad junkie and this one is a pure delight! Love the flavors here as well as the textures! I will have to look for the dried green chickpeas, how wonderful. And your photos are as gorgeous as ever 🙂

  • Trisha
    June 3, 2012 at 8:14 PM

    Just reading your post made my mouth water, I can’t wait to try this out, it’ll be perfect for summer.

    I’m hosting a giveaway over at my blog and would love for you to stop by and participate.

    https://www.theaspiringhomecook.com/2012/05/my-200th-blog-post-and-my-1st-ever.html

    Looking forward to seeing you there.

  • Trisha
    June 3, 2012 at 8:19 PM

    I love the sound of this salad, perfect for summer …

    I’m hosting a giveaway over at my blog and would love for you to stop by and participate.

    https://www.theaspiringhomecook.com/2012/05/my-200th-blog-post-and-my-1st-ever.html

    Looking forward to seeing you there.

  • Nancy/SpicieFoodie
    June 4, 2012 at 10:17 AM

    I don’t think I’ve ever seen green chickpeas. Will definitely stop at my local Indian shop to see. The salad looks perfect for the summer months. Great photos Kankana:)

  • Kiran @ KiranTarun.c
    June 6, 2012 at 12:27 AM

    I thought I came across this recipe on Divya’s e-mag. Beautiful clicks 🙂

  • Aunt Clara
    July 23, 2012 at 5:48 PM

    I have to confess that I kinda hate mint. The rest of salad looks like a winner. I have a post in the making for my own version of chickpea salad. Once I am done with that I will definitely try this one.