I love eating salads, especially those without leaves. Lol. I know, I know. This Chickpea Tahini Salad is inspired by the famous Persian Shirazi Salad topped with tahini sauce. This salad makes a delicious and festive side for the holidays since it’s so colorful. Additionally, a touch of pomegranate really gives the salad that holiday look and feel.

What is Chickpea Tahini Salad?

In a traditional Shirazi Salad, there are cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, green bell pepper, mint, parsley, olive oil, and lemon juice. Similarly, for my chickpea salad, I added all the Shirazi Salad ingredients along with cilantro. I then topped my salad with a creamy tahini sauce which really elevates the flavors.

Ingredients for Chickpea Tahini Salad

Why You’ll Love this Chickpea Tahini Salad

Nutritious and delicious Satisfying Festive and colorful Vegan Gluten-free

How to make Chickpea Tahini Salad step by step

Make Tahini Dressing

  1. Add all the ingredients for the tahini dressing to a blender –
  2. Blend until thick and creamy.

Prep

  1. Chop cilantro, mint, and parsley.
  2. Chop tomatoes, cucumbers, serrano peppers, red onions, and green bell pepper. I just used my favorite chopper – this works amazing!

Make the Chickpea Salad

  1. In a large bowl, add cucumbers.
  2. Add green bell peppers.
  3. Add red onions.
  4. Add drained tomatoes.
  5. Add serrano peppers. You can use jalapenos instead if serrano is too spicy.
  6. Add the herbs – cilantro, parsley, and mint.
  7. Add salt, black pepper, olive oil, and lemon juice.
  8. Add chickpeas.
  9. Transfer to a serving platter. Drizzle tahini. Garnish with pomegranate and chopped parsley. Enjoy as a side or main.

Tips to make Chickpea Tahini Salad

Prepare the tahini salad dressing. Chop all the veggies and herbs. Combine all the veggies, herbs, chickpeas, olive oil, lemon juice, and seasonings in a large bowl. Mix well. Assemble. Drizzle tahini sauce on top.

Serving Suggestions

Chickpea Tahini Salad can be served as a side. This salad pairs well with Chicken Seekh Kebabs, Baked Falafel, or these Chicken Kebab Burgers. Alternatively, you may serve this salad as a main instead of a side.

Substitutions

Cilantro – I know many folks have issues with cilantro, so feel free to omit the cilantro and replace it with parsley. Green Bell Pepper – you can substitute green bell pepper with red bell pepper. Chickpeas – feel free to replace chickpeas with white cannellini beans which work well in this recipe. Alternatively, you may skip the chickpeas altogether. Tahini Sauce – Tahini sauce tastes amazing in this salad, but if you want to skip the sauce, that works. You’ll end up with Shirazi Salad which takes refreshing and incredible.

Variations

Spice Level – if serrano peppers are too spicy, opt for jalapenos. You may deseed the jalapeno if you wish.

Storage

Chickpea Tahini Salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you plan on storing the salad for a few days, then don’t add tahini sauce on top else the salad will get watery. Instead, top with tahini sauce when you’re ready to eat.

Pin & Enjoy!

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