Antipasto Chickpea Salad (Printable Version)

Hearty mix of chickpeas, mozzarella, pepperoni, and antipasto vegetables in a zesty Italian vinaigrette.

# The Ingredients You'll Need:

→ Beans and Cheese

01 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 cup mozzarella pearls, drained

→ Meats

03 - 3 oz pepperoni, sliced or quartered

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, sliced
06 - 1/2 cup marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
07 - 1/3 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
08 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely sliced
09 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn

→ Dressing

10 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 1 1/2 tbsp red wine vinegar
12 - 1 tsp dried oregano
13 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
14 - 1/4 tsp salt
15 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine chickpeas, mozzarella pearls, pepperoni, cherry tomatoes, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, olives, red onion, and basil.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until fully emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the combined ingredients and toss gently to coat evenly.
04 - Taste and adjust seasoning with salt or pepper as needed.
05 - Refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld, then serve chilled or at room temperature as preferred.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • No cooking required, so you can make it while standing in your kitchen half-awake on a busy day.
  • The flavors actually get better after sitting in the fridge, which feels like getting a free meal upgrade.
  • It's hearty enough to eat alone but fancy enough to bring to someone's house.
02 -
  • Do not mix the salad more than an hour before serving or the tomatoes will release water and dilute your dressing.
  • The order matters more than you'd think: prepare everything ahead of time, but combine and dress it fresh so textures stay crisp and alive.
03 -
  • Make your vinaigrette in a jar with a tight-fitting lid so you can shake it up fresh every time and store it for days without effort.
  • Taste as you go when seasoning because the pepperoni and olives are already doing a lot of the salt work, and you don't want to oversalt your way to regretting this later.
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