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10-Minute Vegan Egg Salad Substitute

on December 7, 2022
last updated August 12, 2024
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This Vegan Egg Salad Substitute uses chickpeas instead of eggs to make for a delicious sandwich, wrap, salad, or dip!
Vegan Egg Salad substitute on toasted bread with greens

Looking for a protein-packed plant-based lunch that’s as delicious as it is nutritious? This Vegan Egg Salad Substitute is perfect for a healthful sandwich, wrap, salad, or dip.

With just 8 ingredients and 10 minutes required, this easy vegan lunch idea will soon become a favorite—in fact, it’s already rivalling the recipe I dubbed The Best Veggie Sandwich I’ve Ever Had!

And as a mom-on-the-go who often struggles to decide what to eat for lunch, being able to prepare this ahead of time makes all the difference!

Close up of Vegan Egg Salad sandwich

Vegan Egg Salad Ingredients


Here’s everything you need:

  • Chickpeas. Aka Garbanzo beans. Canned is quickest and easiest, but of course you can use raw chickpeas. They will need to be soaked or cooked before use in this recipe.
  • Vegan mayonnaise. Vegan mayo options are easy to find, or you can make your own!
  • Salt and pepper. To elevate all of the other flavors.
  • Paprika. For that signature egg salad taste.
  • Turmeric. For an earthy flavor and yellow color.
  • Celery. For a little crunchy texture.
  • Red onion. For extra umami and savory taste.
overhead view of all ingredients for vegan egg salad - turmeric, paprika, celery, red onion, pepper, vegan mayo, chickpeas, salt

Vegan Egg Salad Tips and Tricks


Drain and Rinse Chickpeas

When making this egg salad substitute or spreads like hummus, it’s quickest and easiest to use canned chickpeas, which have already been soaked and are soft, supple, and easy to break down.

If you have raw chickpeas, you will have to soak or cook them first to prep them.

Drain your canned chickpeas. I love to catch the aquafaba, or the liquid that the chickpeas is suspended in in the can and save it for later use. It’s a wonderful ingredient, especially in vegan baking.

Once you’ve drained the chickpeas, rinse them. Then, pour them out on a clean kitchen towel and pat them lightly with a second kitchen towel or a paper towel to dry them.

Draining and rinsing chickpeas
Drain, rinse, and dry your chickpeas.

Smash ‘Em

Once your chickpeas are drained, rinsed, and dried, add them to a large bowl to smash them.

I like to use a potato masher, but you can also use a wooden spoon, a fork, or a mortar and pestle.

Continue to smash until there are no whole chickpeas left.

Smashing chickpeas with a potato masher
Smash the chickpeas with a potato masher or fork.

Dice Your Onion and Celery

Peel your red onion and dice it finely. Rinse and dice the green part of your celery as well.

Diced celery and red onion on a chopping board
Dice the onion and celery.

Add All Your Ingredients

Add the diced onion and celery to your smashed chickpeas along with the mayo, salt, pepper, paprika, and turmeric.

Mix until well-combined.

All ingredients for vegan egg salad substitute in a large mixing bowl
Add the diced celery and onion, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, paprika, and turmeric and mix to combine.

If You Prefer a Smoother “Egg Salad”

I like to keep my chickpea egg salad on the chunkier side, but if you want it smooth, simply add all of your ingredients to a food processor or high-powered blender. Process on high until desired consistency is achieved.

How to Serve Your Chickpea Egg Salad

This chickpea smash can be treated just like egg salad and can be served in the same ways! Here are my favorite ways to enjoy this vegan egg salad substitute:

  • Sandwich. Between two slices of bread, toast, or a bagel!
  • Wrap. In a tortilla, rolled up flatbread, or even in a lettuce wrap.
  • Salad. The perfect hearty, protein-packed addition to your salad.
  • Dip. Serve it on a platter as a dip with vegetables, crackers, or chips.
Both halves of Chickpea Egg Salad Sandwich stacked on top of eachother

How to Properly Store Leftover Egg Salad Substitute

This egg salad substitute will last up to one week in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I do not suggest freezing it.

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Vegan Egg Salad substitute on toasted bread with greens

10-Minute Vegan Egg Salad Substitute

5 from 1 vote
Marley Goldin
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This Vegan Egg Salad Substitute uses chickpeas instead of eggs to make for a delicious sandwich, wrap, salad, or dip!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

Ingredients
 
 

  • 15 oz chickpeas aka garbanzo beans (1 can chickpeas = 15 ounces)
  • 2 stalks celery
  • ¼ small red onion
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise (vegan options work great!)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric

Instructions
 

  • Drain and rinse your chickpeas and lightly dab them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel (use these bamboo paper towels for a more sustainable option).
    15 oz chickpeas aka garbanzo beans
    Draining and rinsing chickpeas

Smash Method (Preferred)

  • For a chunkier egg salad substitute, use a potato masher or fork to smash your chickpeas until there are no whole chickpeas left (this is my preferred method).
    Smashing garbanzo beans with a potato masher
  • Peel and dice your red onion and dice your celery. Add them to your smashed chickpeas with the vegan mayonnaise, salt, pepper, paprika, and turmeric.
    2 stalks celery, ¼ small red onion, ¼ cup mayonnaise, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon turmeric
    Adding all ingredients to vegan egg salad substitute
  • Stir until well-combined and serve on a sandwich, in a wrap, or a salad, or as a dip.
    Vegan Egg Salad Substitute in a bowl ready to serve

Food Processor Method

  • If you want a smoother egg salad substitute, use a food processor. Add all the ingredients to the processor and blend on high until smooth.
  • Serve on a sandwich, in a wrap, or a salad, or as a dip.

Pro Tips

  • I prefer using a potato masher to keep a chunkier egg salad substitute, but the food processor is a super quick and easy way to blend all your ingredients. 
Course Lunch
Cuisine American
Diet Vegan
Keyword 30 Minutes or Less, Egg Salad, Vegan Egg Salad, Vegan Lunch, Vegan Sandwich, Veggie Sandwich, Wrap for Lunch
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