Curried Chickpea Salad Sliders
These Curried Chickpea Salad Sliders combine mashed chickpeas, creamy avocado, and aromatic curry for a quick, protein-packed, fiber-rich vegan snack. Perfect for mini sandwiches, lettuce wraps, or meal prep, they’re easy to make, fully customizable, and ideal for a satisfying, wholesome bite anytime.
Equipment
- 1 Medium mixing bowl
- 1 Potato masher or fork
- 1 small knife
- 1 cutting board
- Measuring spoons (1 tbsp, ¼ tsp)
- Measuring cups (¼ cup, ½ cup, 1 ½ cups)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups cooked chickpeas drained and rinsed
- 1 small avocado peeled and pitted
- 1 tablespoon tahini
- ¼ teaspoon minced garlic
- ¼ cup red onion diced (*see note)
- ½ cup cilantro leaves chopped with finely chopped stems
- ¼ cup hemp seeds or chopped walnuts
- ½ teaspoon curry powder mild or madras, adjust to taste
- Juice of 1 small lemon
- Sea salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- About 8 mini slider buns or lettuce cups
- Optional fixings: lettuce tomato slices, onion rings, fresh herbs
Instructions
- Prepare the Chickpeas: Start by draining and rinsing 1 ½ cups of cooked chickpeas thoroughly under cold running water. This removes any excess liquid or starch, ensuring a clean, smooth texture for the salad. Transfer the chickpeas to a medium mixing bowl, making sure there’s enough space to mash and stir the ingredients comfortably.
- Mash the Avocado and Tahini Base: Slice and pit 1 small avocado, then scoop the creamy flesh into the same bowl as the chickpeas. Add 1 tablespoon of tahini, which brings a subtle nutty flavor and creamy texture. Using a potato masher or a sturdy fork, gently mash the chickpeas and avocado together until smooth yet slightly chunky. This combination creates a luscious, spreadable base for the sliders.
- Incorporate Aromatic Flavors: Add ¼ teaspoon minced garlic, ½ teaspoon curry powder (adjust to taste), and the juice of 1 small lemon to the mashed mixture. Sprinkle in generous pinches of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Use the masher or a fork to gently fold these ingredients in, ensuring the flavors are evenly distributed throughout the chickpea base.
- Fold in Fresh Herbs and Crunch: Dice ¼ cup red onion finely and chop ½ cup cilantro leaves with some stems. Stir these into the mashed chickpea mixture along with ¼ cup hemp seeds or chopped walnuts. These ingredients add a refreshing herbal note and a satisfying crunch. Taste the salad and adjust seasoning if needed, adding more salt, pepper, or curry powder according to your preference.
- Chill the Salad (Optional): For the best flavor, cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a reusable lid and place it in the refrigerator for 15–30 minutes. Chilling allows the spices and herbs to meld together, giving the salad a more balanced, harmonious taste. However, it can also be served immediately if you’re short on time.
- Prepare the Slider Buns or Lettuce Cups: If using mini slider buns, lightly toast them on a skillet or in the oven for 2–3 minutes to enhance texture and flavor. For a gluten-free option, use large crisp lettuce leaves as cups instead. Wash and pat dry any additional toppings like lettuce, tomato slices, or fresh herbs.
- Assemble the Sliders: Spoon a generous portion of the curried chickpea salad onto the bottom half of each bun or lettuce cup. Top with any optional fixings such as onion rings, tomato slices, lettuce, or additional herbs. Place the top bun gently over the filling, or fold the lettuce leaf around the salad for a wrap-style bite.
- Serve and Enjoy: Arrange the sliders on a serving platter and serve immediately. These Curried Chickpea Salad Sliders are perfect as a quick lunch, snack, or party appetizer. Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one day, with avocado added just before serving to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Use ripe avocado for maximum creaminess; under-ripe avocado may make the salad chunky or hard to mash.
- Adjust curry powder according to your taste preference; start small and add more gradually to avoid overpowering the flavors.
- Hemp seeds or walnuts provide crunch and healthy fats; you can also try sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for variation.
- If you prefer a milder onion flavor, rinse the diced red onion under cold water to reduce sharpness, then pat dry.
- These sliders are versatile—serve in mini buns, lettuce cups, or even as a hearty topping for crackers or flatbreads.
- For meal prep, store the chickpea mixture without avocado, then mash in fresh avocado just before serving to prevent browning.
