This curried chickpea salad recipe brings together mashed chickpeas, crunchy celery, sweet golden raisins, and a creamy curry dressing that comes together in about fifteen minutes. It is one of those recipes I keep in constant rotation because it works for so many different meals.
Drain and rinse the chickpeas under cold water. Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.
Transfer the chickpeas to a large mixing bowl. Mash them with a potato masher or fork until about three-quarters broken down, leaving some whole pieces for texture.
Finely dice the celery and red onion. Roughly chop the cilantro and roasted cashews. Add them to the bowl along with the golden raisins.
In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt), curry powder, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until smooth and evenly colored.
Pour the dressing over the chickpea mixture and fold everything together until evenly coated. Scrape down the sides to ensure no dry pockets remain.
Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve cold in sandwiches, wraps, on crackers, or over greens. Stir before serving if any liquid has settled.
Notes
For a deeper, more fragrant curry flavor, toast the curry powder in a dry pan for 30 seconds before mixing it into the dressing.
Make this vegan by swapping the mayonnaise for a plant-based mayonnaise or using dairy-free yogurt.
Pat the chickpeas completely dry before mashing to prevent the dressing from becoming watery.
Use a mix of mayonnaise and Greek yogurt for a lighter dressing that still stays creamy.
Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes if you like a little heat.
Swap raisins for chopped dried apricots, dates, or diced fresh apple for a different sweetness.
Store in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. This salad does not freeze well.
For meal prep more than 3 days in advance, store the dressing and chickpea mixture separately and combine right before eating.