Mixed Greens with Chickpea Croutons (Printable)

A refreshing blend of mixed greens topped with crunchy spiced chickpeas for a fresh, flavorful dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chickpea Croutons

01 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
05 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Salad

08 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, baby spinach, romaine, frisée)
09 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
10 - 1/2 cucumber, sliced
11 - 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
12 - 1/4 cup shredded carrots
13 - 1/4 cup radishes, thinly sliced

→ Dressing

14 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
15 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
16 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
17 - 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
18 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
19 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# Method:

01 - Heat the oven to 400°F.
02 - Pat chickpeas dry with a clean towel, then toss with olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
03 - Arrange chickpeas in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through until golden and crisp. Allow to cool slightly.
04 - In a large bowl, combine mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, shredded carrots, and radishes.
05 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, maple syrup or honey, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
06 - Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to evenly coat the ingredients.
07 - Top the salad with the crispy chickpea croutons immediately before serving.

# Expert Pointers:

01 -
  • The spicy crispy chickpeas are genuinely addictive straight off the baking sheet
  • You get protein and crunch in one bowl without any heavy dairy or meat
  • The dressing comes together in seconds but tastes like something from a restaurant
02 -
  • Chickpeas need to be bone dry before they hit the baking sheet or they will steam instead of crisp
  • The dressing can be made ahead but dress the salad right before serving or the greens will wilt
03 -
  • Let the chickpeas cool completely on the baking sheet they will keep crisping as they cool
  • Use the coarsest salt you have for the finishing sprinkle it makes such a difference
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