This Avocado Chickpea Salad is the perfect weekday lunch that will keep you going through a long day at work. High in protein, fiber and put together in 5 minutes before you leave. Easy as pie (and much healthier!).
Health benefits of an avocado chickpea salad
A chickpea salad would be healthy enough, but a chickpea salad with avocado!? That’s elite level health, right there. From just the one serving you get a great amount of protein and fiber, around 20g of each!
Why do we want protein and fibre? The fiber will make you feel full and the protein will both help you feel full and contribute to muscle maintenance – perfect.
Where is all this goodness coming from in our avocado chickpea salad? Let’s start with the avos:
Why use avocado in salad recipes?
Putting avocados in salads just packs a whole extra punch of nutritional benefits.
Avocados are high in healthy monounsaturated fats quite similar to olive oil. Those are healthy fats, fundamental to the healthy functioning of the body, including lowering cholesterol levels and stabilizing heart rhythms.
Unsaturated fat is also super important when it comes to absorbing vitamins A, D & E. These vitamins need fat in order to be absorbed into the body!
Furthemore, the high fat content means the energy from the avocados will release slowly, keeping you fuller for longer.
If you want to know more about avocados, and particularly whether or not such a fatty food can help with weight loss, we’ve tackled that question in an article, ‘Are avocados good for weight loss?’ . (ps. If you’re trying to lose weight, check out our vegetarian weight loss e-book – we’ve sold 6000 so far, so we must be doing something right!)
This is why the avocado in our avocado chickpea salad is so important – not to mention creamy and delicious!
If you’re loving the sound of avocados why not try our avocado salad dressing, so you can jazz up all your salads with some green goodness.
What’s so great about a chickpea salad recipe?
Wondering where all the protein in our avocado chickpea salad comes from? A lot of it is thanks to the chickpeas!
One can of chickpeas contains 18g protein and 16g fibre, making them an excellent plant-based protein source. Much like avocados, their high protein and fibre content mean chickpeas will keep you full for a long time.
Chickpeas are crazy versatile too. You can use chickpea flour to make pancakes and even gluten free pizzas – wild!
What a combo!
Can you see why we hype up this avocado chickpea salad? It’s one hell of a salad!
And health benefits aside: between the creamy avo, nutty chickpeas, the sweet and sour mix of lime and honey and the bites of rich salty feta … you’ve got yourself a salad that isn’t just healthy, but delicious too!
What our readers are saying
I just made this for the 3rd time in less than 2 weeks and had to make copies of the recipe at work to hand out because I got so many “likes” ???? . LOVE this recipe! I added some halved cherry tomatoes for color too.
Kathleen Day⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wow! I may or may not have inhaled this. So delicious, filling, and fast. Ingredient amount are perfect. I have two kids under two years old, so I’m always on the hunt for easy meals for lunch.
Rebecca⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What a delight! With what I had onhand, subbed lemon for the lime, basil for cilantro, and shallot for the red onion. SO simple (made it while wearing a sleeping baby) and it turned out fantastic! Thank you for sharing this. Can’t wait to check out your blog for more great ideas!
Lucy
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4.95 from 19 votes
Chickpea Avocado Salad
A chickpea avocado salad!? That’s elite level health right there. From just one serving you get a great amount of protein and fiber, around 20g of each!
Course Mains, Salads
Cuisine Vegetarian
Time 5 minutes
Prep Time 5minutes
Cook Time 0minutes
Total Time 5minutes
Servings 2people
Calories 458kcal
Author Hauke Fox
Ingredients
1canchickpeas(drained and rinsed; 1 can = 15oz = 435g)
1avocado
1handfulcilantro/coriander, fresh
½red onion
⅓cupfeta cheese(or similar)
1lime(juiced)
1tsphoney
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Drain and rinse the chickpeas.
Cut and dice up the avocado. Chop the cilantro/coriander (also the stems, if you like). Dice up half an onion.
Throw everything into a bowl, add the feta cheese, honey and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Lunch is ready!
Notes
Tried the recipe? We’re all curious! Send us a pic via instagram by using the tag #hurrythefoodup or leave a comment below.
Adapted from Two Peas And Their Pot
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Chickpea Avocado Salad
Serving Size
478 g
Amount per Serving
Calories
458
% Daily Value*
Fat
25
g
38
%
Saturated Fat
6
g
38
%
Cholesterol
22
mg
7
%
Sodium
1151
mg
50
%
Potassium
916
mg
26
%
Carbohydrates
49
g
16
%
Fiber
18
g
75
%
Sugar
6
g
7
%
Protein
17
g
34
%
Vitamin A
438
IU
9
%
Vitamin C
23
mg
28
%
Calcium
234
mg
23
%
Iron
4
mg
22
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Show us your version!Tag @HurryTheFoodUp on Instagram and hashtag #hurrythefoodup.
Some more lunch ideas
Chickpea Spinach Salad (7 Min, Vegetarian)
High Protein White Bean Salad (10 Min, Vegan)
Arugula Lentil Salad (12 Min, Vegan)
Round Up: 18 Veggie High Protein Salads (between 5 and 25 minutes)
The post Avocado Chickpea Salad – Level up your lunch! appeared first on Hurry The Food Up.
Add a taste of fall to your mornings with these sweet and flavorful Caramelized Apple Smoothies. You can make a batch of just the caramelized apples to have on hand for easy, fall-inspired breakfasts all season long. Make them extra fancy with a drizzle of caramel sauce!
