I was perusing Pinterest recently and came across a bunch of recipe pins using smashed chickpeas and avocado – as in, chickpeas and avocado mashed together. There were sandwiches, salads, dips and wraps – they ALL looked scrumptious. I suspect that’s because I am in love with chickpeas and avocado and when I saw the two mixed together I thought it was pure genius. So I set about developing my own recipe using smashed chickpeas and avocado and came up with Lobster, Avocado, and Chickpea Salad with Lime Cilantro Vinaigrette. This salad tastes divine, is packed with nutritious ingredients, and its vibrant colors make for a beautiful presentation. What more could you ask for in a dish!
I serve this salad with lobster shaped red lentil crackers. A piece of French bread would also be a nice accompaniment, especially if you want to sop up some of the delicious lime cilantro dressing
Use a 3 inch food ring to mold the salad into a cylinder shape. If you don’t own a food ring an empty soup or tuna fish can, with the bottom removed, is a good substitute. For a more casual presentation spoon the chickpea avocado salad mixture into a loose mound and pile the lobster on top. It won’t be quite as fancy looking but it will still taste great.
Serve Lobster, Avocado, and Chickpea Salad with Lime Cilantro Vinaigrette as a light lunch or an elegant first course. It can be prepped ahead of time and served cold or at room temperature making it perfect for entertaining.
- Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup avocado oil or olive oil
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1½ tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons agave
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- Salad
- 1 cup chickpeas (from a can) drained
- 1 medium avocado, skin and pit removed
- 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 2 scallions, chopped, white and light green parts
- ½ cup red bell pepper, diced
- ⅓ cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
- ½ lb. cooked lobster meat, roughly chopped into large chunks*
- Whisk all of the vinaigrette ingredients together and set aside.
- To make the salad, place the chickpeas and avocado in the work bowl of a food processor along with the lime juice, salt, and pepper. Pulse 1-2 times or until the chickpeas and avocado are roughly chopped and well combined. Don't over process - you want small chunks of avocado and chickpea to remain intact.
- Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl and gently fold in the scallions, red bell pepper, and corn.
- Divide the avocado/chickpea mixture evenly among 3 salad plates making mounds about 3 inches wide or use a food mold of the same size. (If you don't own a food mold, a tuna fish or soup can with the top and bottom removed is a good substitute.) Top each of the mounds with about 2½ ounces of the lobster meat. Re-whisk the Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette, drizzle it around and on top of the salad, and garnish with fresh cilantro if desired.
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Yum! This looks restaurant-worthy.
I was totally drawn in by the recipe title alone and then I saw the photos. Restaurant menu worthy – this is definitely calling my name!