Italian Chickpea and Sun-Dried Tomato Side Salad
A vibrant, crisp Mediterranean-inspired side dish loaded with tender chickpeas, juicy cherry tomatoes, and sun-dried tomatoes tossed in a garlic herb vinaigrette. It comes together in minutes without any cooking required.
Prep
10 min
Cook
0 min
Total
20 min
Makes
1 serving

Created together. Shared with you.
Made by BAM + Lila
BAM created this recipe with Lila and shared it with the perimenopause community.
The feel-good payoff
Why this meal can feel especially good in perimenopause
Think practical wins: steadier energy, comfortable fullness and one less food decision. Your response is personal, so use the prompts below to notice what works for you.
Perimenopause symptoms and relief · Office on Women’s HealthComfortably satisfied
Fullness that has staying power
This meal is designed to feel substantial, so finishing it can feel like the meal is complete rather than the start of an evening of grazing.
Notice: fullness 2–3 hours later
Steadier energy
Feel fueled, not flattened
A complete meal with protein, carbohydrates and fats is designed to offer more staying power than a quick carb-only fix.
Notice: energy 1–3 hours later
Digestive comfort
A portion that works for you
Fiber and plants can support digestion, but more is not always better overnight. Start with a comfortable portion and build gradually.
Notice: comfort + portion
More staying power
Make the next few hours easier
This meal is built to be more sustaining than a snack-sized stopgap, with enough substance to carry you into the next part of the day.
Notice: energy + fullness later
Setup
Get set up
Choose your servings, gather what you need, then cook along below.
Prep
10 min
Cook
0 min
Total
20 min
How many are you cooking for?
The ingredient amounts update automatically.
Equipment
Whisk · Mixing bowl
Time saver
If preparing ahead for meal prep, keep the dressing separate until 15 minutes before serving to maintain the crisp texture of the cucumber.
Do these three things first
- 1Set out all ingredients before cooking
- 2Measure the pantry ingredients before heating the pan
- 3Read through the steps once before you begin
Ingredients
Gather as you go
Ingredients
Cook along
Instructions
0 of 5 steps complete
Next: Whisk together 1 tbsp of red wine…
- 01
Whisk together 1 tbsp of red wine…
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 1 tbsp of red wine vinegar, 1 tsp of extra-virgin olive oil, 1 minced garlic clove, 0.5 tsp of dried oregano, 0.25 tsp of sea salt, and 0.25 tsp of black pepper until well combined.
Look for: well combined
Tap card to mark done - 02
Add 0
Add 0.75 cup of rinsed chickpeas, 0.5 cup of halved cherry tomatoes, 0.5 diced cucumber, 2 tbsp of finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and 2 tbsp of finely diced red onion to the bowl with the dressing.
Tap card to mark done - 03
Toss all ingredients gently with a large…
Toss all ingredients gently with a large spoon for 30 seconds until the vegetables and chickpeas are evenly coated with the dressing.
Look for: the vegetables and chickpeas are evenly coated with the dressing
Tap card to mark done - 04
Let the salad rest at room temperature…
Let the salad rest at room temperature for 10 minutes (600 seconds) to allow the flavors to meld, or chill in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
Allow: 10 minutes
Tap card to mark done - 05
Transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy…
Transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy as a nutritious plant-based side dish.
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