The leaves are finally starting to turn beautiful colors and the morning air has been cool and crisp. We haven’t been apple picking yet, but it definitely feels like the season for it. Morning meals have shifted from cold cereal to warm oatmeal, but it’s never too cold for smoothies. These Caramelized Apple Smoothies are the perfect festive way to start your morning. They’re packed with sweet apple flavor and thickened with protein packed greek yogurt. You’ll love these banana free smoothies!
Why You’ll Love These Caramelized Apple Smoothies!
Fun and festive – We drink smoothies all year round, but it’s nice to have a fall-flavored smoothie this time of year. Apples and cinnamon are perfect for evoking that warm feeling that comes along with autumn.
Easy to make – These smoothies come together pretty quickly. The caramelizing of the apples takes about 5 minutes, but once done, you simply toss all the ingredients into the blender. You can also make a larger batch of caramelized apples so they’re prepped and ready to go into your smoothie first thing in the morning.
Great for breakfast – A delicious caramelized apple smoothie on a crisp fall morning is the perfect way to start the day. You can also experiment with adding protein powder, or other smoothie boosters, if you like.
Caramelized Apple Smoothie Recipe Ingredients
Apples – You can use any kind of apples you like for this smoothie recipe. We like Honeycrisp, and usually have them on hand. Granny Smith is a great option, too.
Applesauce – Applesauce is a great addition to these caramelized apple smoothies, as it reinforces the apple flavor, while helping to bulk the smoothie up.
Greek Yogurt – Plain, non-fat Greek yogurt is great for adding protein and thickness to the smoothie. You can also use regular yogurt, dairy-free yogurt or a banana, if you prefer.
Milk – You can use any kind of milk you like for these smoothies. I used a protein-packed soymilk, because that is what I prefer, but dairy milk also works well.
Flax Seed – I like to add some ground flax seed for its healthy fats, including omega-3s. Flax also promotes heart health and protects against certain cancers. You are welcome to leave the flax out.
Maple Syrup – If you want to add some extra sweetener, pure maple syrup or honey are a great options.
Caramel Sauce – The caramel sauce is totally optional, but it makes these apple smoothies feel extra special! I like to drizzle it inside the glass before pouring the smoothie in, as well as on top of the smoothie.
How To Make Fall Apple Smoothies
Make the caramelized apples. Peel and dice apple into small, bite-size pieces. You can make them whatever size you like, but I prefer to dice them pretty small so they have time to cook a little bit while caramelizing.
Heat a large pan over medium heat and add butter, apples, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Mix together and cook until butter is completely melted. Next, add the coconut sugar and a splash of water (about 1 tablespoon). Mix everything together until apples are completely coated with sugar mixture. Allow to simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring once or twice, until sauce has thickened. Turn heat off and let apples cool for just a few minutes.
Add the apples to a blender. Next, add in the milk, yogurt, applesauce, cinnamon and flax meal. If you prefer a colder smoothie, you can add a handful of ice cubes. Blend on high until smooth, or desired texture is reached. Pour smoothie into a glass and enjoy!
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe is already gluten free.
Make these smoothies vegan by using dairy free yogurt and milk.
Can these apple smoothies be prepped ahead of time? I like to prepare a big batch of the caramelized apples ahead of time, so I can quickly throw them in the blender each morning with the other ingredients. I would not suggest prepping the entire smoothie ahead of time.
How long do leftovers last? Smoothies don’t make for great leftovers, but if stored in the refrigerator, they might last a couple of hours.
How many smoothies does this recipe make? This recipe makes one large smoothie or two smaller smoothies.
What kind of apples should be used? You can use any kind of apple you like. I used a Honeycrisp, but for a more tart flavor, consider using a Granny Smith.
Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below and I will get back to you ASAP.
Add a taste of fall to your mornings, with these sweet and flavorful Caramelized Apple Smoothies. You can make a batch of the caramelized apples to have on hand for easy, fall inspired, breakfasts all season long. Make them extra fancy with a drizzle of caramel sauce!
Ingredients
1/2 cup milk, regular or dairy free
1/2 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
1/3 cup applesauce
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, or more if desired
1 tablespoon ground flax meal or protein powder of choice, optional*
Caramelized Apples
1 extra large apple, peeled and diced into small pieces (about 2 cups)
1 tablespoon butter, regular or dairy free
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon coconut sugar, or brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons water
Instructions
Make the caramelized apples. Peel and dice apple into small, bite-size pieces. You can make them whatever size you like, but I prefer to dice them pretty small so they have time to cook a little bit while caramelizing.
Heat a large pan over medium heat and add butter, apples, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Mix together and cook until butter is completely melted. Next, add the coconut sugar and a splash of water (about 1 tablespoon). Mix everything together until apples are completely coated with sugar mixture. Allow to simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring once or twice, until sauce has thickened. Turn heat off and let apples cool for just a few minutes.
Add the apples to a blender. Next, add in the milk, yogurt, applesauce, cinnamon and flax meal. If you prefer a colder smoothie, you can add a handful of ice cubes. Blend on high until smooth, or desired texture is reached. Pour smoothie into a glass and enjoy!
Notes
Make these smoothies special by drizzling some caramel sauce into the cup before adding in the smoothie!
Prep Time: 15 mins
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