Description
Spicy Crunch Thai Chickpea Salad brings zesty Southeast Asian flavors dancing across your palate with refreshing herbs and tangy dressing. Quick and nutritious, this plant-based dish offers a bold culinary adventure you’ll want to savor again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Veggies & Protein:
- 1 can (15 ounces/425 grams) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup red cabbage, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
Dressing:
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Garnish:
- 1 tablespoon chopped peanuts
- 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Drain and rinse chickpeas, then pat dry to ensure maximum crispiness and prevent sogginess.
- Julienne carrots, bell peppers, and thinly slice red cabbage and green onions into uniform, delicate strips for balanced texture.
- Whisk tahini, soy sauce, freshly squeezed lime juice, honey, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and sesame oil until smooth and well-integrated.
- Gently fold the vibrant dressing into the vegetable and chickpea mixture, ensuring each ingredient is evenly coated with the tangy sauce.
- Allow salad to marinate for 10-15 minutes at room temperature, letting flavors meld and intensify.
- Toast chopped peanuts in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant, releasing their nutty essence.
- Sprinkle toasted peanuts, fresh cilantro leaves, and white sesame seeds over the salad just before serving to maintain crunch and visual appeal.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature as a refreshing, protein-rich side dish or light meal.
Notes
- Drain and rinse chickpeas thoroughly to remove excess sodium and improve texture, ensuring a crisp and clean bite.
- Toast sesame seeds and peanuts briefly in a dry pan to enhance their nutty flavor and add an extra layer of crunchiness to the salad.
- Swap honey with maple syrup or agave nectar to make the recipe vegan-friendly while maintaining the same sweet and tangy balance.
- Chop vegetables uniformly to create a consistent texture and ensure each bite has a perfect mix of flavors and crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 670 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg