We got a new washer and dryer last week. Yes, dreams do come true! I've been watching for sales for a few months now and after finding the Samsung set we wanted for ⅓ off their regular price, we were finally able to bid adieu to our craptastic Whirlpool Cabrio machines. Our washer was like a bizarro world washer where you put clothes in, and they come out dirtier. And tangled. And with tiny little holes in them. It killed me a little bit to get rid of a washer and dryer that were only two years old (they came with our house), but they were destroying our clothes and there was nothing that could be done to fix it because that's how the washer is supposed to work. (Yeah, that makes a lot of sense, huh?) I never thought I would be a person who gets excited about a new washer and dryer, but here I am: thrilled. I walk past the laundry room just so I can gaze lovingly upon them. I might have hugged them too. Is that so weird? No. It's not.
New topic! Mint! I'm growing mint in our little screen porch, but I was worried about it for a while because the cats liked to go out there and chew on it and sometimes they even liked to sit on it. It was looking a little stunted and sad and I thought it wouldn't make it, but now I'm all, WHOA MINT, slow your roll. I think this happened last year too. I kept wondering when I'd get enough mint leaves to use and then suddenly I'd have so many mint leaves, I didn't know what to do with them all. Since I'm on a salad kick lately, I came up with this Cucumber Chickpea Salad--with mint!
Can we just declare this the summer of salads? Because that's all I want to eat. Which is strange! Because I am super picky about my salads. I think it's because I just don't care for lettuce. I can't order a salad in a restaurant because it's usually 90% lettuce and I have to make myself eat it and it's just so meh. Anyway, back in the day, I used to always get Trader Joe's Middle East Feast and Balela for lunch, then I'd dump the tahini dressing from the Middle East Feast into the Balela. That was the inspiration for this particular salad. (Oh Trader Joe's, why did you stop selling the Middle East Feast? A part of me died that day. The part of me that loves tiny little pitas.)
I added some cucumber to this salad too because I love cucumber and it pairs so well with mint. When cucumber sits in a salad, it has a tendency to make the dressing a bit watery over time, so if you make this in advance, you might want to store the cucumber separately and stir it into the rest of the salad right before serving. This is a fabulous cucumber chickpea salad and it makes a great filling for pitas too.
This post was originally published July 15, 2013.
Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
- Combine the chickpeas, cucumber, and mint leaves in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, lemon juice, and olive oil. Add a tablespoon (or two) of water if needed. (The dressing can be on the thick side because it will thin out a bit after you toss it with the salad.)
- Pour the dressing into the large bowl and toss to coat. Add salt to taste.
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
Yum!! I love chickpeas and tahini! And the combo of the two? Now that is just gooood :).
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
Now you know that I love you for not even considering mayo. I don't mind lettuce salads, but oh yeah, I'm diggin' what you're servin'.
Kiersten says
Blech, mayo! Icky! You can be sure that any recipe I post on my blog will not have mayo. 🙂
Caitlin says
yay for the summer of salads! that's all i've been eating lately, too. i love this combination of flavors. chickpeas and tahini are just made for each other, i'm pretty sure. i love that your stuffed the salad in tomatoes, too. i love doing that, too. they just look so adorable!
Kiersten says
I agree--chickpeas and tahini are perfect together! 🙂
Christy@SweetandSavoring says
Yes, this is the summer of salads! I love chickpeas and this recipe sounds super fantastic. This was our dinner salad last night: kale, spinach, and yellow squash from the garden, sliced carrots, chickpeas, some leftover quinoa, plus a quick herby-lemony dressing I made. Yum!
Also, your tomato cups are darling 🙂
Kiersten says
That sounds delicious--I am all for herby-lemony dressings!
Tieghan says
Looks so good and healthy!! Perfect summer food!
sowmya says
aww.. they look so pretty.. I love chickpeas.. perfect summer salad 🙂
dixya| food, pleasure, and health says
i would like to stare at these babies for little bit then dig right in. i am pretty weird about salads and hate too much lettuce. this is def my kind of salad 🙂
Kiersten says
I'm glad I'm not the only one who isn't a fan of lettuce!
