Crisp, refreshing Vegan Greek Chopped Salad with a garbanzo bean protein boost and tangy vinegar-oregano dressing! (Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free)
This is my take on a Greek chopped salad and I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve made it. It’s so crisp, refreshing, flavorful, and perfect for summer. (Plus there’s an added protein boost from the garbanzo beans!) And I love how fast it comes together. The red wine vinegar-oregano dressing takes under a minute, then you just chop up the veggies, toss it all together, and do a face plant right in the center of the bowl. I mean… eat it gracefully with a spoon 😉
Plus, it also makes an amazing make-ahead dish for take-along lunches, picnics, potlucks or summer get-togethers. Since the flavors get better with time, you can easily make it a day ahead of time so it’s ready to go. Hope you enjoy as well!
PS – come join The Garden Grazer on Instagram and share a picture if you make or adapt this! I love seeing your recreations. (Or leave a review/star rating below if you give it a try – your feedback is very appreciated!)
Ultimate Greek Chopped Salad
Ingredients
- 1 hothouse cucumber
- 4-5 ripe roma tomatoes (or grape tomatoes)
- 1 large red bell pepper
- 1/2 small red onion
- 15 oz. can garbanzo beans (rinsed and drained)
- Optional: olives, vegan feta, pepperoncini, fresh herbs
For the vinegar dressing:
- 3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
- 2 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp. salt (more/less to taste)
Instructions
- Make the dressing: in a small bowl, combine all ingredients and whisk to combine. Set aside.
- Dice the cucumber, onion, bell pepper and tomatoes (removing any excess liquid from tomatoes).
- Put vegetables and garbanzo beans in a large bowl.
- Add dressing and toss to combine.
- Can eat immediately or refrigerate for at least an hour to let flavors combine. Some dressing will settle on the bottom, so stir before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving (estimate)
Enjoying this Greek Chopped Salad and looking for more salad deliciousness? Also check out this fresh Summer Chopped Salad with Creamy Herb Dressing or this simple Cucumber Salad!
mmm this looks so refreshing!
Thanks! 🙂
You are the salad Queen! This looks like another winner. 🙂 I love Greek flavours and your photos are incredible. It looks fresh and delicious.
Aww, you are too sweet Sharon! Thanks so much. Definitely love me some salads!! 😀
This was delicious and so refreshing! We've been eating it all week. Thanks!
Hi Stephanie! Awesome! I love having a batch in the fridge to munch on all week too 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it!
I made this tonight. We took a wheat wrap, place some very thinly sliced turkey on the wrap and then put the salad on it and rolled it. I added black olives and Feta cheese to the salad too. It was super delicious and very filling. We can't seem to get out of the cold weather and this just reminded us of what summer is like. Thank you for posting such a delicious recipe.
Hi Pat and Fritz! Oh I love the idea of this in a wrap!! Great idea, and I'm glad it gave you guys an early taste of summer. The sun will come soon!! 😉 Thanks for the message!
How many does this recipe serve as a side dish? I am making it for 15!
I would definitely double it! That should be enough for a small side for everyone. Hope you enjoy it! 🙂
my family – AND my kids – loved this! I added a little bit of feta cheese for more flavor. Was excellent!
Yay!! Glad everyone loved it! Isn't great to have meals the entire family will eat and enjoy!? Makes meal time so much easier 🙂 Thanks for the message!
This looks great. I am hoping my husband won't mind the beans. If so, more for me!
Hi Emily! You could definitely make it without the beans! Then again… you may not get it all to yourself 😉 Hope you enjoy!
Lose the beans and add black olives and feta cheese. 🙂
That works too!
Totally going on the menu.
Great looking salad!
Thanks Kylee! Hope you love it 🙂
This looks DELISH! I just wanted to add with the others how I can't wait to try it out.
Hi Sue! Thanks! I love hearing people so excited about the recipes – hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Made this Saturday and added black olives and feta cheese. It is absolutely delicious and very pretty too!
Hi David! Wonderful to hear you enjoyed it, thanks for the message. I made another batch on Saturday too! Such a refreshing summer dish 🙂
I stumbled across this on Pinterest and ended up making it last night as a side for dinner. It was so simple and good! Thank you for posting it!
