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The 10-Minute Smashed Chickpea & Artichoke Deli Salad

The 10-Minute Smashed Chickpea & Artichoke Deli Salad

If you are staring at your fridge at noon contemplating a spoonful of peanut butter for lunch, stop right there. We can do better. This bright, crunchy, fiercely flavorful chickpea salad comes together in 10 minutes flat with absolutely zero cooking. My favorite shortcut here? We use the seasoned oil from a jar of marinated artichokes to build an instant, deeply savory dressing. It is pantry magic at its finest.

Elena Reyes
Elena Reyes
Prep: 10 minutes
0
2
easy
lunchsalad
10-minute lunchno-cookvegetarianpantry staples+1

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Timeline

8 minutes
0m5m8m
Mash the Chickpeas
3m
Chop the Vegetables
4m
Mix Dressing and Herbs
2m
Final Toss
1m

Ingredients

  • 1 can (15 oz) Canned chickpeas, rinsed and well drained(Dry them slightly with a paper towel so they mash easier.)
  • 1 jar (6.5 oz) Marinated artichoke hearts(Drain the artichokes, but save 2 tablespoons of the oil for the dressing!)
  • 1/2 cup Celery, finely chopped(About 2 stalks. Don't skip this, you need the crunch.)
  • 1/4 cup Red onion, finely diced(If you hate raw onion bite, soak the diced onion in cold water for 5 mins first.)
  • 1/3 cup Feta cheese, crumbled(Goat cheese works too, but feta brings that necessary salty brine.)
  • 1/4 cup Fresh dill, chopped(Fresh parsley works in a pinch, but dill makes it taste like a fancy deli.)
  • 2 tbsp Lemon juice(About half a juicy lemon.)
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard(Binds our quick dressing together.)
  • 1/2 tsp Kosher salt(Adjust to taste.)
  • 1/4 tsp Black pepper(Freshly cracked if possible.)

Instructions

  1. 1

    Place the rinsed and dried 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas into a large mixing bowl. Using a potato masher or the back of a sturdy fork, roughly mash the chickpeas. We are not making hummus here! You want about half of them completely smashed and the other half just broken open for texture.

    3 min

    Tip: If your chickpeas feel too firm to mash easily, microwave them for 30 seconds to soften them up slightly before mashing.

  2. 2

    Drain the 1 jar (6.5 oz) marinated artichoke hearts, making sure to reserve at least 2 tablespoons of the flavorful oil in a small dish. Give the artichokes a rough chop, along with the 1/2 cup celery and 1/4 cup red onion. Add all the chopped vegetables into the bowl with the smashed chickpeas.

    4 min

    Tip: Chop the celery and onion fairly small so you get a little bit of crunch in every single bite.

  3. 3

    To the same bowl, add the 1/3 cup feta cheese and the chopped 1/4 cup fresh dill. In your small dish of reserved artichoke oil, quickly whisk in the 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1/2 tsp kosher salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Pour this mixture over the salad.

    2 min

    Tip: Using the artichoke marinade saves us from measuring out herbs and oil for a vinaigrette—it's free flavor!

  4. 4

    Give everything a really good stir, folding from the bottom to ensure the Dijon and lemon juice coat every bit of the chickpeas. Taste a bite and add an extra squeeze of lemon or pinch of salt if it needs a little more zing.

    1 min

    Tip: This salad actually gets better as it sits. If you have the patience to let it rest in the fridge for 20 minutes, the flavors will marry beautifully.

Chef's Notes

I eat this straight out of the bowl with sturdy pita chips nine times out of ten. But it is also incredible scooped into a toasted wrap with a handful of crunchy romaine lettuce, or piled over whatever greens you have wilting in the crisper drawer. If you only have regular canned artichokes in water, you can absolutely use them—just add 2 tablespoons of good olive oil and a pinch of dried oregano to make up for the lost marinade.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does The 10-Minute Smashed Chickpea & Artichoke Deli Salad take to make?

The 10-Minute Smashed Chickpea & Artichoke Deli Salad takes about 10 minutes total. That includes 10 minutes of prep.

How many servings does this recipe make?

This recipe makes 2 servings.

What skill level is needed for The 10-Minute Smashed Chickpea & Artichoke Deli Salad?

This recipe is rated easy — it's beginner-friendly and straightforward.

What ingredients do I need for The 10-Minute Smashed Chickpea & Artichoke Deli Salad?

The main ingredients are: Canned chickpeas, rinsed and well drained, Marinated artichoke hearts, Celery, finely chopped, Red onion, finely diced, Feta cheese, crumbled, Fresh dill, chopped, Lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Kosher salt, Black pepper.

What type of meal is The 10-Minute Smashed Chickpea & Artichoke Deli Salad?

The 10-Minute Smashed Chickpea & Artichoke Deli Salad is categorized as: lunch, salad.