Mytrek says
I see many recipes this summer that use "mint" as an ingredient. but when I go to buy mint plants there are so many choices it is dizzying. What is the most generic mint to use for cooking, peppermint or spearmint?
Thanks!
Kiersten says
Spearmint has a very distinct flavor that, in my opinion, doesn't work in a lot of dishes. I'd go with peppermint because it's more versatile--it's definitely the generic mint most recipes call for!
Anna (Hidden Ponies) says
This dressing sounds perfect for summer, and this looks so pretty in the tomatoes!
arp says
Can you add instructions for stuffing the tomatoes with this? that looks so good!
Kiersten says
You just cut the tops off, scoop out the insides, and stuff the tomatoes. 🙂 You'll want to choose big tomatoes that are wide rather than tall.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Love your presentation in the tomatoes!
Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch says
Too cute for words!!! Looks amazing for summer!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
This is SUMMER and DELICIOUS! The tangy creamy dressing sounds so wonderful.
Daniela @ FoodrecipesHQ says
Dressings, dressings.... I have to experiment more with them! I bet this cucumber chickpea salad gets a fresh and delicious kick from a lemony tahini dressing.
Kiersten says
Tahini-based dressings are some of my favorites. I find dressings made with dairy to be too heavy for me, so tahini is the perfect compromise--it's creamy, but without being too heavy!
McKel Hill, MS, RD, LDN | Nutrition Stripped says
I have so much mint in my garden! It's taking over all my other herbs so it got a time out (aka, moved to another pot) haha. Great recipe dear 🙂
Kiersten says
Yeah, it's a good idea to keep it separated! It will take over your whole garden if it has the chance.
Brittany says
My boyfriend and I were literally JUST talking about finding an apartment that has a washer and dryer in the unit, so I completely understand how excited you must be! I'm also very jealous 😛
This salad looks delicious! We've been on a kick lately with different types of beans, so I'm excited to try this.
Kiersten says
Once we finally got an apartment with an in-unit washer and dryer, we could never go back. 🙂 IT IS SO WORTH IT! No more awkward small talk with neighbors in the laundry room! No more hoarding quarters!
Kalyn says
I'm a clothes-washing fanatic so I can appreciate the difference a good washer and dryer can make. Enjoy! Love the salad too.
Kiersten says
Getting this new washer and dryer has made my month. Maybe even my summer!
Alexis @ Hummusapien says
I absolutely love how simple and summery this is! I had a ton of mint in my fridge but I used it all up before you posted this...of course. I will for sure be making this in the near future, though. I love TJ's belela, too!
Kiersten says
Trader Joe's has the best prepared salads! Well, maybe after Whole Foods. 🙂
Natalie @ Once Upon a Cutting Board says
Congrats on the new washer and dryer! I'm jealous of all your mint - I would be drinking mojitos every night! 🙂 I love chickpea salads and especially love your idea of serving them in tomatoes - so elegant but fun!
Kiersten says
I might have to make some mojitos soon! 🙂
Ricki says
Looks great--and what a perfect use for all that mint that's taking over my yard! 😀
Kiersten says
Yes, this is the time of year when you need all the mint recipes you can get, right?! 🙂
Grace @ Earthy Feast says
I was just thinking about how I don't want summer to end because I want to eat my summer salads at least for a few more months! This one looks so good, I will definitely add it to my rotation of summer salads, yum!
Kiersten says
Yeah, another blogger just posted about how summer is halfway over and it made me a little bit sad. Like, no, it can't be almost over! I have so much more corn to eat! And salads! And popsicles!
Anna {Herbivore Triathlete} says
Love the tomato presentation, gorgeous!
Chickpeas AND a lemony tahini dressing? I'm in love!
Kiersten says
Thank you! I needed a pop of color and thought, hey, tomatoes! 🙂
Brenda Williams says
The photos are super! Love this idea...and the salad sounds totally yummy!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
I don't like mayo and love using tahini instead. This salad is way too cute!! Pinned 🙂
Kiersten says
I hate mayo too! Tahini is much better, right? 🙂
Ronnie Fein says
Mint is about the only thing I can grow. I have a black thumb. But I use mint a lot, so that's good. I use the chickpea, cucumber, mint combo in Israeli salad. I like the idea of using a tahini dressing.