Smashed Chickpea Avocado Pickle (Printable)

Creamy smashed chickpeas with avocado, dill pickles and lemon — ideal on toast, sandwiches or as a dip.

# What You Need:

→ Legumes & Vegetables

01 - 1 can (14 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 large ripe avocado
03 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
04 - 1–2 dill pickles, finely chopped

→ Condiments & Seasonings

05 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
06 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
07 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
08 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Place the drained chickpeas in a large mixing bowl. Using a fork or potato masher, press down firmly until the chickpeas are coarsely broken down but still retain some texture — avoid over-mashing into a puree.
02 - Halve the avocado, remove the pit, and scoop the flesh directly into the bowl with the chickpeas. Mash together until the mixture reaches a creamy yet chunky consistency.
03 - Add the finely diced red onion, chopped dill pickles, lemon juice, fresh cilantro or parsley, olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Stir thoroughly until evenly combined.
04 - Taste the mixture and adjust salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed. Serve immediately on toast, tucked into a sandwich, spooned over greens, or as a standalone dip.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in ten minutes flat with zero cooking, which means you can make it while your coffee is still brewing.
  • The creamy avocado and briny pickle combination is the kind of flavor pairing that makes people close their eyes when they take a bite.
02 -
  • Avocado browns fast once exposed to air, so press plastic wrap directly against the surface if you need to store it, and even then it is best within a day.
  • The chickpeas mash more easily when they are warm, so give the drained can a quick rinse under hot water if they feel too firm.
03 -
  • Save a tablespoon of pickle juice from the jar and drizzle it in at the end for a briny boost that ties everything together.
  • Mash the chickpeas first before adding avocado so you can control the final texture instead of ending up with something too smooth or too chunky.

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