Simple Chickpea Salad Sandwich Recipe

Whenever I tell people that I am mostly plant-based the first thing they say is "I could never do that.  I love (fill in the blank) too much."  The thing is there is nothing that I loved from a traditional American Standard Diet that I can't have in a plant-based version.  Sometimes you just have to learn how to think outside of the box.  Take my Simple Chickpea Salad Sandwiches for example.   

Enjoy a tasty twist with this Simple Chickpea Salad Sandwich Recipe! Packed with flavor and nutrition, it's a satisfying meal option that will leave your tastebuds surprisingly wanting more. I can't wait to share this one with you so...

Let's Get Started!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• 1 (14.5 oz) can of Chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 Small Red Onion, finely diced
• 2 Stalks of Celery, finely diced
• 1/4 Mayonnaise
• 1 Tbsp Sweet Pickle Relish
• 1 Tbsp Nutritional Yeast (optional)
• Salt and Pepper, to taste

 

WHY CHICKPEAS WORK IN THIS RECIPE:

Chickpeas serve as an excellent substitute for chicken in chickpea salad due to their rich protein content, versatility, and ability to absorb flavors, providing a satisfying texture and taste without compromising on nutrition or flavor. I am constantly swapping them for chicken in recipes and am always surprised at how much I enjoy the flavor. Not to mention chickpeas are high in fiber, protein, healthy fats, and have a low GI index.

DO I HAVE TO USE CANNED CHICKPEAS?

No. You can always make your chickpeas from scratch, but there are a couple things to think about. One, time. Making any bean from scratch is nearly a 24 hour process, and chickpeas have a couple added steps then your average bean. Two, time. This is not one of those recipe where making the beans from fresh really make all that much difference. I say go simple, but you do you.

LET'S TALK MAYO:

Obviously when we are talking plant-based you will use a vegan mayo in this recipe. However, if plant-based is not your goal any mayo you enjoy will do. You can also use plain greek yogurt or it's plant-based equivalent. I will tell you that the yogurt doesn't hold up quite as well in the fridge.

WHY NUTRITIONAL YEAST:

When eating plant-based, nutritional yeast is what I consider to be a bit of a super food. According to Web MD, along with several vitamins and minerals nutritional yeast is a great source of vitamins and minerals. It also contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein like those found in animal products. 

Complete proteins are important nutrients that assist functions like tissue repair and nutrient absorption. They may also prevent muscle loss. 

Okay, I think I have answered all the questions you may have. If there is anything else you would like to know leave them in the comments and I will add them to the post later.

Now without further ado, the recipe...