High Protein Caprese Chickpea (Printable Version)

Protein-packed Italian-inspired dish combining chickpeas, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil in 10 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

01 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

02 - 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

03 - 1 cup cucumber, diced

04 - 1 cup fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini), halved

05 - 1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, torn

06 - 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

07 - 1 tbsp balsamic glaze or reduction

08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumber (if using), and mozzarella balls.

02 - Drizzle the olive oil over the mixture and gently toss to coat evenly.

03 - Add the torn basil leaves, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss gently to incorporate.

04 - Transfer to a serving platter or individual plates for presentation.

05 - Finish by drizzling with balsamic glaze. Serve immediately for optimal freshness.

01 -

It comes together in literally ten minutes which means you can eat well even on chaotic days
The protein from chickpeas keeps you full for hours unlike regular caprese which leaves you hungry an hour later

02 -

Make this right before you plan to eat it because the basil gets sad and wilted if it sits too long
The chickpeas soak up flavor as they sit so this actually tastes even better after about fifteen minutes

03 -

Let the salad sit for ten minutes after tossing so the chickpeas can absorb all that olive oil and balsamic flavor
If you can find them, the mixed colored cherry tomatoes make this look absolutely stunning