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Easy Winter Chickpea Salad with Kale and Chopped Apples

February 9, 2020 by Erin Hendrickson Leave a Comment

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Build a winter chickpea salad with seasonal produce you probably already have on hand. Eat it now or take it to go in a jar for a hearty and healthy work lunch.

Ingredients for Winter Chickpea Salad

This salad uses three of the main ingredients from my fall and winter 5×5 meal prep plan. The idea is to mix and match five seasonal ingredients with pantry and fridge staples to craft at least five meals and snacks.

Mixing and matching ingredients to craft different meals is an easy way to get creative in the kitchen, waste less food, and save money!

The three ingredients from the 5×5 meal plan are:

  • kale
  • chickpeas
  • apple

Plus a few other staples I always have on hand:

  • red onion
  • walnuts (almonds or pecans would work well too)
  • maple vinaigrette dressing

Which Type of Kale Works Best for Chickpea Salad?

There are two main types of kale:

  • Curly Kale: most popular variety with bright green, curly leaves with peppery, somewhat bitter finish
  • Tuscan/Lacinato Kale: dark, flatter leaves with a less bitter and more earthy flavor

Either kale would work well for a chickpea salad recipe. I happened to use the curly kale version, which may need to be massaged for a less bitter flavor.

Should you Massage the Kale?

That’s completely a flavor preference. Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don’t. Raw kale can have a bitter-ish flavor to some. Massaging it helps to break down the fibers and makes it easier to digest. And more palatable.

It’s really easy. Some recipes call for mixing the kale with a half teaspoon of olive oil and a dash of salt. Then pinch and squeeze the raw kale leaves between your fingers for 2-4 minutes.

I didn’t massage the kale for this salad, and it tastes perfectly fine to me. But I do eat a lot of kale in the winter. if you’re unsure about the flavor, try it both raw and massaged!

How to Store Chickpea Salad in a Mason Jar

This garbanzo bean salad can be easily be made ahead and packed for lunch. Just store it in a Mason Jar.

Use the steps and picture below for building a Mason jar salad:

  1. The dressing will always go on the bottom. This keeps the greens and other produce from getting soggy.
  2. Add the heavier ingredients:
    • non absorbent, hard produce: onions, carrots, celery, cucumbers
    • apples, pears
    • whole or halved walnuts, pecans, almonds, etc.
  3. Top with beans, legumes, lentils, etc.
  4. Add softer produce: roasted vegetables, tomatoes, mushrooms, berries, etc.
  5. Next add any additional proteins: egg, chicken, tuna, meats, and cheeses
  6. Sprinkle on any seeds or dried fruit.
  7. Add leafy greens last

Salads stored properly in a Mason jar should last in the refrigerator up to a week. Whenever you’re ready to eat it, just dump it out onto a plate or into a bowl and ENJOY!

build a winter chickpea salad in mason jar
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Easy Winter Chickpea Salad with Kale and Chopped Apples

This extremely easy and hearty winter chickpea salad with kale and chopped apple is delicious now or packed in a Mason jar for later.

  • Author: Erin Hendrickson
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Total Time: 5
  • Yield: 1 1x
Scale

Ingredients

For the Salad:

  • 1 cup garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
  • 2 cups kale, chopped and massaged
  • 2 Tablespoons red onion, chopped
  • 1/2 cup Fuji apple, chopped
  • 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped or halved

Dress with your favorite maple vinaigrette dressing.

Mix ingredients below for a DIY version (makes about 1/4 cup):

  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1 Tablespoon  balsamic vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoons maple syrup
  • 3 Tablespoons cup extra virgin olive oil
  • dash of salt/pepper to taste

Instructions

1. De-stem and chop kale. Massage for 1-2 minutes to remove the bitter notes.

2. Add all ingredients except dressing to a bowl or plate.

3. Drizzle on your favorite maple vinaigrette dressing.

4. Add all ingredients to a bowl or place on plate or store in a Mason jar for later.

Did you make this recipe?

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Filed Under: Meals Under $5

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Meet the No Waste Nutrition founder

Want to stop wasting food and money, and actually enjoy the cooking process? **Raises hand!**

Meet Erin– a no waste Registered Dietitian here to help you reduce food waste, save more money, and eat better! Meal planning doesn't have to be complicated, and eating well shouldn't break the bank. Find out more!

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Meet the No Waste Nutrition founder:

Erin Hendrickson is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and freelance writer. She lives a low waste lifestyle with her husband in Nashville, TN.

There you'll find her tweaking the budget, planning the next adventure, and learning how to actually cook!

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