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Easy Meal Prep Fresh Mediterranean Chickpea Pasta Salad

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A quick and easy Mediterranean pasta salad with chickpeas, fresh vegetables, and a tangy lemon vinaigrette. Perfect for meal prep, this salad gets better after a day in the fridge.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces rotini pasta
  • 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 medium English cucumber, diced
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ½ medium red onion, finely diced
  • ½ cup kalamata olives, halved
  • ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rotini and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside to cool completely.
  2. Make the dressing: In a small jar, combine olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Shake vigorously until emulsified.
  3. Prep the vegetables: Dice cucumber, halve cherry tomatoes, finely dice red onion (soak in cold water for 5 minutes if desired), halve olives, and chop parsley.
  4. Rinse chickpeas: Drain and rinse chickpeas under cold water. Pat dry with a paper towel.
  5. Combine: In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, olives, and parsley. Toss gently.
  6. Add dressing and feta: Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. Gently fold in crumbled feta.
  7. Chill: Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. For best results, let rest overnight.

Notes

For meal prep, store feta separately to maintain texture. If salad seems dry after chilling, add a splash of olive oil and lemon juice before serving. This salad is best eaten cold or at room temperature.

Nutrition

Keywords: Mediterranean pasta salad, chickpea pasta salad, meal prep, vegetarian, healthy lunch

Find it online: https://sparklechew.com/easy-meal-prep-fresh-mediterranean-chickpea-pasta-salad/