Description
This vibrant Lemon Tahini Chickpea Tuna Salad combines protein-rich tuna and chickpeas with crisp cucumbers, tangy feta, and toasted nuts, all brought together by a creamy, zesty lemon tahini dressing. It's a refreshing, nutritious salad perfect for a light lunch or a quick dinner.
Ingredients
Tuna Chickpea Salad:
- 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 2 (5-ounce) cans tuna packed in olive oil, drained
- 8 ounces English or Persian cucumbers, finely chopped
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts or sliced almonds
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
Lemon Tahini Dressing:
- 3 tablespoons tahini
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon (~2 to 3 tablespoons juice)
Instructions
- Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, water, olive oil, Dijon mustard, ground cumin, sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, lemon zest, and lemon juice until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
- Prepare the salad. In a large bowl, combine the rinsed and drained chickpeas, drained tuna, finely chopped cucumbers, crumbled feta cheese, finely chopped red onion, toasted pine nuts or sliced almonds, and chopped fresh dill.
- Toss with dressing. Drizzle the lemon tahini dressing evenly over the salad ingredients, then gently toss until everything is well coated and combined.
- Season to taste. Taste the salad and adjust seasoning if necessary by adding more salt, pepper, or a splash of lemon juice to brighten the flavors.
- Serve. Serve the salad immediately as is or accompanied by crusty bread, or use lettuce cups for a low-carb option.
Notes
- This salad is best eaten fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 1 day. The cucumbers and nuts may soften over time.
- To toast pine nuts or almonds, place them in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant, about 3-5 minutes.
- You can swap feta cheese for a dairy-free alternative to make this salad lactose-free.
- For extra crunch, add chopped celery or bell peppers.
- This recipe is naturally gluten free.
