Chickpea and Cucumber Salad with Lemon Dressing
Chickpeas, cucumber, tomato and herbs tossed in a lemon and roasted cumin dressing. A no-cook lunch ready in 15 minutes.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 2
This salad is mostly chopping, so it is a good lunch for busy days. Chickpeas make it filling, and cucumber and tomato keep it fresh.
If you are packing it for later, keep the dressing in a separate small container and toss it in just before eating so the cucumber stays crisp.
Allergens
No common allergens listed for the ingredients as written. Always check product labels.
None of the major allergens in the ingredients as written. Check the label of tinned chickpeas and any spice blend you add.
Ingredients
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For the salad
For the dressing
Serving size: 1 large bowl (about 300 g)
Method
Step 1
Drain the chickpeas in a sieve, rinse under cold water and shake dry.
Step 2
Put the chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes, onion (if using), coriander and mint in a large bowl.
Step 3
Whisk the lemon juice, oil, roasted cumin, pepper and salt together in a small bowl or shake them in a jar.
Step 4
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well. Taste and adjust the salt and lemon.
Step 5
Serve straight away, or chill for up to 30 minutes to let the flavours mingle.
Swaps, storage and serving
Substitutions
- Dried chickpeas: soak 100 g dried chickpeas overnight in plenty of water, drain, then simmer in fresh water for 1 to 1½ hours (or pressure cook for about 5 whistles) until completely soft. Cool before using.
- Chaat masala: add ½ teaspoon for a tangier flavour, and reduce the salt because most chaat masala blends contain salt.
- More crunch: add a diced capsicum or a handful of sprouts.
Storage
Keep covered in the fridge (0–5°C) and eat within 2 days, as the Food Standards Agency advises for leftovers. Store the dressing separately if you can: dressed cucumber softens and releases water.
Serving suggestions
Eat it as a main with a roti, or as a side with vegetable moong dal khichdi.
Nutrition per serving (estimate)
Nutrition information is not yet available for this recipe.
Food-safety sources
- How to chill, freeze and defrost food safely — Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK). Accessed October 23, 2026. (opens external site)
This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk to a qualified health professional about your own situation, especially if you have a health condition, are pregnant or take medication. Medical disclaimer