Dairy Free Cilantro-Lime Millet & Chickpea Salad
This vibrant grain salad is the kind of dish that looks impressive on the table but comes together with minimal fuss and a handful of fresh, wholesome ingredients. Fluffy millet serves as the base — a naturally light and slightly nutty grain that soaks up the zesty lime dressing beautifully. Hearty chickpeas, crisp cucumber, juicy cherry tomatoes, and creamy avocado round out every bite with satisfying texture and color. The dressing is built entirely from olive oil, fresh lime juice, and warm spices like cumin and turmeric, so there's no butter, cream, or hidden dairy to worry about anywhere in the bowl. It's the kind of recipe that proves plant-based eating doesn't have to feel like a compromise — this salad is genuinely craveable. Make it ahead for meal prep or serve it straight away; the bold cilantro-lime flavors hold up well either way.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the millet
- 1 cup millet
- 2 cups water
- ¼ tsp salt
For the salad
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 english cucumber, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ red onion, finely diced
- 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 avocado, diced
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1 tsp lime zest
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Rinse the millet in a fine-mesh strainer under cold running water until the water runs clear, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a medium saucepan with 2 cups water and 1/4 tsp salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a low simmer, cover, and cook until the water is fully absorbed and the millet is tender and fluffy, about 18 minutes.
- 2
Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the millet rest, covered, for 5 minutes, then uncover and fluff with a fork. Spread the millet onto a large mixing bowl or sheet pan and let it cool for at least 10 minutes until no longer steaming.
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