Description
A quick and easy meatless sandwich featuring a chickpea-based vegetarian tuna spread with melted cheese, perfect for a comforting and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise (or vegan mayo for vegan version)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 stalks celery, finely diced
- 2 tablespoons red onion, finely diced
- 1 tablespoon capers, chopped
- 1 teaspoon seaweed flakes or dulse powder (or splash of soy sauce)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 4 slices cheese (sharp cheddar, Swiss, or favorite melting cheese; vegan cheese optional)
- 4 slices bread (thick-cut sourdough or whole wheat; gluten-free bread optional)
- Butter or olive oil, for spreading
Instructions
- Place the drained chickpeas in a mixing bowl. Mash with a fork or potato masher until mostly mashed but still a bit chunky (about 3-5 minutes).
- Stir in mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, diced celery, red onion, capers, and seaweed flakes. Mix well to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste (2-3 minutes).
- Butter one side of each bread slice lightly (1-2 minutes).
- Spread a generous amount of the chickpea mixture on the unbuttered side of two bread slices. Top each with a slice of cheese, then place the remaining bread slices on top, buttered side up.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Place sandwiches in the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, pressing gently with a spatula to help cheese melt and bread crisp up (total 6-8 minutes).
- Remove from skillet, let sit for a minute, then slice in half and serve warm.
Notes
Do not over-mash chickpeas to keep texture. Use seaweed flakes for authentic ‘tuna’ flavor or substitute with soy sauce. Butter the outside of bread for a golden crust. If cheese isn’t melting before bread browns, lower heat and cover pan briefly. Vegan and gluten-free substitutions available.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Half a sandwich
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Protein: 15
Keywords: vegetarian tuna melt, chickpea sandwich, meatless meal, vegetarian sandwich, easy vegetarian recipe, cheesy sandwich, quick lunch, meatless dinner