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dani california cooks

homegrown and homemade in CA

Marinated Chickpea and Kale Salad (vegan + gluten free)

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Chickpeas are marinated in a simple dressing prior to being tossed with tahini-rubbed kale. It’s gluten-free, meatless lunch perfection!

Marinated Chickpea and Kale Salad | danicaliforniacooks.com Chickpeas or garbanzos? Being from California, we always went with “garbanzos” but I think the chickpea is actually English, while garbanzo is Spanish. Does anyone else find the intricacies of language and regional spam to be super interesting as well? I loved when I moved to the Bay Area and everyone started saying “hella” this and that, and when I visited a friend in Boston everything was “wicked”. So anyways, when I moved to the East Coast for college - I had to get used to the chickpea!

Marinated Chickpea and Kale Salad | danicaliforniacooks.com I actually had to get used to a bunch of super random things when I moved to the East Coast. For example - temperatures below 50. My freshman year college roommate watched me put on like two layers of leggings, several sweaters, and a puffer jacket in October. She was like “whew, we’re in for a long winter”. The East Coast also introduced me to things like breakfast sandwiches! For some reason I had never had them in California before. They were like a Saturday morning staple in and after college for me. And calling people’s parents not by their first names but by Mr. and Mrs. That was one I could never get used to!

Marinated Chickpea and Kale Salad | danicaliforniacooks.com Even after spending six years in college in Baltimore and then two years in DC, I still thought that I retained all of my supposed California charm. I always got feedback at work that I was too “casual” or “friendly”, which I couldn’t decide if it was a good thing or a bad thing, I just chalked it up to being from LA. But when I moved back to California last year, everyone at work thought I was a total East Coaster! They thought I was very “intense” and “professional” and certainly overdressed. But work aside, I like to think of the food that I create and share with you all on DCC to be very California inspired, with some of my new East Coast roots in it as well.

Marinated Chickpea and Kale Salad | danicaliforniacooks.com And what in the world do I mean by that? I mean the food is fresh, healthy, and certainly a bit trendy - California for sure. But it’s also easy and fast to make for working folks like us on the go - there’s the DC gal in me. This recipe embodies that for sure. It’s packed with health and all-the-rage ingredients, but it’s also quick and simple and is perfect for lunches at work.

Marinated Chickpea and Kale Salad | danicaliforniacooks.com I plan to make this salad for myself on repeat the next time I am not traveling for work. I even recreated it using store-bought ingredients this past week while I was traveling!

5.0 from 1 reviews
Marinated Chickpea and Kale Salad (vegan)
 
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Chickpeas are marinated in a simple dressing prior to being tossed with tahini-rubbed kale. It's meatless lunch perfection!
Author:
Serves: 2-3 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 2 tbsp parsley, chopped
  • 4-6 cups of curly kale leaves
  • 1 tbsp tahini
  • Dash of red pepper flakes
  • Salt and pepper
  • Optional: ¼ cup roasted pepitas
Instructions
  1. In a small bowl, whisk the red wine vinegar, olive oil, and lemon juice
  2. In a medium sized tupperware, pour in the chickpeas
  3. Pour the dressing over the chickpeas. Add in the parsley, and stir until everything is evenly distributed
  4. Top with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to liking
  5. Place in the fridge for a minimum of 1 hour, but will keep for about 5-6 days. The longer the marinating, the better!
  6. When ready to serve, in a large bowl, place the curly kale
  7. Using your hands, "massage" the tahini into the kale. This will help the kale wilt and get a better texture
  8. Pour the chickpeas and it's marinade over the kale
  9. Top with pepitas and serve!
Notes
I ate the chickpeas at intervals over several days. I would just do a new round of massaged kale, pour over some of the chickpeas and spoon out some of the marinade!

If you like this, you’ll love: Vegan Meze Platter

Vegan Meze Platter | danicaliforniacooks.com

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Comments

  1. I always called them chickpeas…that is until I actually had to shop for them in the grocery store and could not find “chickpeas.” Now, I know to look for them as garbanzo beans : ) I never really thought of it as a difference between the West and East coast. Now that my company has an office on the West Coast and I’ve visited out there a few times, I can definitely say there are a lot of differences I never knew about either! haha
    Stacie @ SimplySouthernStacie recently posted…Getting through the Hump: Gilmore StyleMy Profile

  3. It’s so funny how language varies by region - I’ve never actually noticed the chickpea/garbanzo thing. I suppose I mostly say chickpea, but I also say garbanzo bean sometimes too haha. I always have to laugh when people that aren’t used to the cold visit here in the northeast and are bundled up in October. Then you have me who doesn’t wear a coat until December because I’m so used to it! Anyway, I love this salad! It looks so fresh and definitely easy to put together. I love kale salads and I’m all about anything with pepitas!
    Keri @ Fashionable Foods recently posted…Cheesesteak Grilled CheeseMy Profile

  5. Lol, Dani you are funny, girlfriend. I’ve always called them both.. or either. AND I’m from the East Coast 😉 I’m also a weird one. So…? Anyways, I love love LOVE this salad! Marinated chickpeas (garbanzos) alone rock, but WITH tahini-rubbed kale? Flavor bomb! I’m totally making this for lunch AND dinner this week! Pinned! Cheers, girlfriend!

  6. They are chickpeas to me! And wow does this look good!
    I’ve always thought about differences between North and South… but don’t spend a lot of time around many California folks! I’d say you have a lot of things right… including this salad!
    My first winter in NC (from FL) I wore a heavy coat from September on… it WAS a long winter!
    Julie @ Running in a Skirt recently posted…Watermelon Feta Blueberry SaladMy Profile

    • That’s awesome that you’ve lived all over the US! I’m a mixed bag too :). Although I’ve spent very little time in the midwest..

  12. I totally understand what you mean! I grew up in Boston, and lived there until I was 18, so my upbringing was very much New England (including “wicked” and calling most people by Mr. or Mrs.). At 18, I moved to Nashville (for university) and still live here now and LOVE it. Things, culturally, are surprisingly different! Including words used for certain foods/drinks, how you address certain people, dressing for work, etc. — all the things you said. I do feel SO well-rounded now, though, from having lived in two VERY different US cities. =) On a different note, this salad looks awesome! Definitely has a pretty California vibe, in the best way!
    Amy @ Fearless Homemaker recently posted…Cheesy Orzo, Beef, + Tomato CasseroleMy Profile

  16. I never know what to call them but I always go with chickpeas because it is a much cuter word than garbanzo, haha! I’ve never marinated my chickpeas before but I love the idea! You really can’t go wrong with a chickpea and kale salad 🙂
    Izzy recently posted…Peanut Butter and Banana Oatmeal BakeMy Profile

  17. I say both! Maybe because I grew up in West, but live near the East Coast now? Some day it’s “chickpeas” some days it’s “garbanzo beans” 🙂 I love this recipe- I’ve been trying to cut back after a recent trip where I ate myself silly and this looks filling and delicious!
    April@ Girl Gone Gourmet recently posted…Chicken Salad Lettuce WrapsMy Profile