Vegetarian Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad
Elevate your lunch game with this vibrant and protein-packed Vegetarian Cranberry Walnut "Chicken" Salad, a plant-based twist on a classic favorite! Creamy, crunchy, and bursting with flavor, this recipe swaps traditional chicken for mashed chickpeas to deliver a satisfying texture while keeping it fully vegetarian (and easily vegan-friendly with a simple mayo swap!). Diced celery, sweet dried cranberries, and chopped walnuts add layers of crunch, tang, and nuttiness, perfectly balanced by a zesty dressing made with Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and fresh dill. Ready in just 15 minutes and ideal for wraps, sandwiches, or serving over crisp lettuce, this meal is the ultimate blend of convenience and wholesome goodness. Whether you're looking for a quick weekday lunch or a crowd-pleasing picnic dish, this recipe has you covered!
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Ingredients
- 1 can (15 oz) canned chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
- 2 stalks celery stalks (diced)
- 0.25 cup red onion (finely chopped)
- 0.5 cup dried cranberries
- 0.5 cup walnuts (chopped)
- 0.5 cup mayonnaise (use vegan for vegan option)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill (chopped)
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 leaves lettuce leaves (for serving)
- 4 whole grain bread slices or wraps
Directions
Step 1
Start by placing the drained and rinsed chickpeas into a medium-sized mixing bowl. Using a fork or potato masher, gently mash the chickpeas. Leave some of them whole for added texture.
Step 2
Add the diced celery, chopped red onion, dried cranberries, and chopped walnuts to the bowl with the chickpeas. Mix all of these ingredients together to combine.
Step 3
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, chopped fresh dill, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
Step 4
Pour the dressing over the chickpea mixture and gently stir everything together until the salad is evenly coated.
Step 5
Taste the salad and adjust seasoning if necessary, adding more salt or pepper to suit your preference.
Step 6
To serve, lay a lettuce leaf on a slice of whole grain bread or inside a wrap. Spoon a portion of the chickpea salad onto the lettuce leaf, then top with another slice of bread or wrap it up tightly.
Step 7
Repeat with the remaining salad to make additional servings. Enjoy your Vegetarian Cranberry Walnut 'Chicken' Salad!
Nutrition Facts
| Serving size | (1052.0g) |
|---|
| Amount per serving | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|
| Calories | 2423.8 |
| Total Fat 138.1g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 16.8g | 0% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g | |
| Cholesterol 39.4mg | 0% |
| Sodium 3832.4mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate 242.1g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber 45.1g | 0% |
| Total Sugars 81.3g | |
| Protein 60.4g | 0% |
| Vitamin D 0IU | 0% |
| Calcium 553.6mg | 0% |
| Iron 16.0mg | 0% |
| Potassium 2315.4mg | 0% |
Source of Calories