In theory, salads are wonderful meals or appetizers. They have vegetables, occasional fruit, and integral nutrients like fiber, protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Salads are hit or miss, though, depending on their execution and ingredients. Nobody wants a lackluster salad that is bland and leaves you hungry, right? Well, it’s a good thing that this recipe isn’t one of those boring salads.

This salads checks all the boxes that you want from a salad: varying textures, filling, sweet, salty, herbaceous, variety, and more. The tangy lemon herb dressing complements the herb-roasted chickpeas, which provide essential fiber and plant-protein. When it comes to roasting chickpeas, you want to make sure that they are sufficiently crispy prior to adding them to the salad. In order to fully crisp them up, pat them dry between paper towels, and then add them to the baking sheet with the oil and seasonings.

While the chickpeas are roasting, you can prepare the salad and the dressing. The lemon zest is an integral component to the dressing, as it adds a uniquely tart flavor. The maple syrup, however, balances this tartness, making for an enjoyable eating experience. Additionally, the herbs that you use in the chickpeas are also incorporated into the dressing, making a distinct connection of flavor throughout. We hope you love this salad as much as we do! Just make sure that you eat it after or before you cleanse, as you cannot eat chickpeas while cleansing.