Mediterranean Chickpea Salad — Orient Chef Chickpeas & Macadamia Oil

Fresh, vibrant, and impossibly satisfying — this is a salad that actually fills you up. Tender Orient Chef Chickpeas tossed with crisp cucumber, bursting cherry tomatoes, sharp red onion, and crumbled feta, all brought together with a bright lemon-herb dressing. The finishing touch? A drizzle of Orient Macadamia Oil adds a buttery richness that elevates this from simple salad to something truly special. Ready in 15 minutes flat.

PREP: 15 min | COOK: 0 min | SERVES: 4 | CALORIES: ~280 per serving | DIFFICULTY: Easy

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WHAT YOU'LL NEED

Made with Orient Chef Chickpeas 250g 
Large, plump chickpeas with a firm, satisfying bite. Also pairs beautifully with Orient Macadamia Oil for the perfect dressing.

INGREDIENTS

- 250g Orient Chef Chickpeas (soaked & cooked, or use tinned)
- 1 medium cucumber, diced
- 200g cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- 100g feta cheese, crumbled
- Handful of fresh parsley, chopped
- Handful of fresh mint, torn
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 3 tbsp Orient Macadamia Oil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt & black pepper to taste

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METHOD

Step 1 — Cook the chickpeas
Soak your Orient Chef Chickpeas overnight in cold water. Drain and boil in fresh water for 40–50 minutes until tender with a slight bite. Alternatively, use drained tinned chickpeas for speed. Pat dry with a clean cloth.

Step 2 — Make the dressing
Whisk together the lemon juice, Orient Macadamia Oil, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. The macadamia oil's natural butteriness rounds out the acidity of the lemon beautifully.

Step 3 — Combine the salad
In a large bowl, combine the chickpeas, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and red onion. Pour over the dressing and toss gently to coat everything evenly.

Step 4 — Add the fresh herbs
Fold through the chopped parsley and torn mint leaves — these lift the entire salad and add freshness that makes this dish sing.

Step 5 — Finish with feta
Scatter the crumbled feta over the top and serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to an hour to let the flavours develop. Wonderful as a starter, a main, or alongside grilled flatbreads.

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CHEF'S TIP
To make this more substantial, add half an avocado sliced over the top. Orient Macadamia Oil is cold-pressed from our own Kenyan macadamia nuts — its rich, buttery flavour is extraordinary in dressings and absolutely worth having in your kitchen.

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Shop the ingredients: Orient Chef Chickpeas 250g + Orient Macadamia Oil — available at orient.co.ke