Fall Harvest Apple Chickpea Salad (Printer View)

A fresh autumn salad blending apples, chickpeas, walnuts, and a honey-mustard dressing.

# Components:

→ Salad

01 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 2 medium apples, diced (e.g., Honeycrisp or Gala)
03 - 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
04 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

→ Dressing

06 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
07 - 1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
08 - 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
09 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# Method:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, mix the chickpeas, diced apples, walnuts, red onion, and parsley until evenly distributed.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, salt, and black pepper until fully combined and emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately, or chill in the refrigerator for up to 2 hours to enhance the flavors.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes with zero cooking, perfect for those days when you want something nourishing without heating up the kitchen.
  • The chickpeas add protein and substance that makes this feel like a complete meal, not just a side dish.
  • It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, but tastes indulgent enough that no one notices what's missing.
02 -
  • The apples will brown if they sit too long after cutting, so prepare them last or toss them with the dressing right away to keep them looking fresh.
  • Don't use a food processor to chop the walnuts into dust—you want texture and crunch, not walnut flour.
03 -
  • Toasting your walnuts briefly in a dry pan before adding them deepens their flavor dramatically, even though raw works just fine.
  • The mustard-based dressing is thick and flavorful enough that you don't need much—a little goes a long way, so start with what's in the recipe and add more only if needed.
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