Mediterranean Chickpea Feta Bowl (Printable)

A protein-packed bowl with chickpeas, vegan feta, olives, and crisp vegetables inspired by Mediterranean flavors.

# What you'll need:

→ Base

01 - 1 can (13.5 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 cup cooked quinoa or brown rice (optional)

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 medium cucumber, diced
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 1/2 red bell pepper, diced

→ Toppings

07 - 3 oz vegan feta cheese, crumbled
08 - 1/3 cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved
09 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

→ Dressing

10 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
12 - 1 tsp dried oregano
13 - 1/2 tsp sea salt
14 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

# How to make it:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine chickpeas, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and red bell pepper.
02 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano, sea salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.
03 - Pour the dressing over the chickpea and vegetable mixture and toss gently to mix evenly.
04 - Divide the mixture between two bowls, placing it over cooked quinoa or brown rice if using.
05 - Top each bowl with crumbled vegan feta, Kalamata olives, and chopped parsley.
06 - Serve immediately or refrigerate up to two days to allow flavors to meld.

# Expert suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than you can order delivery, yet tastes like you spent the afternoon cooking.
  • The combination of salty olives, tangy lemon, and creamy feta (vegan or otherwise) hits every craving at once.
  • It's genuinely better the next day when the flavors have gotten to know each other.
02 -
  • Room temperature is actually this bowl's sweet spot—take it out of the fridge 10 minutes before eating so the dressing loosens and the flavors wake back up.
  • The vegetables release water as they sit, which is beautiful if you're eating it tomorrow because the dressing gets richer, but annoying if you want maximum crunch today.
03 -
  • Keep your olives and feta separate until the moment you serve; this prevents them from flavoring the entire bowl before you even taste it and losing their impact.
  • If you're prepping ahead, keep the dressing in its own small jar and dress the bowl just before eating or just before refrigerating if you want the marinated effect.
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