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Smashed Chickpea Salad with Pecans and Grapes

Name: Smashed Chickpea Salad with Pecans and Grapes
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 3 Servings
Ingredients: 1/4 C (35g) Raw Pecans; 2 C (439) Cooked Chickpeas (drained (one can) ); 4 Tbs Mayonnaise (I use Just Mayo); 1/4 + 1/8 tsp Fine Sea Salt; 1/2 Lemon (zested and juiced); 2 Tbs Red Onion (chopped fine); 1/4 C (18g) Celery (chopped fine); 1/3 C (60g) Red Grapes (quartered); 1 tsp Chives (chopped fine); 1 1/2 Tbs Fresh Curly Parsley (chopped fine); Fresh Ground Black Pepper

By Traci 36 Comments

Creamy, crunchy with a hint of sweet, Smashed Chickpea Salad with Pecans and Grapes comes together quick and is versatile enough to enjoy on a bed of greens, as a sandwich, cute little tea sandwiches or in a wrap. Vegan + Gluten Free

I first started thinking about this recipe when my Ma mentioned she wanted to attend high tea at the Fairmont in Seattle while she visits this fall. She usually comes to Whidbey all the way from Texas at least once a year.

We love seeking out new experiences surrounding food.

I’ve only been to high tea once, and it wasn’t really even high… Just a corner tea room in a tiny town with fancy finger foods like petit fours and little tea sandwiches with the most delicate teacups and saucers.

It totally felt fancy though.

The thought of going to the Fairmont got me excited about putting on a pretty dress, maybe even a hat, and drinking tea in their fancy-schmancy tea room.

Then, I thought about tea sandwiches. Of course my mind drifted to food.

Since we’re all still talking about this Smashed Chickpea Salad Sandwich I wrote about a few years ago, I thought I’d put another spin on smashed chickpeas.

A very old favorite recipe came to mind. So I created Smashed Chickpea Salad with Pecans and Grapes based on that old favorite.

Classic ingredients in a not so classic mash-up.

But I love this reinvented version even better.

Start with cooked chickpeas. Add a bit of mayo, lemon juice and zest, salt and pepper then mash it up! But not too much. Just enough until it’s still a bit chunky.

Then throw in the onions, celery, toasted pecans, grapes, chives and parsley. Give it a good mix. Before you decide how you want to devour it, give it a rest in the fridge for at least an hour. That way the ingredients have time to marry. It’s even better the next day.

Now, you may be thinking, why not just throw it all in a food processor.

Well, I’ve tried it and the texture was off for me. The chickpeas had little sharp edges from the slicing action of the blades. Mashing the chickpeas gives the little peas a much softer mouthfeel, almost creamy yet still with good texture.

Serve this delectable salad on a bed of fresh greens, in a lettuce wrap, pita or dip.

As for those tea sandwiches…

Cut Multigrain Bread thin, remove the crust because tea sandwiches must be fussy, and slather a few tablespoons of Chickpea Salad on one side. Sandwich the two pieces together then cut in half.

Can you imagine these cute little sandwiches at a shower, party, appetizer, or, or…. your very own high tea?

But all cuteness aside, this salad is practical. It comes together in about 15 minutes! Hello to week day lunches, picnics or impromptu guests like your mother-in-law.

But above all, make this for yourself with crustless bread, put on a fancy hat, like your ball cap, and break out the most delectable tea you have on the shelf. Feeling like we’re at a five star hotel in our own home can be as simple as a fancy (and not too fussy) sandwich or salad.

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5 from 6 votes