Description
A vibrant fall-inspired salad featuring crisp apples, peppery arugula, crunchy walnuts, and spiced cinnamon roasted chickpeas. This salad offers a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and nutty flavors, making it a wholesome side or a light main dish ideal for autumn.
Ingredients
Cinnamon Roasted Chickpeas
- 1 can (15 oz / 400 g) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp maple syrup (or honey)
- Pinch of salt
Salad
- 4 cups fresh arugula
- 2 small apples, thinly sliced (Honeycrisp or Gala preferred)
- ½ cup walnuts, toasted
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup crumbled feta or goat cheese (optional)
Dressing
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp maple syrup (or honey)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare chickpeas: Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Pat the rinsed chickpeas dry thoroughly with a paper towel to remove excess moisture for better roasting.
- Roast chickpeas: In a bowl, toss the chickpeas with olive oil, ground cinnamon, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt until evenly coated. Spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for 20–25 minutes or until crispy and golden, shaking the pan halfway through for even cooking.
- Make the dressing: While chickpeas roast, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, salt, and pepper in a small bowl or jar until emulsified.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine fresh arugula, thinly sliced apples, toasted walnuts, dried cranberries, and crumbled cheese if using. Add the warm cinnamon roasted chickpeas on top.
- Toss and serve: Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad and gently toss to combine all ingredients just before serving to preserve the crispness of the greens and roasted chickpeas.
Notes
- Chickpeas are best served freshly roasted for maximum crunch but can be roasted ahead and stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Swap walnuts with pecans for an alternate fall-inspired nutty flavor.
- Use pear slices instead of apples for a delicious variation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American, Seasonal
