Smashed Chickpea, Avocado, and Pesto Salad Sandwich-this healthy and delicious sandwich only takes minutes to make! You can also use the salad as a dip for veggies, crackers, or chips!
Last week, I made Crispy Gnocchi with Pesto for dinner. Caleb loved it and wanted to eat the leftovers for breakfast. I am happy he loved what I made for dinner, but since he ate the leftovers in the morning, I didn’t have anything for us to eat for lunch. He is only three and already an eating machine. I don’t even want to know what our grocery bill will be once I have two boys in high school:) Yikes!
I did still have some leftover Spinach Basil Pesto in the fridge so I decided to make Smashed Chickpea, Avocado, and Pesto Sandwiches for lunch!
This sandwich might look familiar because it is based on my all-time favorite sandwich, my Smashed Chickpea and Avocado Salad Sandwich. I’ve been making that sandwich for years and it never gets old. It always hits the spot.
Well, this time I changed things up and added pesto to the mix since I had some in the fridge. I am SO glad I did because this version of my favorite sandwich is awesome! I love it just as much! The pesto adds a pleasant burst of flavor! I used our homemade Spinach Basil Pesto, which is my favorite, but you can use store bought pesto if you are in a pinch!
I like to put the smashed chickpea salad in between two slices of bread to make a sandwich, but it is also good with veggies, crackers, chips, toast, or on a bed of greens!
I made sure I made two sandwiches before I let Caleb have at it. I wanted to make sure I got one:) I don’t know if Caleb will ask to eat this Smashed Chickpea, Avocado, and Pesto Sandwich for breakfast, but he did like it for lunch and I think you will too! Enjoy!
Smashed Chickpea, Avocado, and Pesto Salad Sandwich
Ingredients
- 1 15 ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1 large ripe avocado
- 2 tablespoons Basil Pesto
- Juice from ½ lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Slices of bread I use whole wheat
- Spinach leaves if desired
Instructions
- Place the chickpeas on a paper towel or clean kitchen towel and remove the outer skins. Roll them around a bit and they will come off easily. You can leave them on, but I like to remove them.
- In a medium bowl, combine the chickpeas and avocado. Smash with a fork until well combined. It is ok if some of the chickpeas are chunky. I like the texture. Stir in pesto and fresh lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Spread chickpea salad on bread slices and top with spinach leaves, if using. Cut sandwich in half and serve!
- Note: I use our homemade Spinach Basil Pesto, but you can use store bought. If you need the sandwich to be vegan, use vegan pesto. This salad also makes a great dip. Serve with cut up veggies, crackers, or pita chips. Also, this salad is best eaten the day it is made because it will turn brown due to the avocado. Use gluten-free bread if you need the recipe to be gluten-free.
Have you tried this recipe?
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Chickpeas and avocado? What a brilliant idea. I love the flavor combination especially with pesto thrown into the mix. I usually have hummus and pita with lunch, but I may have to start bringing these sandwiches instead!
Oh this looks delicious! I was actually going to had mashed avocado on toast this morning but I might add some pesto!
I’m impressed your son Caleb found this tasty and even ate the leftovers for breakfast. I have 2 girls just a little older than your boys but sometimes find it tricky finding food they will eat (that is super healthy). But yes, they eat a lot! Our grocery bill is almost $1000 a month, even though we try to buy mostly organic and free range food.
ON my to make list!! <3 <3 <3
I’ve been looking for a good sandwich to make myself for lunch and this is perfect!!
Yum!! Wish I had this waiting for me in the work fridge for lunch today 🙂
Wow. That sandwich is so green. I’m impressed your son loved it. Lately it takes some persuasion for my boys to eat a sandwich this green.
Caleb will eat green things because the Hulk does:) He loves Super Heroes:)
I’m always looking for healthy and filling lunches and I have to say, this is a winner! I can’t WAIT to have this for lunch next week! I too have some leftover pesto so I am going to put it to good use :). I’ll even get a little crazy and add some goat cheese on top. I can hardly have a sandwich without cheese 🙂
That will be lunch for the weekend! In addition to the sandwich filling looking terrific, what kind of bread did you use? All of the seeds and grain looks awesome and would add wonderful crunch to the sammy.
I used Eureka bread! We love it!
You just inspired my lunch! I only have white beans so am going to swap them out and add some scallions that I have in the fridge. Thank you!
Yay! Enjoy!
Mmmmmm….I’m thinking this needs to be lunch today!
I’m so impressed with little Caleb’s taste buds Maria! sandwich look great!
He always surprises us!
This looks amazing – just pinned!!
xo, ellie
http://withlovefromellie.wordpress.com
Thank you!
I love, love, love avocado! I could put it on anything. Soon, I will be putting it on my chickpeas thanks to this recipe. Looks fantastic!
Very healthy, colourful and nice sandwich.
I have seen the pic of the sandwich on Twitter, first time visiting your blog.
Please come and see my blog.
That’s great that Caleb is asking for healthy foods for breakfast rather than the typical sugar laden option most kids want. You’re clearly doing something right!
I love how simple and nutritious this sandwich looks. It will be perfect for a quick and easy lunch option. Thanks for the inspiration!
Totally my kind of lunch, Maria!
Now this is a sandwich filling that I would never have dreamed up! But now that I’ve seen it, I MUST make it. Perfect for my lunch!
this looks super delicious 🙂
https://aspoonfulofnature.wordpress.com/
I haven’t thought about this combination but looks amazing. I definitely will try it!
I’ve been really into avocado sandwiches this month. Like, loving them. And this girl can’t get enough pesto, either, so pretty much this is a perfect lunch for me! Pinned!
Thank you!
Beautiful photos!! This sandwich looks right up my alley. 🙂
This looks like a great sandwich!
This looks AMAZING! P.s. I enjoyed your class at BYBC:)
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it!
I added some Bragg’s Organic Sprinkle seasoning, and it’s incredibly tasty!! Yum!!
I could eat avocado for breakfast lunch and dinner, so this sandwich had me at hello! And it might be that we are caught in a neverending winter up here, but it also looks like springtime to me!
This sandwich looks SO GOOD! I can’t believe I haven’t thought of this combination before as I love chickpeas, avacados, and pesto! I saw a comment above that your son will eat anything green because the hulk is green, my four year old will eat green too because it is like green eggs and ham. Haha oh kids come up with the funniest things sometimes 🙂
This looks ahhhmazinggglyy yummy!
This is the sandwich I’ve been dreaming about! I don’t really do mayonnaise, but still crave creamy stuff and THIS is just perfect. Love it and trying it out this week!
Delicious- pesto is a genius touch. I’m definitely going to give this a whirl next week! x
I love it when you smash chickpeas.
is it yummy or not because i want it to make this for our school sandwich competition
i want to win that cup!!!! that’s why !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yummy! this would be awesome with some alfalfa sprouts, crispy lettuce, and a few slices of beetroot! thanks for recipe
what kind of bread (brand) did you use in pic ?
This looks amazing, i love all your recipes! Please take a look at my blog. Love and light. Amy xxx
I like how nutritious sandwich looks. It will be perfect for a quick and easy lunch option. Thanks for the sharing delicious receipe!
That bread looks so good. What kind is it? I see lots of seeds and grains.
This is really delicious and healthy recipe and takes few minutes to prepare …
healthy recipe is very good for health , nice article
I have two boys in high school. $200 a week, easily.
Delicious!!!
looks simple, delicious, nutritious, will try tomorrow nigh!
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yumm
My 2 year old son and I just had this for lunch. I pan fried the bread for some extra crunch. I’m going to add this to our lunch rotation. Thanks!