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Home » Recipes

Vegan Curry Chickpea Salad

Published: 12 May 2020 · Updated: 24 Jan 2022 by Julianne Lynch · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 4 Comments

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Vegan Curry Chickpea Salad Sandwich
Vegan Curry Chickpea Salad Sandwich

This Vegan Curry Chickpea Salad is quick, easy, and versatile. It combines the aromatic spices of the curry powder with the crunch of the veggies and the earthiness of the chickpeas. Bring it all together with vegan mayo or yogurt and serve it as a sandwich, salad, or wrap. Perfect for lunch or any time of day!

vegan curry chickpea salad with bread and lettuce

When I was pregnant with my first son I developed a huge craving for curry chicken salad. Something about the delicious combination of the spices, the crunch of the veggies, and the creaminess of the mayo just made it the perfect, satisfying dish.

Back then, I had no idea that you could make this same dish vegan just by subbing out chickpeas and vegan mayo or yogurt. Not only does that make this healthier, but you also save a ton of time in the kitchen and have less of a mess. Even if you're not vegan, this is Curry Chickpea Salad is going to be your new favorite plant-based meal!

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • How to serve
  • Variations
  • Can I make it ahead?
  • How to store
  • Related Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
chickpea salad sandwich
Dig into this delicious Chickpea Salad Sandwich!

You'll love this Vegan Curry Chickpea Salad because it's:

  • The Perfect Vegan / Vegetarian Alternative to Chicken Salad
  • Quick & Easy
  • Oil-Free
  • Healthy & WFPB
  • Sugar-Free
  • Versatile
  • Great for Packed Lunches & Picnics
  • Perfect for Meal Prepping
  • Full of Delicious Flavors!

curry chickpea salad lettuce wraps
For a Gluten-Free option, try serving this Chickpea Salad as lettuce wraps!

Ingredients

  • 1 15 oz can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
  • ¾ to 1 cup vegan aioli (or sub your favorite vegan mayo or unsweetened vegan yogurt)
  • ½ cup sunflower seeds
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • ½ cup diced celery
  • ½ cup diced sweet pickles
  • ¼ cup diced red onion
  • 1 tsp dijon mustard
  • 3 tsp curry powder
  • cracked black pepper

Optional

  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp sea salt

Instructions

What I love about this recipe is that it's actually easier than making traditional chicken salad since you don't have to do any cooking (and you don't have to worry about getting Salmonella all over your kitchen).

  1. Drain and rinse your chickpeas, then add them to a bowl and mash them with a potato masher or fork. You don't need to fully mash all of the chickpeas, and it will actually give the chickpea salad a better texture if you leave it a bit chunky.
  • Smash chickpeas.
  • Smashed chickpeas in bowl.
  1. Next, add the other ingredients and mix to combine. At this point, you might need to add a little more yogurt or vegan mayo, depending on how thick it is (they can vary). Then adjust seasonings to taste and the chickpea salad is ready to serve! So simple and quick!
  • Vegan chickpea salad in bowl unmixed.
  • Oil free vegan chickpea salad preparation.

How to serve

Because this recipe is so simple and quick, it makes a perfect lunch dish. But it also makes a nice party appetizer. Add a scoop to a big salad and you've got a cool dinner for a hot summer night.

Confession: I sometimes like to stand in front of the fridge eating it right out of the container. But no matter how you choose to serve it, this vegan curry chickpea salad is absolutely delicious! Here are some ideas for how to serve this amazingly versatile dish:

  • over a bed of spinach
  • inside romaine or lettuce cups
  • as a sandwich on toasted bread
  • piled on a vegan croissant (perfect for luncheons & baby showers!)
  • as a wrap
  • or even as it's own dish

Variations

  • This recipe is a play on chicken salad, so you could easily leave out the curry paste, substitute cut grapes for the cranberries, and walnuts for the sunflower seeds to make a classic vegan "chicken" salad.
  • Or go for something spicier with a buffalo chickpea salad.
  • If you ever have leftovers you can use it for a dip, similar to this buffalo chickpea dip.


Can I make it ahead?

Definitely! This dish is ideal for meal prepping and make-ahead lunches because the flavors intensify over time and it will last the better part of the week in the fridge.

How to store

Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container. Do not freeze.


Vegan Chickpea Salad Sandwich (vegan and oil-free)
A delicious blend of flavors!

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  • Oil-Free Oven Fries with Garlic & Oregano
  • No-Bake Carrot Cake Bites
  • Easy Oil-Free Tofu Nuggets
  • No-Bake Pretzel Brownie Bites

📖 Recipe

Vegan chickpea salad sandwich.

Vegan Curry Chickpea Salad

This vegan chickpea salad is quick, easy, and versatile. It combines the aromatic spices of the curry powder with the crunch of the veggies and the earthiness of the chickpeas. Bring it all together with vegan mayo or yogurt and serve it as a sandwich, salad, or wrap. Perfect for lunch or any time of day!
4.84 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Share on Facebook Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Course Lunch, Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Equipment

knife
Cutting Board
mixing bowl

Ingredients
  

  • 1 15 oz can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
  • ¾ to 1 cup vegan aioli (or sub your favorite vegan mayo or unsweetened vegan yogurt)
  • ½ cup sunflower seeds
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • ½ cup diced celery
  • ½ cup diced sweet pickles
  • ¼ cup diced red onion
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 3 teaspoon curry powder
  • cracked black pepper

Optional

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions
 

  • Drain and rinse the chickpeas. Place in a large mixing bowl and use a potato masher or fork to mash the chickpeas until the mixture is a 60% to 75% mashed, leaving some chickpea chunks. Set aside.
  • Dice the celery, onions, and sweet pickles.
  • Add all of the other ingredients to the chickpeas and mix to combine. Taste for seasonings and texture. Add more vegan mayo or yogurt if the chickpea salad is too dry or not holding together.
  • Spoon onto toasted bread, over spinach, into lettuce cups or however you like to serve it. Refrigerate up to 5 days in an airtight container.
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Notes

  • This is an incredibly versatile recipe, so feel free to substitute using the ingredeints you have on hand (raisins for cranberries, walnuts for sunflower seeds, etc). 
Keyword chickpea salad, chickpea salad lettuce wrap, chickpea salad sandwich, curry chickpea salad, vegan chickpea salad
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Julianne, founder of No Sweat Vegan.

Hi, I'm Julianne! I love creating simple and comforting vegan food for the whole family. Most of my recipes are healthy, Whole-Foods Plant-Based, and easy on the budget. Thanks for stopping by!

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