If you want a creative, delicious, refreshing yet totally filling, summer salad – this is it!

To be honest, you can eat this anytime of year. The ingredients can be found year round and it will be amazing in any season.

But I definitely have a major crush on this salad for summer!

Summer is the time I want quick lunches that are ready to go for me while my kids are asking for their millionth snack of the day. Summer is when I want a healthy option I can bring to the pool or an outdoor barbecue and not worry about it wilting or going back when it sits out for a while. Summer is when I want to avoid the heavier foods and flavors and instead crave light and bright – yet still really filling!

And this salad checks all the boxes and I simply adore it.

It has a base of garbanzo beans and grains. They provide the heft and fiber and protein for this meal, making it a great plant-based meal option! If you wanted more, you could definitely add tofu, chicken or salmon to this recipe (I’ve tried them all!). Then you add raw broccoli for the veggie option, sundried tomatoes in oil for some savory yumminess, pistachios for crunch and feta for a creamy component.

The dressing is so simple and perfect for this recipe! Lemon brings it all together in the best way possible.

Here are some notes for this salad:

• I planned on using farro for my grain, but I was out! So I used a pre-mix of brown rice and lentils and it was great. I think farro, bulgar wheat or brown rice would all be delicious options. Or simply skip the grain and add more beans.
• I prefer raw broccoli here cut into small pieces. The florets soak up the dressing and make it extra delicious. But if you wanted to roast the broccoli first that would be great as well.
• Personally I get three portions out of this for an entire meal or four portions for a side salad or when combined with a protein.
• This keeps for a few days in the fridge, but I do find it needs a little dressing refresher on the second and third day. Just a little extra lemon and olive oil do the trick.

Salads come in all shapes and sizes, and this Lemony Summer Salad with beans and grains is sure to be one of your new favorites!