Easy Summer Herb and Chickpea Chopped Salad with Goat Cheese.
So this salad is one of the easiest things I have shown you guys in a while.
I actually feel a little guilty for posting such a simple recipe. I feel like I should be able to show you guys something a little more exciting than a summer chopped salad, but the bottom line is this is, this is a really awesome salad.
Not to mention that I have hit the summer creativity road block.
Essentially, this means I really only want to eat caprese melts, big salads, grilled bread, cherries galore and basically anything grilled.
And even though I am loving these foods, I hate it when I can’t actually think of something new to do with them. Sure I have ideas, but in my head none of them actually seem good enough to show you guys. Recipes have to be great to make it up here or I just will not be happy with myself.
See, I was going strong with almost too many new ideas (yeah, your right, not possible to have too may ideas). Things were moving along at a nice steady pace. Obviously, I should have known that a road block was bound to be up ahead. That’s just the way things go. As my mom always tries to tell me, not everyday can be an awesome one.
Of course, I certainly wish they could all be awesome. Awesome, beautiful and delicious, because the not-so-great days just irritate me.
Anyway, this is one of my favorite salads to make during the summer. A lot of times I will bulk it up with some quinoa and hard-boiled or fried eggs, but today I wanted to show you the simplest version.
It’s perfect for any potluck, summer cookout or just as a light, easy meal.
I also love stuffing the salad into hard tacos shells. It makes for a pretty awesome veggie taco. And let’s be honest, everything is better in taco form. Right?
YUP!
You can make this salad to go with almost anything, Adjust the flavors and veggies/fruits to your liking. It literally comes together in 10 minutes!!! YES!
I like to grill my corn, but if you don’t feel like making the extra effort it’s not a huge deal. You can just use fresh raw corn. Other than that there is absolutely no cooking involved. Just some chopping and tossing.
I actually love this salad once it’s gotten a chance to sit in the fridge for a while so that the dressing can really sink into everything. The lettuce doesn’t stay crisp, but I don’t know, it’s still so good. Sometimes I will toss everything together minus the lettuce, place the salad in the fridge with some of the dressing on and then stir the lettuce in just before eating. Now that I’ve thought about it, that’s definitely the best option!
Last thing, don’t skimp on the goat cheese.
It adds so much flavor, it’s just too good to skimp on!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Easy Summer Herb and Chickpea Chopped Salad with Goat Cheese.
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chickpea
This tasty salad is perfect for any potluck, summer cookout or just as a light, easy meal.
Ingredients
- 4-8 cup butter lettuce chopped (I use 4 cups)
- 1/2 cup fresh basil + parsley chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme chopped
- 2 ears [grilled corn | https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/exactly-how-i-grill-my-corn-chipotle-lime-and-cotija-cheese-butter/] kernels removed from the cob
- 1 1/2 cups tom-tom tomates halved
- 1 red pepper chopped
- 3/4 cup fresh blackberries or blueberries
- 1 peach finely chopped
- 1 jalapeño seeded + chopped
- 1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas also called garbanzo beans (or one 14 oz can rinsed + drained)
- 1/2 cup mixed toasted pumpkin seeds pecans, walnuts, and pistachios, pepitas
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1/2-1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- 1-2 cloves garlic minced or grated
- 1 lemon juiced
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 avocado pitted + chopped
- 4-6 ounces goat cheese crumbled
Instructions
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In a large bowl combine the butter lettuce, basil, parsley, thyme, grilled corn, tom-tom tomates, red pepper, blackberries or blueberries, peach, jalapeño and chickpeas.
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In another small bowl or glass jar combine the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, chipotle chili powder, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Whisk until combined.
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Once ready to serve, pour the dressing over the salad and toss well. Add the avocado and goat cheese and gently toss once more. Serve.
Recipe Notes
*One thing I like to do is toss everything but the lettuce together (dressing included) and store in the fridge for a couple of hours to let the flavors mend together. Then just before eating, add the lettuce. *Recipe can easily be doubled and tripled
And since we made salad today, we now have room for dessert…
Sometimes it’s nice to post a simple recipe! I always worry if a recipe is so simple, but sometimes it’s just so good it must be shared.
Like this salad! Obsessed.
And there will be no skimping of goat cheese here…I breathe the stuff! Pinned!
I totally understand. Sometimes I feel like if a recipe or idea is not over-the-top special or creative, it’s not worth posting, but simple and easy to throw together is much needed in most people’s lives. Also, it isn’t simple in taste! This thing must burst with amazing flavors. I heart goat cheese so much too. Delish.
Easy is totally what I need these days! This salad looks absolutely fantastic. I feel like I would probably eat it for days.
And I understand the summer road-block! I feel like you can only come up with so many summer recipes before you’re tapped out. Hopefully my readers have no problems with all frozen treats next week because that’s the only thing going through my brain these hot days of summer.
This salad looks like it will be one of my favorite things because it has all of my favorite things! And, sometimes I like posting a simple recipe because sometimes the combination is new for others, ya know? Have a good 4th!
This looks incredible!
