Today I am sharing a very unique and nutritious vegan salad recipe . This Roasted Chickpea salad (Vegan) is very easy to whip up and absolutely delicious and filling. If you have some boiled chickpeas and basic pantry ingredients then you can enjoy this insanely delish salad with your family or friends. I bet you will make it regularly at home . We crave for yummy salads on some days and this one works perfect.
What goes in Roasted Chickpea Salad (Vegan) ?
Creating a vibrant and tasty roasted chickpea salad (Vegan) is simple, nutritious, and entirely vegan. This dish is perfect for a quick lunch, a light dinner, or a side dish for any meal. Here’s a detailed guide on how to prepare this delicious salad, ensuring every ingredient aligns with a vegan lifestyle.
The foundation of a good salad starts with fresh, high-quality ingredients. For a roasted chickpea salad, you’ll need:
- 1. Boiled or Canned Chickpeas –Chickpeas are a great source of plant-based protein and fiber. Ensure to drain and rinse the canned chickpeas.
- 2.Olive oil: Choose a high-quality, extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor and health benefits.
- 3.Spices: Red Chili Powder, Curry Powder and salt. These spices add a savory flavor to the chickpeas.
- 4.Tamrind Pulp : For some tanginess.
For the salad:
- Red Tomatoes: Finely Chopped
- Red onion: Thinly sliced for a bit of sharpness.
- Green Capsicum: Finely chopped for the nice refreshing crunch
- Fresh Green Chili : Finely chopped for a little spice kick.
- Carrots: For the slightly sweet taste and crunch add finely chopped carrots.
For the dressing:
- Silken Tofu : to add a nice creamy smooth texture
- Fresh Coriander : For the nice aroma and lovely green color.
- Cashews: For a extra touch of creaminess
- Salt : To taste
- Fresh Ginger : Aids digestion and enhances the flavors.
Some Facts about Vegan Recipes :
Vegan recipes are plant-based and exclude all animal products, including meat, dairy, eggs, and honey. Here are some interesting facts about vegan recipes.
- 1.Nutrient-Rich: Vegan recipes often focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. These ingredients are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants.
2.Versatility: Vegan cooking is incredibly versatile. Many traditional dishes can be adapted to be vegan by using plant-based alternatives for animal products. For example, tofu, tempeh, and seitan can replace meat, while almond milk, soy milk, and coconut milk can be a substitute for dairy milk.
3.Protein Sources: Contrary to some misconceptions, vegan diets can provide ample protein through sources like lentils, chickpeas, black beans, quinoa, tofu, tempeh, edamame, and various nuts and seeds.
4.Innovative Ingredients: Vegan recipes often utilize creative ingredients and techniques. Aquafaba (the liquid from canned chickpeas) can be used as an egg white substitute, and jackfruit can mimic the texture of pulled pork.
5.Health Benefits: Studies have shown that well-planned vegan diets can offer health benefits, such as lower risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. There is always a ongoing debate on this.
6.Sustainability: Vegan diets are often considered more environmentally sustainable. Producing plant-based foods typically requires fewer resources and generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to animal-based foods.
7.Cultural Diversity: Vegan recipes can be found in many traditional cuisines worldwide. For example, Indian cuisine offers a variety of vegan dishes such as chana masala and aloo gobi, while Mediterranean cuisine includes hummus, tabbouleh, and falafel.
8.Substitutes and Alternatives: The rise in veganism has led to a surge in vegan substitutes and alternatives, such as plant-based burgers, vegan cheese, and dairy-free ice creams, making it easier for people to transition to a vegan diet.
9.Baking Without Eggs: Vegan baking often uses ingredients like flaxseeds, chia seeds, applesauce, bananas, and vinegar mixed with baking soda as egg replacements to achieve similar textures and binding properties for the best results.
10.Flavor Enhancements: Spices, herbs, and flavorings play a crucial role in vegan recipes, enhancing the taste and complexity of dishes. Nutritional yeast, for example, is often used to impart a cheesy flavor in vegan recipes.
Sharing this Recipe with Shhh Cooking Secretly Group:
This month I am the host and I had suggested Vegan Recipes. I am paired with Seema who blogs at Mildlyindian. I gave her two secret ingredients Banana and Coconut and she inturn gave me Tamarind Pulp and Chili. She whipped up this amazing Kozhukattai. Do check her recipe here. I made this insanely delicious Roasted Chickpea salad (Vegan) for this theme. You need to check out these awesome recipes and try it out.
ROASTED CHICKPEA SALAD (VEGAN)
Equipment
- 1 Heavy Bottom Pan
- 1 Blender
- 1 Chopping Board
- 1 Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 200 Gms Boiled Chickpeas / Canned Chickpeas washed and drained
- 1/2 Tsp Tamarind Pulp
- Salt to taste
- 1/2 Tsp Kashmiri red chilI powder
- 1 Tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1/2 Tsp Curry Powder
- 1/2 Cup Silken Tofu
- 1 No Finely Chopped fresh green chili
- 1/2 Cup Finely Chopped Fresh Coriander
- 1/2 Inch Ginger finely grated
- 10 Nos Cashews
- 1 No Red Onion Finely chopped
- 1/2 No Carrot finely Chopped
- 1 No Green Capsicum finely chopped
- 1 No Big Red Tomato finely chopped
Instructions
- You can Soak chickpeas overnight and pressure cook upto 3 whistles or you may use Canned chickpeas that is washed and drained. I had some boiled chickpeas and I have used them here.
- Heat the pan . Add EVVO. Now add the boiled and drained chickpeas. Roast for about 10 minutes.
- Add red chili powder , salt , curry powder and tamarind pulp. Mix well untill the chickpeas are nicely coated with the spices. Turn off the heat and allow the Roasted spiced chickpeas to cool completely.
- In a blender add chopped coriander , green chilli , ginger , silken tofu , salt to taste and cashews. Blend to a smooth lump free paste. Keep it aside.
- In a mixing bowl combine finely chopped onion ,tomato, green bell pepper and carrots . Add the coriander and tofu dressing and mix well.
- Add half of the roasted chickpeas and mix well.
- Garnish the salad with balance roasted chickpeas and serve immediately.
- Enjoy with family and friends.
Notes
- I prefer to use home cooked boiled chickpeas. You can use store bought canned chickpeas if you have time constraint.
- You can increase or decrease the spice level as per your personal preference.
- You can also add fresh chopped cucumber, colorful bell peppers in addition to the mentioned veggies.
- Do not skip any other ingredient mentioned above.
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This is an absolute flavour bomb chickpea salad. I like the hidden soft tofu in it as well. Yumm.
A great salad recipe with the double protein of Tofu & CHickpeas here, Preethi. Bookmarking it to try to introduce tofu this way to the family ! awesome
I usually make chickpea salad the desi way, with cucumber, onion, tomato, etc. Love this jazzed-up version with tofu, curry powder and cashewnuts. The addition of tamarind is interesting – must have added so much flavour to the salad!