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Too hot to make chickpea curry! Make this Curried Chickpea Salad sandwich!! Refreshing, spicy, summery, delicious! No nuts or soy. Easily Glutenfree with lettuce wraps or tacos. Serve in a sandwich, in lettuce leaves or wraps.

side view of a vegan curried chickpea salad sandwich on a chopping board

The temperature is up but you still want some Chana masala. But it’s too hot to eat hot curries. Can anyone relate? Yest? Amazing! Let’s make this curried chickpea salad! The chickpea salad sandwich is served with the pickled onion and is wonderfully refreshing yet still satisfying. Perfect for a hot summer.

With the creamy texture of the sandwich filling, the plump raisins, and the added curry powder you can think of this as a vegan twist on a coronation chicken salad sandwich or curried egg sandwich! It’s so incredibly flavorful and tasty and it has become one of my favorite chickpea recipes.

close up side view if a vegan lunch sandwich with vegan egg salad

This curried chickpea salad sandwich is truly easy to make ! It takes just 10 minutes to whip up the chickpea salad mixture and you can make it ahead of time and just throw it onto a sandwich the next day. The only cutting involved is chopping and thinly slicing some onions.

For the curried chickpea salad we mash some chickpeas, with a fork and combine it with some yogurt or coconut cream, fresh herbs, tomato paste, dried fruit, and spices and you’ve got a fresh, refreshing lunch that is perfect all year round.

a side view of a vegan curried egg salad sandwich on a chopping board

Why make just one version of chickpea salad sandwich when you can make Mediterranean or jalapeño popper, or Buffalo sauce chickpea salad or curried Chickpea salad sandwich!

For more vegan lunch sandwiches:

Why you’ll love this Curried Chickpea salad?

  • It’s super quick to put together. Just chop, mash and mix
  • it’s Soyfree and nutfree
  • its easily Glutenfree served on gf bread of lettuce wraps
  • it’s summery and crunchy and spicy and delicious! Let’s make it

Curried Chickpea Salad Sandwich

5 from 32 votes
By: Vegan Richa
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: dinner, lunch
Cuisine: American
For a healthy and easy lunch try this Curried Chickpea Salad Sandwich recipe. Summery and fresh! Soyfree Nutfree. Serve with gluten-free bread or lettuce for gluten-free
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Ingredients 
 

For the salad

  • 15 ounce can chickpeas drained or 1 ½ cups cooked chickpeas
  • ½ cup chopped red onions
  • ½ teaspoon pepper flakes
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1-2 teaspoons curry powder or garam masala , or Chole masala blend
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper or cayenne or both
  • 1 ½ tablespoons tomato paste
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons non-dairy yogurt or non-dairy cream or coconut cream
  • 1 tablespoons raisins or chopped dates
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice

For the pickled onion

  • ½ cup thinly sliced red onions
  • ¼ cup white vinegar
  • ¼ cup hot water
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 generous pinch of each salt, , black pepper and ground clove

For the sandwich

  • bread slices or lettuce leaves as needed
  • thinly sliced jalapeño or pickled jalapeño and chopped cilantro

Instructions 

  • In a bowl add the chickpeas and mash until half of them are somewhat mashed.
  • Then add in the rest of the ingredients, press, and mix well. If the mixture is a bit dry add 1 or 2 tablespoons of water and mix in. Let this chickpea salad sit to chill to meld the flavor. About 15-20 mins
  • In a bowl add the hot water, vinegar, sugar, salt, clove and black pepper. Mix well then add in the sliced onion. Let the onions sit and chill for 30 minutes or a couple of hours before using to serve with the chickpea salad sandwich for the best pickled onion flavor
  • Take some bread slices, add a layer of lettuce or greens then top with a generous amount of the chickpea salad then top with pickled onions. You can also add in some sliced jalapeno and fresh cilantro on top and serve.

Video

Notes

To make gluten free, serve with gluten-free bread or without the bread and use lettuce leaves or gluten free tacos.
 
  • If you want, add some shredded or grated carrots and some chopped pickled to the filling
  •  If you want to prep it in advance, make the chickpea mixture ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Assemble the sandwich on the morning of the day you plan to eat it. The pickled onions can also be made ahead of

Nutrition

Calories: 255kcal, Carbohydrates: 40g, Protein: 11g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 355mg, Potassium: 520mg, Fiber: 10g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 214IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 72mg, Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this recipe? Rate and comment below!

ingredients needed for making vegan egg salad

Ingredients:

  • chickpeas – canned or cooked
  • chopped red onions add some sharpness and crunch
  • spices: a fragrant blend of pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, curry powder/garam masala and black pepper or cayenne
  •  tomato paste adds some umami
  •  non-dairy yogurt or non-dairy cream or coconut cream are a stand-in for mayo
  •  raisins or chopped dates add some sweetness and chew
  •  I like chopped cilantro in this salad but parsley would also work
  •  lemon juice brightens up the flavor profile of the filling
  • for the pickled onions, we immerse sliced red onions in a mixture of vinegar, hot water, sugar, salt, black pepper and ground clove

Tips:

  • The texture of chickpeas depends on the brand, some can be drier, so you may have to add a bit more yogurt to the chickpea salad.
  • If you want, add some shredded or grated carrots and some chopped pickled to the filling
  •  If you want to prep it in advance, make the chickpea mixture ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Assemble the sandwich on the morning of the day you plan to eat it. The pickled onions can also be made ahead of time
  • You can serve the salad in a sandwich, in lettuce leaves or wraps.

