Remember This Texture Tip For The Best Chickpea Salad Sandwiches

Whether or not you're vegan, a chickpea salad sandwich is pretty hard to resist. Packed with protein, the hand-held wonder is riddled with a range of delicious flavors. It also teems with a medley of palate-pleasing textures, that is, when the filling is prepared correctly. Much like tuna or egg salad, a successful chickpea-based filling should be lusciously creamy while maintaining a bit of bite. To achieve the best textures, it's worth paying close attention to how the chickpeas are handled.

Chickpeas, also dubbed garbanzo beans, are a relatively firm and hearty legume. Although there are some slight textural differences between canned and cooked chickpeas — the latter holding up better and maintaining a creamier consistency — all chickpeas run the risk of turning to mush if they're handled too aggressively. As a result, the beans must be smashed carefully when preparing chickpea salad. Rather than simply tossing the beans into a food processor and blitzing, we suggest pulsing the chickpeas for a few quick intervals; this will produce a filling that's smooth-yet-chunky as opposed to totally creamy and one-dimensional.

Alternatively, you could try smashing the chickpeas manually. Using a fork or a masher gives you maximum control, allowing you to break down the beans easily without accidentally pureeing them into a spread. For even more textural diversity, reserve a portion of whole chickpeas that can be reintroduced into the hand-smashed filling.

A memorable chickpea salad sandwich extends beyond how the beans are smashed. While it's important to not blitz them entirely, the filling should still be somewhat smooth, which is why it's essential to drain the chickpeas from their liquid before mashing. Otherwise it'll have a loose and watery consistency. That said, because a base of whole and half-mashed garbanzo beans can lean on the drier side, working in condiments — sparingly, of course — can also ensure better textures. For example, a dollop of mayonnaise will keep the filling velvety, whereas relish or grainy mustard can provide extra bite.

To further improve texture, we advise introducing a medley of crunchy and crisp additions to the filling. Anything from diced celery to onions to radishes or apples can give the filling textural depth as well as boost flavor and aesthetics. Just remember to add these ingredients after the chickpeas have been smashed, combining them well so they're evenly distributed throughout the sandwich to ensure the most texture in every bite.

Last but not least, textural variety can be enhanced when building the sandwich, as well. Rather than serve chickpea salad on pillowy brioche, opt for toasted slices of crusty sourdough or seed-laden loaves. Likewise, try layering the filling under texturally diverse toppings like crisp lettuce, crunchy fried onions, or slivered almonds as a final chance to please palates. Trust us, your taste buds will thank you for your efforts!