Vegan Curried Broccoli Chickpea Salad Recipe

If you’re searching for a salad that’s bursting with flavor, texture, and plant-powered goodness, then I’ve got just the thing for you. This Vegan Curried Broccoli Chickpea Salad Recipe is seriously one of my favorite go-to dishes whenever I want something fresh, vibrant, and packed with protein. The combination of crisp broccoli, creamy chickpeas, toasted almonds, and a luscious curried tahini dressing is downright irresistible—I promise you won’t want to stop at just one serving!

this …

Ingredients You’ll Need

Each ingredient in this Vegan Curried Broccoli Chickpea Salad Recipe works together to create a balanced mix of crunchy, creamy, sweet, and tangy flavors. When picking your produce, fresh and firm broccoli is key to getting that satisfying crunch, and don’t skip the toasted almonds—they add such a lovely nutty depth.

• Broccoli: Finely chopping it ensures every forkful has that fresh crunch without big florets getting in the way.
• Shredded carrots: Adds natural sweetness and vibrant color that your eyes and taste buds will love.
• Chickpeas: These boost the protein and fiber, making the salad really filling.
• Toasted sliced almonds: Toasting them yourself enhances their nuttiness and crunch.
• Dried cranberries: Their tart sweetness contrasts beautifully with the spicy curry flavors.
• Green onions: Bright and slightly pungent, they uplift the salad’s freshness.
• Fresh cilantro: Adds a burst of herbal, citrusy notes that complement the curry wonderfully.
• Tahini: This creamy sesame paste forms the base of the rich dressing.
• Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon gives the dressing brightness and zing.
• Garlic clove: Minced finely so it distributes well without overpowering.
• Maple syrup: Just a hint to balance the spices with mild sweetness.
• Yellow curry powder: The star spice, lending that warm, vibrant flavor.
• Fresh ginger: Adds zing and a little warmth—you want it freshly grated for best aroma.
• Ground turmeric: Provides earthiness and that lovely golden color.
• Salt & freshly ground black pepper: To season and bring all the flavors together.

Variations

I love making this Vegan Curried Broccoli Chickpea Salad Recipe my own by switching up a few ingredients depending on what I have on hand or the season. Feel free to get creative and make it suit your palate perfectly—you really can’t go wrong.

• Add Avocado: I’ve added creamy avocado chunks to make it even more indulgent and filling, perfect for lunch on the go.
• Swap the nuts: Try walnuts or pecans if almonds aren’t your thing; they bring their own unique texture and flavor.
• Spice it up: If you like heat, a pinch of cayenne or some chopped jalapeño works wonders with the curried dressing.
• Mix greens in: For a bit more volume and color, toss in some baby spinach or arugula just before serving.
• Use fresh herbs: Experiment with mint or basil alongside cilantro for different fresh herbal layers.

How to Make Vegan Curried Broccoli Chickpea Salad Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Veggies and Nuts

Start by very finely chopping the broccoli. I like to use a sharp knife or pulse it a few times in a food processor—but not too much, or it turns mushy! Finely shredded or grated carrots add natural sweetness and bright color, making the salad as pretty as it is tasty. Toast your sliced almonds in a dry skillet until golden and fragrant; this step brings out all their nutty flavor and crunch, which is essential here.

Step 2: Combine the Salad Ingredients

In a large bowl, toss together your chopped broccoli, chickpeas (drained and rinsed), shredded carrots, toasted almonds, dried cranberries, chopped green onions, and minced cilantro. Give it a gentle toss so everything starts to mingle while you make the dressing.

Step 3: Whip Up the Curried Tahini Dressing

Mix the tahini, fresh lemon juice, warm water (add little by little until the dressing is pourable), minced garlic, maple syrup, curry powder, grated ginger, turmeric, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl. Whisk vigorously until creamy and smooth. The warmth from the water helps loosen the sauce just right—don’t skip that trick!

Step 4: Dress and Toss

Pour your dressing over the salad and toss everything together so the flavors really meld. Sprinkle some extra toasted almonds on top and give the salad a few more gentle tosses to finish. At this point, you can serve it right away or let it chill in the fridge to deepen the flavors. It gets even better after a few hours!

How to Serve Vegan Curried Broccoli Chickpea Salad Recipe

Garnishes

I usually finish this salad with a few fresh cilantro leaves and an extra sprinkle of toasted almonds for crunch. Sometimes I like to add a squeeze of fresh lemon just before serving to brighten all the flavors. It gives that lovely fresh pop that makes each bite sing.

Side Dishes

This salad pairs wonderfully with warm naan bread or pita if you want something soft to scoop it up with. For a full meal, I love serving it alongside some fragrant basmati rice or quinoa to keep it wholesome and satisfying.

Creative Ways to Present

For parties, try serving this salad in individual mason jars layered with quinoa or rice at the bottom—it looks beautiful and makes for easy serving. Another fun idea I tried was stuffing it inside pita pockets for a handheld, curried chickpea wrap that’s a real crowd-pleaser!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and find the salad actually tastes better the next day as the dressing flavors deepen. Just give it a quick toss before serving to redistribute the dressing and crunch.

Freezing

I don’t recommend freezing this salad because the fresh broccoli and dressing don’t hold up well—texture and flavor can get compromised. If you want to freeze, try freezing the chickpeas separately and make fresh dressing and veggies when ready.

Reheating

This salad is best enjoyed cold or at room temperature, so I usually don’t reheat it. If you need a warm side, I suggest serving alongside warm grains or roasted veggies instead.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

I absolutely love how this Vegan Curried Broccoli Chickpea Salad Recipe turns out every time. It’s fresh, satisfying, and full of exciting flavors that never get boring. The best part? It’s simple enough to whip up on a busy weeknight but fancy enough to impress guests. Give it a try—you’ll find yourself making this one again and again, just like I do!

Print