Asian Chickpea Salad

The Asian Chickpea Salad, a fresh, healthy, gluten-free, and plant-based vegan entree or side salad with a delicious and easy to make hoisin dressing. Perfect for lunch, meal prep, or feeding a crowd.

Looking for something bold and full of flavor that’s still healthy and not high in calories? This Asian-inspired Chickpea Salad is brimming with flavor in an easy to toss together fresh dish. It has just what you’re looking for: great texture, flavor, heartiness, and perfect for a quick and tasty lunch.

I first published this Chickpea corn salad recipe in 2012. I had taken the salad to a family holiday potluck. I’ve also served this salad at bridal showers and baby showers. I’ve updated the information about the recipe as well as the photos. The recipe itself I have kept as it was, as it’s still super delicious!

We appreciate your support

Please let me know if you have any questions about this recipe. I read all the comments myself and I try to help as soon as I can. I have readers from all levels of comfort and experience in the kitchen on my site, and I’ve tried to answer some of your questions already in the post. But if I’ve missed anything, please feel free to leave a comment and ask.

Be sure to check out some of my other out-of-the-ordinary healthy and delicious salads like Wild Rice Salad, Shaved broccoli salad, and Tofu with broccoli and blue cheese salad.

Can I make variations to this recipe?

This salad is made with hearty veggies and pantry staples, and can be served as a chopped salad, lettuce wraps, or Buddha bowl.

Feel free to customize it as well by tossing in cooked quinoa, rice, additional veggies like snap peas, mung bean sprouts, or shredded carrots.

Also, feel free to peel the cucumbers if you want. I have a family member who always wants the cucumbers peeled because otherwise she says they give her heartburn.

What to make for lunch?

This recipe is ideal for lunch boxes, quick dinners, or taking to a family potluck. I always like to have a healthy option at a potluck.

It makes a tasty main dish for me as a vegetarian, and it makes a wonderful side dish for the meat eaters.

If you have vegan or gluten-free guests, this fits the bill for them as well.

Brown bag it with a whole wheat pita or some whole wheat crackers for serving. Simply spoon the salad into a half pocket of the pita bread, and you have a great sandwich! It can also be served as a wrap with some lettuce and maybe a little creamy tahini dressing, like I serve in my Hummus Salad.

Healthy lunch ideas

Full of healthy, feel-good ingredients, and packed with tons of flavor, this wholesome salad is filled with high fiber, protein-packed Garbanzo beans, vitamin C rich red peppers, and corn that provides fiber and some protein.

This is a healthy meal you can make in 20 minutes or less.

Feel free to serve this salad with some fun Air Fryer Sesame Cod Bites as well.

Other great chickpea recipes

Chickpeas are such a great vegetarian resource. I love making them into all kinds of meals. Try my Vegetarian Chile Verde Stew, Nacho Roasted Chickpeas, and Buffalo Roasted Chickpeas.

Can this be made ahead?

Yes, this can absolutely be made ahead. It’s perfect for meal prep or for parties because you can serve it cold from the fridge.

I like to make it a day ahead, keeping the dressing separate in a small jar.

Just pour the dressing on, and toss to combine when you’re ready to serve.

It’s awesome that you can just take it out of the fridge and serve it; no need to worry about having enough oven space to heat it up at a crowded family dinner. Which makes it perfect for a party or holiday gathering.

Or, toss it all together and have awesome leftovers that you can quickly pull from the fridge. If you toss it all together, the veggies do lose some of their bright colors as they soak up the dressing. It still tastes great though.

The Hoisin chickpeas salad will keep in the fridge for about 3 days. Make sure it’s tightly covered in there.

Vegan lunch ideas

This Asian Salad isn’t the only great vegan lunch idea I’ve got on the blog. Be sure to check out some of my favorites: Thai Basil Pasta, Miso Tahini Pasta, Asian Fusion Bowl, and Lentil and Sweet Potato Stew.

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Asian Chickpea Salad Recipe