Recipe
Smashed Chickpea Sandwich Recipe From Recess
27 June, 2025
On our sandwich, we add sun-dried tomatoes for a bit of sweetness, along with peppery rocket and some crispy shallots for crunch. Despite how simple it is, there’s a lot going on flavour-wise in the mix, so we like to keep everything else around it pretty minimal. It’s a nice, versatile staple that you can make your own with whatever you’ve got lying around.
Smashed Chickpea Sandwich
To make this vegan simply use vegan mayo instead.
Ingredients
01.
400g tin of chickpeas (250g drained/1 1/2 cups)
02.
2tbs Mayo (30g)
03.
1tbs Dijon mustard (15g)
04.
50g celery
05.
1tbs dill, finely chopped
06.
1tbs chives
07.
1tsp garlic powder
08.
1/2 tbs lemon juice
Optional Extra Toppings
01.
Sundried tomatoes
02.
Rocket
03.
Crispy shallots
Method
01.
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
02.
Gently mash the mixture either with your hands or with a masher, you'll want to leave some chickpeas whole for a bit of texture.
03.
Spoon mixture onto your favourite bread and enjoy.
Tips & Variations
- The celery is optional, but it adds a fresh crunch without overpowering the flavour.
- I like the dill and chive combo, but honestly, any soft herbs you've got on hand will do the job.
- If you don't have garlic powder, a tiny bit of finely grated fresh garlic works too - just add a little at a time and taste as you go. A little goes a long way!
A Chat With Clark & Paddy
You hit a nostalgic cord with not only the name but also the food at Recess (including the packets of Samboys chips, killer pythons and tazos), what inspired you to open Recess and create this vibe?
We wanted to bring back the simple times - when lunch was a sandwich and a killer python from the tuckshop. Recess is built on that spirit: classic, tried-and-tested combos with a little twist. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, and the shop reflects that.
You didn’t come from a hospitality background, what were you doing before? Did any of you have a background in food?
Aside from the usual uni stints in pubs and cafés, hospitality was new territory. Paddy came from a recipe development background, Clark was in logistics and supply chain, and Matt had a background in procurement. Between the three of us, we had enough overlap - and just enough naivety - to give it a real crack.
What are the biggest lessons you have learnt since opening?
Becoming a fully-fledged tradie just to get the shop open was a shock to the system. Beyond that, we've learned that momentum matters more than perfection - and that small wins stack up.
What do you love most about what you do?
Creating Recess from scratch and watching it grow over the past year has been an incredible experience. The response from the local community has meant a lot - we’ve met so many great people just by showing up each day.
No rules, describe your ultimate sandwich filling?
Post lunch-rush is usually when the experimentation begins. Lately we’ve been getting around a toastie we’ve nicknamed the Triple C - chilli, chicken, cheese. Maybe a few Jalapenos if we're feeling spicy. It's now earned a permanent spot on the secret menu (iykyk).
What is the most popular sandwich?
The Chicken Avo has been our go-to crowd-pleaser since day one - but as winter’s kicked in, the Pesto Chook toastie is gaining ground fast.
Do you get any weird requests and if so what is the weirdest?
We posted a killer python toastie as an April Fools gag - which a couple of people actually tried to order. Turns out melted killer pythons are basically lava, so we decided against this one.
What are you doing when you are not slinging sandwiches and lunch for the people of Surry Hills?
The sandwich world is pretty all-consuming - so these days, a good weekend usually involves a sleep-in. There are so many fantastic bars & restaurants in the area, so that's where you'll spot us after hours.
Can you tell us a bit about the recipe you did for us and what do you love most about it?
Most of our recipes are built around twists on familiar classics - but I really love this one because it breaks that mould a bit and gave us room to get creative.
Vegan options can often feel like an afterthought, like a salad or a roast veg sandwich thrown together to plug a hole. We wanted something that felt a bit more satisfying and complete, like you've had a proper meal. A bonus was to have a vegan sandwich that even the staunchest meat eater wouldn’t turn their nose up at.
This hits all the same notes you’d expect from a good chicken or tuna sandwich mix - creamy, punchy, full of texture - but it’s built around a humble tin of chickpeas.
What I love most is that it actually came from my pre-Recess days as a bit of a 'fridge and pantry clear out' lunch when working from home. With a tin of chickpeas, some condiments and seasoning, you can take it in any direction you like and make it your own. It’s simple, flexible, and has a bit of that fuss-free vibe that we try to bring to everything we do. It goes hard in a sandwich, works great as the protein on a salad, and our vegan staff even use the mix to make their own plant-based take on a tuna melt!
Be sure to visit Recess and grab yourself a tasty treat.
1/389 Bourke Street, Darlinghurst,
Sydney, Australia, 2010
Mon-Fri
7am - 4pm
Saturday
8am - 3pm