Mediterranean Chickpea Feta Bowl (Printable Version)

A protein-rich bowl featuring chickpeas, vegan feta, olives, and crisp vegetables with Mediterranean flair.

# What You'll Need:

→ Base

01 - 1 can (14 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 cup cooked quinoa or brown rice (optional)

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 medium cucumber, diced
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 1/2 red bell pepper, diced

→ Toppings

07 - 3 oz vegan feta cheese, crumbled
08 - 1/3 cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved
09 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

→ Dressing

10 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
12 - 1 tsp dried oregano
13 - 1/2 tsp sea salt
14 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

# Steps:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine chickpeas, diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, and diced red bell pepper.
02 - Whisk together extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano, sea salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the chickpea and vegetable mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Distribute the mixture evenly into two bowls, placing it over cooked quinoa or brown rice if using.
05 - Top each serving with crumbled vegan feta, halved Kalamata olives, and chopped fresh parsley.
06 - Serve immediately for fresh flavors or refrigerate up to 2 days to allow marination and chilled enjoyment.

# Expert Insights:

01 -
  • It comes together in the time it takes to listen to three songs, no cooking required.
  • The feta and olives make it taste indulgent even though it's just chopped vegetables and beans.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day after everything marinates together.
02 -
  • Rinse the chickpeas well or they'll taste tinny and dull, a thirty-second rinse makes all the difference.
  • Don't overdress it at first, you can always add more lemon or oil but you can't take it back.
  • If the red onion feels too sharp, soak the slices in cold water for five minutes before adding them.
03 -
  • Use the best olive oil you have, it's one of only a few ingredients in the dressing and you'll taste the difference.
  • If your vegan feta is too soft to crumble, freeze it for ten minutes first.
  • Save a little lemon zest to grate over the top just before serving, it adds a bright pop.
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