Vegan Practically

When I first stopped eating animal products I was at a loss about what I could put between bread that was vegan (other than PB and jam). I used to love tuna salad sandwiches and they were among the things I missed (most of us end up missing something). But since becoming vegan, I have discovered a superior alternative that is cruelty-free and tastier than tuna salad: chickpea salad sandwiches. I have mentioned them at least once before, in my post reflecting on the horrors of seafood. The celebration of the marvel that is chickpea salad sandwiches bears repeating. If you’ve not tried it before, it’s a quick and delicious lunch made of ingredients that are usually on hand.

You can find lots of recipes online, such as this one from Vegan Runner Eats and this one from Forks Over Knives, that uses tahini instead of vegan mayo, and this one from the Nut-free Vegan. Vegan Richa puts raisins and curry powder in hers and says it’s more like chicken salad. (quite a few people compare it to chicken salad, actually)

Here’s how I make chickpea salad: I drain and rinse a can of chickpeas and mash them up with a potato masher. I add some chopped celery and green onion, a bit of chopped parsley or dill (or both), a spoonful of relish or some chopped dill pickles, some pepper, some vegan mayo, and … wait for it … some soy sauce! The soy sauce is the secret ingredient that somehow makes it remind me a tuna salad sandwich. I learned this trick from a friend about nine years ago and it works.

I don’t give amounts because it’s really all to taste. This is one of those things where you use others’ ideas as a guide and then go your own way. It doesn’t need to be the same every time. There’s loads of room to experiment. You like loads of mayo and not much celery? Fine. You prefer less mayo and some chopped red bell peppers? Fine.

Serve it open faced on a slice of toast, or between two pieces of bread, or in a pita, or with crackers, or just on top of a salad. Have some chips or carrots or a pickle or whatever you like to have with your sandwich.

Bon Appétit!