I love a chopped salad…everything seems to taste better and blends together better when it’s chopped small. Every bite is a good bite. I love adding fruit to veggies salads..this is a winner.
I have been in a 6 month roadblock! Totally jnow the feeling, but love this recipe!
I totally know what you mean in terms of recipe block–but really, some of the simplest ones are the best! This salad is beautiful Tieghan, love the photos!
Thanks Laura! Happy 4th! Hope you have a great weekend!
I personally love simple recipes and would be more inclined to make something like this. It looks delicious!
Thank you!
Chopped salads are amazing and I love easy recipes! I love the addition of blackberries here! 🙂
Thank you!
This sounds amaaaazing! I am loving all of the fresh fruits and veggies in this!
Thanks so much!! Have a great weekend and happy 4th!
Yay for simple!! Perfect for an amateur cook like me 🙂 There is so much yumminess in this salad – every bite would be special.
Thanks Todd!! Hope you are having a fun 4th of july!!
I’m obsessed with chopped salads and this salad looks so beautiful and delicious!
Thanks Liz!
So gorgeous, it reminds me of summer in a bowl!
This salad is fantastic, it’s such a good balance of fruit, veggie, protein, and cheese. Plus it looks beautiful!
Mmm yeah so this salad is happening every day for the rest of the summer. YUM.
Thanks Stephanie! Hope you and guys are enjoying your 1st 4th of July as a new family!! Have a great weekend!
Love everything about this salad. I could eat this every day!
Thanks Anna!
Seriously, girl, this IS a creative salad! If this is what your creativity road block looks like, I’d say you’re sitting pretty. It looks gorgeous and simplicity rocks in my book!
Thanks Julia! You are the best! Hope you are having a great 4th of July tonight!
Simple or not, who cares – this salad looks amazing!! I would eat it. In fact, I wish I was eating it right now…
Thanks Jenna!
Sometimes simple is definitely the best. Looks like a delicious salad!
Thank you so much! Hope you have a great weekend and happy 4th of July!
Love this salad so much. Simple, but tasty and gorgeous! And your pictures always blow my mind 😉
Thank you so much! Means a lot! 🙂 Have a great weekend!
I’m so excited about this! It’s going to be lunch and dinner tomorrow I’m pretty sure. Happy weekend, Tieghan!
Yaaa!!! Thanks Katie! Hope you guys had a fun 4th!!
Hi there! I was wondering if you had a tip for cutting the kernels off of the corn in larger kernel pieces as you have pictured- I’ve tried a few different methods and they continuously break apart into single kernels. thanks!!
Hey Jamie! It honestly depends on the corn I think. Also, I try and cut as close to the cob as possible. That helps to keep them intact. I think the fresher the corn the better. Hope that helps! THANKS!
Thanks for a delicious and healthy recipe! My husband just broke his collarbone and is worried about gaining back all the weight he had been losing up to this point, so I’m trying to make healthier, but filling dinners during his recovery. This was a huge hit last night! I subbed in blueberries and strawberries for the blackberries and peaches, and it was awesome!
Loved this recipe! Swapped in/out a few things (adds: einkorn wheat berries, chopped garlic scapes, red onion, chopped cucumber) and everyone loved it. Will be making again for an upcoming vacation. thank you 🙂
So happy you loved this!! I love you swaps. THANKS!
This was amazing! I added baked tofu and a combination of barley and farro. And I used rice vinegar because I didn’t have apple cider vinegar. I didn’t have any goat cheese on hand either, but imagine it would be amazing. And I left out the jalepeno because I’m wimpy that way. It was delicious!!
So happy you loved this and I your choice of grains!
This was amazing! I can’t believe you even thought of not putting it on since it’s a “simple salad”! It has so much more complexity than that. And this was the first time I’d used chipotle chili powder. Thanks for introducing me!
So excited you love this. THANK YOU! 🙂
This looks great! But why is the 4th photo repeated 4 times? Is that an error?
Made this tonight, July 2015. Fantastic! Love the blackberries and goat cheese. 🙂
So happy you loved it! Thanks Peggy!
This has been put into regular rotation for summer dinner. Delicious!
YAY! So happy you love this!
Bummer, your salad recipes won’t load. Don’t know why.
Looks and reads delicious! How many does this serve?
About 6. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
Fun salad. There is no way you can clean, washed, prepare, and chop these ingredients in 15 minutes.
Thank you Dustin! xTieghan
This has become a go-to when I have visitors. Combining everything but the lettuce and then adding the lettuce later is BRILLIANT and saves me from having to chop, chop, chop when I have guests to entertain. It looks so beautiful after my careful assembly that I have had multiple guests take photos of it, and it’s been Instagrammed twice now! Fresh and delicious and so impressive on the table. I use an entire container of goat cheese crumbles on it! The dressing is perfection. I have gotten rave reviews from everyone, every time I serve it. I am in LOVE with this perfect summer recipe! Thank you so much!!
That is too great! Thank you so much for making this Julie! xTieghan
I recently discovered your blog and I’m so glad I did! This salad is amazing! Love the dressing and easy to put together.
Thank you Ken! I hope you love all of the recipes you try! xTieghan