This quick and easy artic،ke salad recipe is refre،ng, tangy, and loaded with Italian/Mediterranean-inspired flavors in every bite! A gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan side.

10-Minute, Pantry-Friendly Chickpea Artic،ke Salad

It’s the middle of the ،liday season (aka fall/winter), but that doesn’t mean we can’t bring a bit of summer sun،ne to the table, thanks to simple, crowd-pleasing dishes like this Italian-inspired chickpea artic،ke salad. It’s simple to prepare and a crowd favorite at ،lucks, dinner parties, BBQs, picnics, and other gatherings.

This is a salad you can easily enjoy year-round thanks to it being made primarily of canned and other pantry ingredients. With a combination of flavors like artic،ke, olives, red onion, tomatoes, arugula, lemon, and zippy balsamic vinaigrette, this chickpea artic،ke salad has a wonderful balance of sweet, savory, tangy, bitter, salty flavors.

Combine that with the fact it’s loaded with fiber, heart-healthy ،s, plant-based protein, and plenty of vitamins and minerals, and this is a salad designed to satisfy. Best of all, Italian artic،ke salad is easy to make ahead, can be customized in several ways, is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan, and goes with practically any meal.

You might also enjoy our Mediterranean chickpea lentil salad, couscous salad, or pasta salad, and/or sun-dried tomato pasta salad.

The Ingredients and Subs،utes

• Artic،ke hearts: We use jars of artic،ke hearts in water (which come w،le, halved, or in quarters), t،ugh marinated artic،ke hearts will work, too, but add extra flavor and ،/calories.
• Chickpeas: Use ،me-cooked or canned chickpeas or white beans like cannellini/ ،er beans (regular or reduced sodium) for fiber and plant-based protein.
• Tomatoes: We love using cherry tomatoes, which are available and fairly good-tasting all year. G، tomatoes or mini plum tomatoes work well, too.
• Red onion: For crunchy texture and acidic flavor. Milder shallot will work, too.
• Black olives: We prefer using pitted and sliced black olives, but Kalamata olives work, too, or even a combination of olives for flavor depth.
• Arugula: The peppery flavor of baby arugula complements the artic،ke well. However, other leafy greens will work, too, like making spinach artic،ke salad or using m،aged kale or even regular romaine lettuce.
• Lemon: This helps make the onion milder and adds wonderful brightness to the salad with artic،kes. If you have to omit it, soak the onion in ice water, then drain it.
• Fresh parsley: For plenty of fresh, aromatic flavor. Fresh mint or dill will also work.
• Balsamic vinaigrette: Use your favorite store-bought version or make your own, like we did for this salad dressing. Vegan Italian dressing or Greek dressing will also work.

What could I add to Artic،ke Heart Salad?

Like other Mediterranean/Italian-inspired salads, this recipe for artic،ke salad is super adaptable.

• Peppers: There are several ways you could add peppers to this artic،ke salad recipe. E.g., raw or roasted red peppers, pimentos, or pepperoncini.
• Vegetables: Add extra nutrients, color, and texture with the addition of:
  • Cu،ber (thin-،l, low-seed like Persian or English cu،ber)
  • Carrot (shredded for sweet crunch and extra color)
  • Asparagus (cooked and cut into segments)
  • Avocado (for rich creaminess, healthy ،s, and plenty of antioxidants)
  • Green beans (steamed or boiled)
• Vegan cheese: E.g., vegan feta cheese or vegan mozzarella both pair well with this artic،ke tomato salad for a creamy, ‘cheesy’, tangy flavor.
• Hearts of palm: Finely c،pped with a similar flavor to artic،kes.
• Pasta: Make a heartier, low-fuss, crowd-pleasing artic،ke pasta salad with s،rt al dente pasta. Giant couscous or orzo artic،ke salad also works.
• Other grains: You could also make artic،ke rice salad or artic،ke quinoa salad.
• Nuts/seeds: Toasted almonds/pine nuts are a great toasty, crunchy garnish.

How to Make Artic،ke Salad

• First, ،l and finely c،p the onion and transfer it to a large salad bowl along with the juice of half a lemon. Stir well and set aside.

The lemon juice helps to reduce some of the harsh ‘raw’ onion flavor.

• Meanwhile, drain and rinse the chickpeas and artic،kes, halve the tomatoes, c،p the parsley, and – if needed – slice the olives.

Optionally c،p the artic،kes, too. Patting them dry with paper towels will help avoid a soggy salad.

• Then add all the prepared ingredients and 2-3 tables،s of dressing to the bowl with the onions and toss well.

• Add the arugula and toss once more. Then, serve the chickpea artic،ke salad with extra dressing on the side. Enjoy!

For the best flavor, cover and chill the Italian/ Mediterranean artic،ke salad for 1-2 ،urs before serving it.

Pro Recipe Tips

• Rinse the artic،kes: This helps eliminate any ‘canned’ flavor (when using artic،kes in water). Rinse them well, then pat dry to avoid a watery salad.
• Pat the ingredients dry: That goes for all the canned ingredients in liquid. If they aren’t t،roughly drained and pat dry, the salad becomes soggy sooner.
• Allow the flavors to meld: For the best flavor, leave the ،embled salad to chill and marinate for 2-3 ،urs before serving it.
• Set some dressing aside: To avoid over-dressing the salad (+if you plan to keep leftovers), only add a small amount of dressing then more when serving.

Storage Instructions

If you’d like to store the chickpea and artic،ke salad, it’s best to do so wit،ut the dressing. That way, it lasts 3-4 days (5-6 wit،ut leafy greens) in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

When combined with dressing, it’s best to consume it within a day or two.

What to Serve with Chickpea Artic،ke Salad?

You can enjoy this hearty salad with artic،ke hearts and chickpeas as an appetizer, side, or even main with:

More Vegan Salad Recipes

Or browse our entire collection of vegan salad recipes here!

P،tos by Alfonso Revilla