How to make Curried Chickpea Salad Sandwich

chickpeas being mashed with spices in a white bowl

In a bowl add the chickpeas and mash until half of them are somewhat mashed.

spices, onions and herbs being mixed with mashed chickpeas to make vegan egg salad

Then add in the rest of the ingredients, press, and mix well. If the mixture is a bit dry add 1 or 2 tablespoons of water and mix in. Let this chickpea salad sit and chill for 15-30 mins

vegan curried chickpea salad in a white bowl

plant-based yogurt being mixed with mashed chickpeas and herbs

vegan chickpea salad in a white bowl

ingredients to make quick pickled onions

In a bowl add the warm hot water, vinegar, sugar, salt, cumin and black pepper.

pickling brine in a small glass bowl

Mix well then add in the sliced onion. Let the onion sit and chill for 30 minutes or a couple of hours before using to serve with the chickpea salad sandwich.

sliced red onions being added to a small bowl with brine to make pickles

Take some bread slices, add a layer of lettuce and greens then top with a generous amount of the chickpea salad then top with pickled onions.

curried chickpeas salad being spread on a slice of bread

You can also add in some sliced jalapeno and fresh cilantro on top and serve.

curried chickpea salad and quick pickled onions on a slice of bread

Can I make this sandwich gluten-free?

To make gluten free, serve with gluten-free bread or without the bread and with lettuce leaves or gluten free tacos.

a vegan egg salad sandwich on a wooden chopping board

Storage

Store the chickpea salad and pickled onions separately and assemble the sandwich fresh as needed.

 

About Richa

Hi, I'm Richa! I create flavorful plant based recipes that are inspired by my Indian upbringing, including many gluten-free, soy-free, and oil-free options.

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52 Comments

  1. Cindy says:

    5 stars
    Fast & fantastic! I made just the chickpea salad portion (didn’t want to wait for pickling onions) – delicious lunch today. A new favorite – such a great blend of spices, textures and tastes. Thanks for the recipe.

    1. Vegan Richa Support says:

      thanks for stopping by

  2. Sandi says:

    5 stars
    I made this Curried Chickpea Salad filling and even my picky omnivore partner loved it. He said, “ make it again.” He thought the pickled onions were inspired. We’ll be using them on other stuff. Thanks Richa..love the new book, too, btw

    1. Richa says:

      Yay

  3. Maneesha says:

    5 stars
    Sooo delicious, Richa! Between this recipe and your new cookbook recipes, I didn’t know which to make first! I made this as a wrap for a picnic – so perfect!

    1. Richa says:

      Awesome!

  4. Lore A says:

    5 stars
    Another winner, Richa! I added both curry powder and garam masala 1.5 tsp curry and .5 garam masala). Was unsure of raisins in this because I’m not really a fan. But I ended up adding a few more. Then the pickled onions are the perfect compliment! Highly recommend for the perfect summer lunch!

    1. Lore A says:

      5 stars
      Forgot to add, just go ahead and make a double batch. It won’t last past the first meal!

      1. Richa says:

        ❤️❤️

    2. Richa says:

      Awesome

  5. Geri Garrett says:

    5 stars
    This might be the best sandwich I have ever eaten! I used one whole clove in the onions because I didn’t have ground cloves, seemed to be fine. The jalapeños were a perfect addition. Hubby and I ate it ALL for lunch, but I’m sure it would feed 4.

    1. Richa says:

      Awesome

  6. trish says:

    will it still taste as good without the tomato paste? or can you substitute ? thank you

    1. Richa says:

      Yes omit the tomato paste. Add some lemon juice or use vegan Mayo instead of yogurt

  7. Karin says:

    5 stars
    I saw this recipe this morning and made it for my husband and myself for lunch today. It is absolutely delicious, which were my husband‘s EXACT words when he finished the last bite! The original recipe called for clove in the ingredients list but said cumin in the directions. I used cumin which worked well. But now I see that it has changed to cloves in both locations so when I make it tomorrow (because my son came home and ate the rest of it and my husband wants it for lunch tomorrow!) I’ll try the cloves. this taste like a special sandwich that you would get at a restaurant. It’s really good!

    1. Vegan Richa Support says:

      thank you Karin, enjoy

  8. Barb says:

    5 stars
    Yum! I made this for lunch today. Fabulous. I subbed Veganaise for the yogurt and included grated carrot. This won’t last long.

    1. Vegan Richa Support says:

      nice. I know what you mean !

  9. Trina says:

    5 stars
    Made this for lunch today. My husband said it was a good sandwich.
    I received your instant pot cookbook on May 24th. Since I am recovering from recent COVID infection, haven’t made any of the recipes. I still can not smell or taste, this is what is nice about a recipe…just follow it and family will be happy!
    Trina

    1. Vegan Richa Support says:

      i hope that you get better soon =)

  10. Lynsey says:

    5 stars
    So delicious, thank you! I like to add apple slices or avocado to my sandwich too!

    1. Vegan Richa Support says:

      great minds…