🥒 Tzatziki Chickpea Salad

Creamy, tangy tzatziki meets hearty chickpeas, crisp celery, and briny capers in this bright, herb-packed salad. It’s refreshing, satisfying, and gets even better with time.

📋 Ingredients

🥣 Tzatziki Base

▢ 2 cucumbers, grated and well squeezed (yields ~¾ cup after draining)
▢ 1¼ cups Greek yogurt (or thick plain yogurt)
▢ 1 tbsp lemon juice
▢ 2½ tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
▢ ¼ cup chopped fresh dill (or 2 tbsp chopped fresh mint — Note 1)
▢ 1 large garlic clove, crushed or very finely minced
▢ ½ tsp kosher or cooking salt

🥗 Salad Add-Ins

▢ 2 × 400g / 14 oz cans chickpeas, drained well (Note 2 for dried chickpeas)
▢ ¾ cup finely sliced celery (about 1–2 stalks)
▢ 2 tbsp chopped capers (or substitute cornichons or dill pickles)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. Mix

In a large bowl, combine all tzatziki ingredients and stir well.
Add the chickpeas, celery, and capers. Mix again until evenly combined.

2. Rest & Chill

Let the salad sit for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld—especially the salt from the capers and the sharpness of garlic.
For best results, chill overnight. Before serving, taste and add a pinch more salt if needed.

3. Serve

Drizzle with a little more olive oil and sprinkle with extra fresh dill. Serve cold or at room temperature.

🥄 How to Eat It

Enjoy as a side salad or vegetarian main
Add avocado and wrap in pita or flatbread
Boost with shredded chicken or canned tuna for a protein-packed meal
Serve at a picnic or BBQ alongside grilled meats

📝 Recipe Notes

Fresh Herbs:
- Dill is ideal—it lifts the whole salad!
- Mint is a great alternative (use half the amount).
- No herbs? Use finely chopped green onion plus a pinch each of garlic and onion powder for a ranch-like twist.
Using Dried Chickpeas:
- Start with 1⅔ cups (280g) dried chickpeas
- Soak 8–24 hours
- Simmer in salted water for 30–60 min (firm vs soft)
- Cool completely before using
Storage:
- Keeps up to 3 days in the fridge
- Flavors improve with time
- Let sit at room temp 15 min before serving for best texture and taste

👥 Servings

Side dish: Serves 8
Main meal (with added protein): Serves 4