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!
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!
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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!
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).
- 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.
- 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!
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.
Related Recipes
- Chick-fil-A Style Tofu Nuggets
- Oil-Free Oven Fries with Garlic & Oregano
- No-Bake Carrot Cake Bites
- Easy Oil-Free Tofu Nuggets
- No-Bake Pretzel Brownie Bites
📖 Recipe
Vegan Curry Chickpea Salad
Equipment
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.
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).
Have you tried a No Sweat Vegan recipe? I’d love to see a pic! Post it on Instagram and tag me @no_sweat_vegan.
Erin Woodward says
This was delicious! I used Great Northern Beans instead of chickpeas, but that was the only substitution. This bean salad on seeded bread made THE BEST sandwich!
Julianne Lynch says
Thanks! I'm so glad you liked it. Great Northern Beans sounds interesting--I'll have to try it that way sometime!
Sarah says
This was SOOO yummy! I am new to plant based and this was the first recipe I tried with that mindset =) I used shawarma spice instead of curry because that's what I had on hand. Totally awesome and I bet as it sets in the fridge it's going to be an ever better leftover. Thank you =)
Julianne Lynch says
That sounds like a delicious substitution! I"m so glad you liked the recipe!!
Amber says
Oh my gracious! Due to health reason I’m in the process of transitioning over to strictly plant based. I came across the s recipe and decided to make it today, it sounded like a good idea. It had ingredients that I liked…. On a whim I said hey, why not double it. It’s like I already knew. I threw it all together, took a forkful and made a noise so un ladylike that my husband called from the other room, what are you doing in there? It’s currently chilling and I’m debating on just going ahead and eating it as is. This is absolutely delicious! Will be a constant staple in my new way of eating
Julianne Lynch says
Great to hear you liked it!