BBQ Chickpea Tangy Beans (Printable)

Smoky chickpeas combined with fresh vegetables and a tangy dressing for a light, flavorful meal.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chickpeas

01 - 2 cups cooked chickpeas (1 can, 15 oz), drained and rinsed
02 - 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (vegan and gluten-free if required)

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
05 - 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
06 - 1 cup bell pepper (red or yellow), diced
07 - 1/2 cup shredded carrots
08 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped

→ Dressing

09 - 2 tbsp olive oil
10 - 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
11 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
12 - 1 tsp maple syrup
13 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Combine chickpeas and BBQ sauce, stirring frequently until sauce thickens and coats the chickpeas, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, bell pepper, shredded carrots, and chopped herbs.
03 - Whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, maple syrup, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
04 - Add the cooled BBQ chickpeas to the vegetable mixture. Pour the dressing over all ingredients and toss gently to combine evenly.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes to enhance flavors before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 25 minutes flat, making it perfect for busy weeknights or spontaneous picnics.
  • The smoky BBQ chickpeas taste hearty and satisfying even though there's no meat in sight.
  • Everything is customizable—swap vegetables, adjust the spice level, add seeds or avocado based on what you have on hand.
02 -
  • Always rinse canned chickpeas thoroughly—the starchy liquid is the enemy of a fresh, light salad.
  • Don't assemble this more than an hour ahead if you like maximum crunch; the dressing slowly softens the vegetables, which is delicious but different from the first-bite freshness.
03 -
  • Always taste your dressing on a piece of vegetable before pouring it all over—the balance of oil to acid to sweetness makes or breaks this salad.
  • Don't skip rinsing the chickpeas; it's the single easiest thing you can do to improve the final result.
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