Brown Rice Chickpea Protein Salad
Jain-friendly brown rice chickpea protein salad with cucumber, bell pepper, and a sesame-lime dressing. A high protein chickpea salad that meal-preps for three to four days. No onion, no garlic.
Equipment
- Medium saucepan
- Mixing bowl
- Small jar for dressing
Ingredients
Salad
- 3 cups cooked brown rice from about 1 cup dry; cooled
- 1½ cups cooked chickpeas from one 15 oz can, rinsed and drained
- 1 medium cucumber diced
- 1 medium bell pepper any color, diced
- 1 medium tomato diced; add day-of for meal prep
- ¼ cup coriander leaves chopped
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds toasted, for garnish
Sesame-Lime Dressing
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp lime juice fresh, or to taste
- ½ tsp toasted sesame oil
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp chaat masala optional; check for onion/garlic
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
Cook the rice
- If starting from dry rice, rinse 1 cup brown rice and cook with 2½ cups water until tender, 35 to 40 minutes. Fluff and cool at least 10 minutes. If using leftover rice, break up clumps with wet fingers.
Make the dressing
- Add olive oil, lime juice, toasted sesame oil, cumin, optional chaat masala, salt, and black pepper to a small jar. Shake until combined. Taste and adjust lime and salt.
Assemble
- In a wide bowl, combine cooled brown rice, chickpeas, cucumber, bell pepper, tomato, and coriander.
- Pour most of the dressing over the salad and toss gently until every grain is coated.
- Taste for salt and lime. Finish with sesame seeds and the remaining dressing. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
For longest crunch, store dressing separately and add tomato the morning you eat.
Keeps 3 to 4 days refrigerated in an airtight container when tomato and dressing are held back.
White rice works for same-day lunches; brown rice holds texture better for meal prep.
Fully Jain as written when chaat masala is onion- and garlic-free or omitted.
Pair later with sesame-lime dressing, Mediterranean chickpea salad, or Paryushan mezze from the Jain Salads Week campaign once those posts are live.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!