Smashed Chickpea & Spinach Sandwich
One veggie packed chickpea mix with endless uses - sandwiches, toasties or waffles!
A good slab of fluffy foccacia or a beautifully browned ciabatta loaf calls for a sandwich. Sandwiches are the unsung heroes of lunchboxes and harried standing meals in the middle of a shoot. Yes, they are! Especially in our home.
Although I have a soft spot for a nice smoked salmon sandwich made with grain bread stuffed with pickled beetroot, dill, chilli mustard, lettuce, avocado and cucumber (this is our go-to sandwich on busy mornings), one of my favourite sandwiches to make and eat is a Smashed Chickpea & Spinach Sandwich.
A humble can of chickpeas becomes a delicious source of protein in this flavourful sandwich mix packed with other veggies (we can’t have it any other way now, can we?). The mix is pre-cooked on a hot pan until it is fragrant and ready to be stuffed in good bread or made into grilled toasties and eaten with a good tomato relish. I have even crisped this mix in the waffle maker to make the most delicious Chickpea waffles!
This chickpea sandwich mix is very different from the ones you might have tried at cafes or farmer’s markets. I use toasted whole spices in the base to not only amplify flavour but to create a bit of texture. Aromatics, ground spices and a couple of unexpected ingredients make this mix succulent and juicy.
Chickpea Recipes
Looking for delicious vegetarian chickpea recipes to make from canned chickpeas? Have a look at my collection of Easy Chickpea Recipes that you can whip up for brunch, work lunches or dinners. Packed with lots of flavour and even more vegetables, these chickpea recipes are the perfect way to add more protein to your veg meals.
Chickpea Sandwich Filling Suggestions
I love avocado and crisp Cos lettuce/Romaine in all my sandwiches. But this sandwich really benefits from subtle acidity and more crunch. Try these gorgeous fillings when you make this sandwich
Salad sprouts (alfalfa, radish, onion)
Sliced gherkins
Sauerkraut
Pickled Red Onion
RECIPE // Pickled Red Onion