Hey Danielle! Yay – so glad you tried it and enjoyed it with your dinner! Thanks for the message!
I just saw this salad, is like heaven, omg, you are the best. Memphis, TN
Aw thanks so much!
Just made this beautiful and yummy salad! Substituted fresh basil for the oregano, used my immersion blender to combine ingredients of the dressing, little feta sprinkled on top. Oh my!!! Had to tell myself to step away from the bowl:) Thanks for sharing!!
Hi Martha! So glad you enjoyed it! I always have trouble stepping away from this one too 😉 I LOVE that you blended up fresh basil for the dressing. Amazing idea – I'm definitely doing that next time!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Just made it tonight and we have friends coming over. Tastes delicious! Only thing I added was a little fresh basil on top.
Mimi
http://thisdomesticateddiva.com
Hi Mimi! Fantastic to hear – hope everyone enjoyed it! Love your addition of fresh basil, one of my favorite herbs. It's so summery! 🙂
Great salad! I swapped out the red wine vinegar for fresh lime/lemon juice. Added the zest of lime/lemon to the salad. Used fresh basil the salad and nixed the oregano ( not a huge fan of oregano). Added feta and olives. Used cheery tomatoes because I have a ton in my garden. Yummy!
Hi Linda! I'm am absolutely loving your adaptions to this!! I bet the fresh basil and lemon/lime juice really brightened it up. And what a great use for your garden tomatoes! YUM. Thanks so much for coming back to let me know 🙂
looks amazing, but why no Greek Olives?? That is the best part, I'm totally making this and adding those.
Hi Heather! I'm just not a fan of olives, so that's why I put them as optional 🙂 Go for it!!
This is soooo good!!! I've made it several times – it's quick and easy to make, and perfect for a snack at work! Hubby likes it too 🙂 Thanks for the recipe.
Hi Caryn! Yay – so glad you (and the hubs!) are enjoying it! I love making a batch to keep in the fridge for quick lunches/snacks throughout the week 🙂 Thanks for the sweet message!
About how many cups of salad would you say this recipe makes? I am making it for thanksgiving and there will be approx. 15/16 people. Should i double the recipe?
Hi Emily! This makes about 8-9 cups so if there are other sides I think one batch should be good. This keeps wonderfully in the fridge though, so don't be afraid to do a double batch! 😉 Hope everyone enjoys!
I made this yesterday and its delicious !!
Woohoo!! So glad you tried it out and enjoyed 🙂 Thanks for the sweet message!
I made this yesterday and it is fantastic, thank you for sharing this recipe! I was wondering if you could calculate the calories per serving and what the serving size might be?!
Hey Carrie! That's awesome – so happy to hear you enjoyed it! Unfortunately as of right now I don't provide nutritional stats or specify serving sizes, but if you'd like to calculate your own you can try this website:
http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php
I've heard it's pretty straightforward and easy to use. Hope that helps! 🙂
Update: I know this is an old comment, but just wanted to let you know that the estimated nutritional content is now provided on the site! (You can find it below each recipe in the post.) Hope you find it useful! 🙂
Loved loved the salad..will try it soon.. Happy to follow u on Pinterest:) cheers
Hi Meri! Hope you enjoy the salad! Thanks so much for stopping by and following along 🙂
The salad sounds great. I am wondering is the 2 tsp of oregano fresh or dried?
Hey Laura! I use dried, but fresh would be great too if you have it! Just updated the recipe so it's clear – thanks so much for pointing that out! 🙂 Hope you enjoy!
I made this today and it was delicious! Thank you!
Hi Mikaela! Yay – glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Thanks for letting me know! Have a great weekend!
Any suggestions for a substitute for the olive oil in the dressing? (To reduce caloric intake)
Hi Veronica! I've never done a calorie-restricted diet so I'm not sure of the possible substitutions. You could try just leaving it out all together though! 🙂 Hope you enjoy!
I found your recipe over on Pinterest. It looks like a terrific work week lunch. I've linked to it on my weekend healthy recipes roundup, and can't wait to give it a try.
Hi! Thanks so much for the linkup – very appreciated!! Hope you love it as a quick, healthy lunch this week! 🙂
Hi, this looks wonderful and I can't wait to try it but one question: I'm pretty sure I've never seen hothouse cukes in any store, ever. What's the difference between those and the ones you typically see in the produce section? One of those would work, right?
