In the time that I’ve been on a vegan diet, I’ve learned a lot of things. One lesson in particular will stay with me for quite some time – learn to love thy chickpeas.
Beans are pretty crucial when you aren’t eating meat, dairy, or eggs, so learning to use different kinds of beans is a pretty big deal if you want to be successful as a vegan. And chickpeas are a very special kind of bean because they somehow manage to be a wonderful substitute for both chicken and tuna (it sounds crazy, but I’m telling you, it’s true).
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Which brings me to this fabulous chickpea salad recipe. It was inspired by one of my favorite chicken salads and of course (as I just told you) the chickpeas will make you think you’re filling up on chicken. The chickpeas alone will fill your body with much needed protein and nutrients, but the addition of walnuts, cranberries, and raisins raise the bar even further. It’s so, so, so delicious and is actually a pretty healthy choice so you don’t have to feel guilty.
Here’s what you’ll need for this super simple and quick recipe:
Ingredients
- 1 can of chickpeas
- 2 tablespoons of Vegenaise
- ½ cup of chopped walnuts
- ¼ cup of golden raisins
- ¼ cup of craisins
- garlic salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Drain the chickpeas free of liquid and pour into a mixing bowl.
Slightly mash some of the chickpeas, leaving some big chunks (this is a matter of personal preference so you may find that you like yours mashed more).
Mix in 2 tablespoons of vegenaise and mash together.
Add walnuts, raisins, and craisins.
Stir and add garlic salt and pepper to taste (regular salt is fine too).
Now you’re ready to serve! One of the best things about this recipe is that it’s great the next day, so feel free to let it sit in the fridge over night. In fact, in my opinion it’s actually BETTER when you leave it sit for a day. The vegenaise will be absorbed a bit by the walnuts and raisins, which will make it creamier. You will actually probably want to add a bit more vegenaise right before you eat if you go this route.
I hope this turns out well for you! Enjoy!
If you’re new to veganism and looking for some help or inspiration, check out my list of amazing Documentaries that will Inspire Veganism – you’ll never look back!
Related post: Vegan Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Muffins
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12 Comments on Vegan Fruit & Nut Chickpea Salad
Good recipe! I used grapes (cut in half) instead of craisins (healthier). Tasted great!
Good! Added Dijon mustard, chopped water chestnuts and just a little lemon to brighten it up!
OMG! Water chestnuts are a brilliant idea!! I’m going to try them next time. 🙂
This look delish will male this for sure!!! What is your favorite bread?? Thanks ahead 😉
This was SO good! I added some celery for more crunch, fresh parsley, a dab of mustard and a little paprika. I love this as a base recipe to suit anyone’s tastes. This is def. going into my diet as a staple. I think it may be good with sweet pickles cut up in it also!
This looks delicious! Love the combination of ingredients! Thanks for sharing on healthy living link party
Looks yummy! Thanks for sharing on the Healthy Living Link Party.
So I’m not vegan, but I can’t eat dairy or eggs so I tend to eat vegan recipes quite a bit. I haven’t tried Veganese yet though… how does it taste?
oh wow, you definitely need to try it! It’s basically a mayo substitute, but it’s not as slimy so most people like it better. It would give you so many new options if you can’t normally eat mayo!
Oh wow a chicken salad spin off make with chickpeas? Love this idea! I just made a batch of homemade mayo so I’ll have to try this!
great use of chickpeas, this looks fabulous
I make a Buffalo not-chicken crumble out of chick peas, but I would never have thought to put them together with raisins and craisins for this type of salad. I will have to try it out for sure!
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