*This post may contain affiliate links in which case I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Please know that I would never recommend anything that I don’t actually believe in and that this is just a nice way to help keep the blog running.*
Have you ever heard of chickpea smash? It’s a pretty popular dish in the vegan community because it replaces salads that would traditionally have tuna or egg in them. Thankfully in this cruelty free alternative, vegan chickpea smash uses, you guessed, chickpeas instead of animals.
I have been making my own version of chickpea smash for a very long time. In fact, when I make it, I don’t use any measuring spoons because it’s practically second nature now.
You can enjoy this vegan salad as a dip, on its own, on a sandwich, as a salad topper & so many more ways. It is a very versatile little concoction. My husband requests this one on a weekly basis.
So if you’re ready for it, here’s my version of…
Vegan Chickpea Smash
How To Make Vegan Chickpea Smash
Course: SaladsCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy6
servings20
minutes205
kcal20
minutesGreat on salads, sandwiches, crackers, & the like! With over 8 grams of protein per serving.
Ingredients
Chickpeas, canned (2)
Celery, med. stalk (3)
Dill Pickles, med. whole (3)
Dried Canberries, (2TBSP)
Dry Roasted Pumkin Seeds, (2TBSP)
Veganaise, (2 generous TBSP) – more if you like it creamier
Pickle Juice, (2OZ) – more if you like it creamier
Salt & Pepper to taste
Directions
- Drain & rinse 2 cans of chickpeas. Add them to a large container/dish & using a potato masher, smash them all up.
- After the chickpeas are all smashed up, add some salt & pepper. Using a fork, lift all of the smashed chickpeas from the sides & bottoms of the container. Fluff.
- Dice your celery & pickles into small little chunks. Add them to the top of the smashed chickpeas. Add the dried cranberries & pumpkin seeds next.
- Top the mixture with the veganaise & then drizzle the pickle juice all over. Using that fork, mix everything up in that dish. If you want it creamier, add more veganaise/pickle juice.
- Once you have a consistency that you like, you are done! No cooking, it’s really that easy. Ready to enjoy instantly & keeps in the fridge for over a week.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Play around with different seeds & toppings. I love the way the cranberries compliment the pickles but go wild with your own creations!
Chickpea smash is a great source of protein, fibre, & a ton of vitamins and minerals. Because they’re so jam packed with nutrients, chickpeas have a tendency to keep you fuller longer too. And because they’re low in calories they are a great legume for those who are health conscious. Chickpeas also have a low GI so they can help support blood sugar regulation.
The list of health benefits goes on, chickpeas are a good source of iron, they’re inexpensive, they can help to promote brain health & have been shown to help protect against heart disease, cancers, & type 2 diabetes.
If you give this recipe a try, please let me know what you thought of it in the comments down below! It’s one of my favs so I’m curious to see what others think.
And, if you tried adding in your own ingredients, share what you used!
If you want to try more vegan recipes, checkout my latest article making the EASIEST & tastiest, Vegan Blueberry Muffins here.
Need some tools to get you started?
I do love smashed chickpeas for sandwiches! I’ve never added cranberries or pumpkin seeds before though! Those are definitely going into my next batch.
Oooh I think you’re going to love the crunch of the pumpkin seeds & the sweet surprise of the cranberry.
I love chickpea tuna, but I’ve never tried it with cranberries, sounds interesting. I’ll try it out next time I make it.
It in a way reminds me of like cranberries in a Turkey salad, is that a thing? haha But it has that same type of pairing which I love!