Hi Mari! Hot house cucumbers (also known as English cucumbers) are the ones you find wrapped in plastic at the grocery store. They're generally long, thin, with a darker green skin. I love them because they have less seeds and the skin is thinner and more edible. You can certainly use regular garden cucumbers but you may want to peel them first 🙂 Hope you enjoy!
Thanks, Kaitlin.
I made this a few weeks ago as the main dish by grilling up some chicken that had been marinating in the same Greek dressing! It was delicious–can't wait to have again tonight! Thanks!
Hey Bessie!! So awesome – glad you're enjoying the recipe! 🙂 And multi-purposing the dressing, NICE!
Just made this last night for my lunches for the next few days! First few bites were amazing so I'm excited to see how they are today! I added some lemon juice and garlic to the dressing and topped with feta. Thanks for the great recipe!
Hi Kate!! Yay – I LOVE your additions! You can never go wrong with garlic 😉 Hope you enjoy your lunches this week! 🙂 🙂
Mmm this looks amazing!! Do you happen to know of any substitutes for the red wine vinegar that would give a similar flavor? I'm hoping you have a few ideas that aren't of the wine variety! 🙂
Hey Chels! Other readers have made this with fresh lemon juice instead of the vinegar and loved it! You could also try white balsamic vinegar (I get mine at Trader Joe's) or other non-wine vinegar. Would love to hear if you give it a go! Enjoy!! 🙂
I made this yesterday. Didn't change a thing and it was so darn good! I will make it again and again. Next time, I will add feta cheese and peperoncini.
Awesome Brenda! So glad to hear you enjoyed it 🙂 Have a great weekend!!
Tried it! Loved it! Thank you! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Woohoo!!! Awesome to hear – I still can't get enough of this one! 😉
How long will this keep if i it ahead?
Hi! You can definitely make it at least a full day ahead of time (gives the flavors a chance to wonderfully intensify too!) Mine usually keeps about 4-5 days covered in the fridge 🙂 Hope you enjoy!
Now THIS looks super yummy! Seems like something I could pre-make for my backpacking adventures 🙂 Thanks for sharing – Alicia @ http://www.girlonahike.com
Hi Alicia! Thanks! Hope you enjoy it on your treks! 😉
I am so excited to try this salad! We are eating high protein and this will go great with a grilled chicken breast for dinner. Love Greek flavors!!
Hi Marlene! I agree – Greek flavors are wonderful!! Hope you enjoyed it! 🙂
What about white kidney/Cannellini beans? Do you think the texture would hold up in this salad? I like them SO much better than chickpeas.
Hey Candice! Oooh I've never tried different white beans in this, but I bet they'd be great! 🙂 Would love to hear if you give it a try!! Have a beautiful week!
Love, love this salad! I doubled the dressing and added less oregano as someone suggested. I added feta and kalamata olives! I'll be making this again!!
Yay!! So glad you enjoyed it and tweaked it to suit your taste! 🙂 Have a lovely weekend!
riqisima la ensalada, mil gracias
Made this today for Independence Day!! This will be a new go to recipe, I absolutely loved it and it’s just so easy!!! No cooking, just chopping. Perfect!! I added crumbled feta cheese and swanky olive bar Greek olives. Hubby is doing a rotisserie’s chicken on the grill and I can’t wait to eat them together as a leftover wrap!
Hi Eliza!! YAY! 🙂 Sorry my response is a bit late but I'm so glad to hear you tried it out this summer and enjoyed! Hope you loved the leftovers just as much! Thanks for the sweet feedback and have a beautiful rest of the week! -Kaitlin
You can also add quinoa and it’ll make it a little more substantial. I’ve made this before with the quinoa and feta and served with grilled chicken. Delicious!
Hi Denise! Definitely! Such a wonderful, versatile recipe you can tweak to your liking 🙂 Quinoa is always a great call in my book! Wishing you a lovely rest of the week! -Kaitlin
So, fresh. So delicious. So, awesome. I loved how the flavours just burst on your tongue. Thanks.
Yay! So great to hear that Samantha! Glad you gave it a try and enjoyed – thanks for coming back to let me know (and for leaving a recipe rating). Very appreciated! Stay safe & well <3