Dense Chickpea Tuna Salad (Printer-Friendly)

A flavorful mix of chickpeas, tuna, fresh herbs, and zesty dressing for a satisfying meal.

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 1 (5 oz) can quality tuna in olive oil, drained
02 - 1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

03 - 1/4 small red onion, finely diced
04 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Dressing

06 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
08 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
09 - 1/2 tsp sea salt, or to taste
10 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
11 - 1/4 tsp smoked paprika (optional)

→ Garnish

12 - Zest of 1/2 lemon
13 - Additional parsley for serving

# Directions:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine chickpeas, drained tuna, diced red onion, halved cherry tomatoes, and chopped parsley.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, sea salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika until emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Adjust seasoning to taste, sprinkle with lemon zest and extra parsley before serving.
05 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes like you tried, even though you didnt really have to.
  • The chickpeas make it filling enough to actually call it dinner without feeling like youre lying to yourself.
  • Everything gets better as it sits, so leftovers are a win, not a compromise.
02 -
  • If you skip rinsing the chickpeas, the salad will taste tinny and dull, no amount of lemon can fix that.
  • Don't overdress it all at once, start with three-quarters of the dressing and add more if it needs it, you can always add but you can't take away.
03 -
  • Use the best canned tuna you can afford, it's the star here and you'll taste the difference between the cheap stuff and the good stuff.
  • Let the salad sit at room temperature for ten minutes before serving if it's been in the fridge, cold mutes the flavors and you want them singing.
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