Description
This Vegan Chicken Salad is a delicious and healthy plant-based alternative to traditional chicken salad, featuring a crunchy almond and chickpea base combined with fresh celery, sweet grapes, and dried cherries, all bound together with creamy vegan mayo and a hint of lemon. Perfect for sandwiches, salads, or as a snack with crackers, it comes together in just 15 minutes and keeps well for up to 5 days.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Base
- 1/2 cup raw slivered almonds
- 15 ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
Mix-ins
- 2 celery ribs, diced small
- 1/2 cup red grapes, halved
- 1/4 cup dried cherries
Dressing & Seasoning
- 1/2 cup vegan mayo
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, from about 1/2 lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pulse almonds: In a food processor, pulse the slivered almonds a few times until they become crumbly but not powdered. This creates a nice texture that mimics chicken pieces.
- Add chickpeas: Add the drained and rinsed chickpeas to the food processor with the almonds. Pulse a few more times until the mixture is flaky with some chickpeas still whole, avoiding over-processing to prevent it from becoming pasty.
- Combine ingredients: Transfer the almond and chickpea mixture to a large bowl. Mix in diced celery, halved red grapes, dried cherries, vegan mayo, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir well to combine all flavors.
- Chill and serve: Refrigerate the salad until ready to serve, allowing flavors to meld. It can be served on croissants or bread with lettuce, on a leafy salad, or alongside crackers. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Be careful not to over-process the almonds and chickpeas to maintain a flaky texture.
- Feel free to substitute vegan mayo with your preferred plant-based mayonnaise alternative.
- This salad keeps well for up to 5 days refrigerated, making it great for meal prep.
- Serve with fresh greens or your favorite bread to enhance the meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Vegan chicken salad, plant-based chicken salad, chickpea salad, vegan lunch, dairy-free salad, quick vegan recipe
