Chickpea Sandwich

In US, everything is organized and put in proper order. You just need to look out and starting from road directions to grocery stores, banks, market place everything is well-directed and arrayed in designated places. You will not see grocery stores lined up in and around housing complexes as are common in India. Proper positioning of items in designated areas definitely is a good idea, but at times while cooking something if you remember of an ingredient for immediate use; you won't get the thing available within walking distance right in your neighborhood. You need to take your car out and drive few miles to avail the ingredient. This makes things like grocery shopping hasslesome for people like me who don't function with organization and only remember things at the last moment. Another drawback for things being arranged in specific order of places is nothing being within walking distance, the tiny bit of agility we acquire by walking down few blocks while heading to a grocery store is out of option here. Life becomes very sedentary and dependent on driving. As life becomes sedentary, a lot of uncalled for health issues crop up. No doubt why obesity is a big problem here because unless you are conscious of what you eat and stir your body into a routine exercise, chances of putting on weight even maintaining a normal diet is high.

 

I have become extra cautious about my diet after coming over here. Whatever you eat seems to cling on to your body unless you visit gym regularly but for many working people, heading to the gym every day is not a viable option always.

Anyway, sandwich is considered to be healthier than many deep fried items and now that I have become a tad conscious about what I put into my mouth, I have taken a fondness for sandwiches. So here goes an awesome chickpea sandwich for you.

 

Ingredients:                                                Preparation time: 15-20 minutes

ü  1 heaped cup of boiled chickpeas

ü  8 slices of wheat bread

ü  4 roman lettuce or plain lettuce leaves (blanched)

ü  1 tomato (sliced)

ü  2 tbsp mayonnaise

ü  1 avocado (ripe and mashed)

ü  1 tbsp lemon juice

ü  Black pepper

ü  Salt to taste

ü  Grated mozzarella cheese, craving wise

Method:

1) Roast the bread slices on a hot skillet on both sides till the bread turns a tad crisp in texture.

2) Meanwhile, using a masher mash the chickpeas roughly, add avocado, lemon juice and mayonnaise followed by a pinch of salt and black pepper. Combine them well. (Be a bit careful of the amount of salt as mayonnaise is already salty.)

3) Now arrange blanched roman lettuce on one bread slice with chickpea filling, tomato slices and a sprinkling of grated cheese arranged on top of each other. Finally close the sandwich with another bread slice.

4) If you want, you may put the sandwich open in microwave for 1 minute allowing the cheese to melt a bit before serving.

5) Serve and enjoy.