Ditch The Expensive Deli Meat And Try This Cheaper Sandwich Filling That Can Be Just As Good

One sandwich after another, deli meat is the default filling that we always reach for. Still, it might be time to leave this well-worn (and often expensive) habit behind and try something else that can be just as good: chickpea salad. Unexpected as it may sound, once you give it a try, there won't be any doubt about how well this ingredient fits into your sandwich. 

First things first, it should be noted that we are not talking about regular chickpea salad here (delicious as it may be). Instead of a simple toss in vinaigrette, the chickpeas would be processed into a rich, smooth swirl of flavors, or roughly mashed with a thick dressing until you've got a chunky, creamy sandwich filling. During that process, that nutty base is laced with a whole lot of delectable notes – from the vibrant tang of mayonnaise, citrusy zing of lemon, to herby, aromatic nuances.

You might even find that a vegan chickpea salad sandwich makes for a fantastic tuna sandwich substitution with this interplay of fresh and savory flavors. That same subtle complexity is also a notch above the mildness we've grown accustomed to with deli meat. Yet somehow, the sandwich remains as balanced and palatable as ever.

Dress up the chickpea salad, and you will have also elevated your sandwich. For example, a chickpea salad with tahini dressing will let you swap out the mayo-based concoction's familiar tang for a delectable nutty richness. Alternatively, a dressing made by blending avocado, mayonnaise, and fresh herbs together will give your sandwich the most toothsome brightness. On a slightly sharper side, in which the sandwich is spicy around the flavor edges, consider bringing mustard and a chile condiment (such as chile oil or crisp, hot sauce, salsa, etc.) into the blend. Even an umami depth is possible. Just go in with a small amount of miso paste for your dressing.

Don't forget you can also add other toppings to the chickpea salad. For a textural boost, crunchy veggies like cucumber, radish, and celery always do the trick, but you can also go in with chopped nuts for a bolder flavor contrast. Speaking of which, why not go in with sliced olives for pops of earthy tang to cut through the salad's savory richness, or entice the taste buds with pickled onions' delicious sharpness? 

Should you ever want both a texture and flavor enhancement, cushion your chickpea salad filling with a bed of alfalfa sprouts and leafy greens. Other than vegetables, you can also add a few crumbles of feta cheese for tanginess, or perhaps even some of the best sweet ingredients to put on your sandwich, like dried fruits or maple syrup.