- This crunchy salad can be prepared in advance for a week of satisfying meals.
- You’ll love the big punch of fiber and heart-healthy nutrients.
- Cannellini beans are a suitable substitute for chickpeas in this recipe.
Our Chopped Broccoli & Chickpea Salad is the crunchy and satisfying salad to make tonight or meal-prep for the week ahead. Antioxidant-rich broccoli and fiber-packed chickpeas are dressed in a creamy vinaigrette of feta cheese, tangy cider vinegar and lemon. Heart-healthy extra-virgin olive oil adds richness to the dressing, and the honey gives a subtle sweetness to balance the acidity. We added raisins for a deliciously chewy texture and almonds for a nutty crunch. This salad is a delight for your senses! Keep reading for our expert tips on smart shortcuts, adding more protein and more.
Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen
These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!
- This recipe calls for crumbled feta, but we also like feta in brine, which blends smoothly into the dressing.
- To save on prep time, you can use prepackaged, prewashed cut broccoli florets.
- You can substitute the chickpeas with cannellini beans, and the dish will still be just as delicious.
- If you want more protein in this salad, consider adding slices of steak, chicken or pork.
Nutrition Notes
- Broccoli is the star of this salad and for good reason. It’s packed with antioxidants that have been studied for their role in cancer prevention. Raw broccoli is also an excellent source of vitamin C, which aids in immune function and is important for skin health.
- Chickpeas are a fiber powerhouse, which benefits your gut health by helping keep you regular and prevent constipation. Fiber is also good to keep your microbiome healthy, helping keep inflammation low.
- Extra-virgin olive oil is the base of the dressing and is considered a heart-healthy oil because it contains mainly monounsaturated fats. These types of fats may reduce your LDL cholesterol and decrease inflammation.
