Caprese Chickpea Salad

This Caprese Chickpea Salad combines everything you love about caprese into one fiber-rich bowl. Protein-packed chickpeas team up with creamy mozzarella cheese balls, juicy tomatoes, fresh basil and balsamic dressing for the classic caprese flavors. We toss in cucumber slices for a little extra crunch and antioxidants. Keep reading for our expert tips, including ingredient substitutions and fun, tasty additions.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

• We enjoy the convenience and size of pearl mozzarella. But you can also use burrata, cutting it into pieces for ease of eating or dice a ball of mozzarella.
• For a fun twist, consider adding avocado and/or quartered strawberries. For a heartier meal, you can include canned tuna.
• To add a bit of crunch to this recipe, try toasting half the chickpeas. 
• If you’re looking to save a little time, feel free to use your favorite store-bought dressing.

Nutrition Notes

• Chickpeas are a type of legume, loaded with plant protein, fiber and antioxidants. They’re also a great source of folate, which is crucial for proper cell development and growth. Eating more legumes has been linked to a lower risk of disease, including heart disease. 
• Tomatoes are a rich source of vitamins A and C for a strong immune system. The vitamin C in the tomatoes will also help your body better absorb the iron in the chickpeas. Eating tomatoes more often is associated with lower cancer and heart disease risk. 
• Cucumbers are loaded with antioxidants, like silica, that play a role in collagen synthesis for healthy skin. Cucumbers’ antioxidants are also linked with reduced cancer risk. 
• Mozzarella cheese adds protein and calcium to this salad. It’s also one of the lower-sodium and lower-saturated-fat cheeses, so mozzarella is a good option if you’re watching your sodium intake.