15-Minute Chickpea, Red Kidney Bean, and Feta Cheese Salad Recipe

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The 15-Minute Chickpea, Red Kidney Bean & Feta Salad That Will Change Your Life

Overhead view of a quick chickpea and red kidney bean salad with crumbled feta cheese served on a blue plate.
Let’s be honest, we all have those days. The ones where the thought of cooking a nutritious meal feels like climbing Everest in flip-flops. You want something hearty, something flavourful, and something that doesn't require a four-hour commitment. Good news: this Chickpeas, Red Kidney Beans, and Feta Cheese Salad is the superhero of simple suppers. It’s protein-packed, bursting with Mediterranean tang, and ready faster than you can decide what to watch on Netflix. Forget the fussy cooking; we’re here for maximum flavour and minimum drama.
Overhead flat lay of all fresh and pantry ingredients needed for the quick chickpea, kidney bean, and feta salad recipe.

🏆 The Quick Chickpea & Feta Salad

   
Prep: 15 mins
   
Cook: 0 mins
   
Serves: 4

Ingredients

       
  • 400g chickpeas
    •    
  • 400g red kidney beans
    •    
  • 1 piece fresh ginger, grated
    •    
  • 1 medium size onion, diced
    •    
  • 1 clove garlic
    •    
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
    •    
  • pinch of red chilli flakes
    •    
  • 1 handful fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
    •    
  • 1 lemon (juice only)
    •    
  • 150g feta cheese
    •    
  • salt
    •    
  • black Pepper

Instructions

       
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pan and gently fry the onion until coloured.
    2.    
  2. Add the garlic, ginger and chilli flakes and cook until aromatic. Set aside and leave to cool.
    3.    
  3. Drain and rinse the chickpeas and kidney beans and place in a salad bowl. Add the **onion mixture**, **crumbled feta**, and **parsley**.
    4.    
  4. Drizzle the salad with the remaining lemon juice. Season generously with **salt** and **black pepper**, then **toss gently** to combine all ingredients before serving.
Healthy 15-minute bean and feta salad stored in a clear glass meal prep container, next to lemons and olive oil.

Pro Tips for Success

To take this **salad** from good to "where has this been all my life?":

  • The Onion Aromatic: Don't skip **frying the onion, garlic, and ginger**! This step takes 5 minutes but **elevates the entire salad** from a simple toss to a complex, warm-spiced delight. Just make sure it **cools completely** before adding it to the beans - nobody wants wilted feta.

  • Parsley Power: Use **fresh, flat-leaf parsley**. It adds a necessary **bite and freshness** that dried herbs just can't match. You can substitute with **fresh cilantro** if you prefer a more South Asian profile.

  • Make it a Meal Prep Star: This salad **holds up beautifully** for **3-4 days** in the refrigerator. Wait to add the **dressing and feta** until just before serving if you're **meal prepping**, as this prevents the beans from soaking up all the flavour.

Note: This is an updated post from 22/02/18

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