Chickpea & Roasted Red Pepper Panini with Arugula

Chickpea & Roasted Red Pepper Panini with Arugula

Mia

This Mediterranean-inspired panini transforms humble chickpeas into a satisfying, protein-packed dinner that's both nourishing and delicious. The creamy mashed chickpeas blend beautifully with sweet roasted red peppers, creating a filling that's reminiscent of classic Mediterranean spreads but with heartier texture and substance. When pressed between slices of whole-grain bread with melted cheese, the filling becomes warm and creamy while the bread turns golden and crispy.

What makes this panini truly special is the addition of fresh, peppery arugula that adds a bright, slightly spicy contrast to the rich filling. The combination of textures—crispy bread, creamy chickpeas, tender peppers, and fresh greens—creates a sandwich that's far more interesting than the sum of its parts. A touch of garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil in the chickpea mixture brings authentic Mediterranean flavors to every bite.

This recipe embodies the principles of the Mediterranean Diet with its emphasis on plant-based proteins, whole grains, and abundant vegetables. It's quick enough for a busy weeknight yet impressive enough to serve to guests. The panini press creates that irresistible crispy exterior and warm, melty interior, though a heavy skillet works just as well. Best of all, this sandwich comes together in under 20 minutes, making it the perfect solution when you want something wholesome and satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen.

Nutrition

18 minutes
None servings
385 calories
Fat 16.00g
Carbs 44.00g
Protein 17.00g

Ingredients

1 cancanned chickpeas, 15 oz, drained and rinsed
1 cuproasted red peppers, jarred, drained and chopped
2 tbspextra virgin olive oil
1 tbsplemon juice, fresh
2 clovesgarlic, minced
1/2 tspground cumin
1/2 tspsalt
1/4 tspblack pepper, freshly ground
8 sliceswhole-grain bread
4 ozmozzarella cheese, sliced or shredded
2 cupsarugula, fresh
2 tbspolive oil, for brushing bread

Equipment

Mixing bowl
Cutting board
knife
measuring cups and spoons
pastry brush
large skillet
fork or potato masher
panini press

16:8 Diet

This nutrient-dense panini is ideal for the 16:8 eating window, providing sustained energy from whole grains, plant-based protein and fiber from chickpeas, healthy fats from olive oil, and abundant vegetables to help meet nutritional needs within the compressed timeframe.

80/20 Diet

This recipe fits the 80/20 approach with the majority of ingredients being nutrient-dense whole foods—chickpeas, roasted peppers, whole grain bread, arugula, and olive oil—while allowing for the small indulgence of melted cheese, creating a balanced and satisfying meal.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

This panini supports anti-inflammatory eating with extra virgin olive oil, chickpeas rich in fiber and plant protein, colorful vegetables like roasted red peppers, anti-inflammatory spices including garlic and cumin, and whole grains while avoiding processed ingredients and refined carbohydrates.

Clean Eating

This panini exemplifies clean eating with whole, minimally processed ingredients including canned chickpeas (a pantry staple), fresh vegetables, whole grain bread, extra virgin olive oil, and simple seasonings—avoiding refined sugars, artificial ingredients, and heavily processed foods.

Diabetic Diet

This panini supports diabetic dietary needs with low-glycemic chickpeas providing plant-based protein and fiber to stabilize blood sugar, whole grain bread for complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats from olive oil, while avoiding refined sugars and processed ingredients.

Flexitarian Diet

This recipe exemplifies flexitarian eating with its plant-forward approach, featuring chickpeas as the main protein source alongside whole grains and abundant vegetables, with only a small amount of cheese as an optional animal product.

Gluten-Free Diet

This recipe is easily made gluten-free by substituting certified gluten-free bread for the whole-grain bread, while all other ingredients—chickpeas, roasted red peppers, olive oil, mozzarella, and arugula—are naturally gluten-free.

Heart-Healthy Diet

This heart-healthy panini features cholesterol-free chickpeas, extra virgin olive oil rich in monounsaturated fats, whole grains, and abundant vegetables while being naturally low in saturated fat and sodium, supporting cardiovascular health.

High-Fiber Diet

This panini is excellent for high-fiber diets, delivering substantial fiber from chickpeas (one of the highest-fiber legumes), whole grain bread, roasted red peppers, and fresh arugula, supporting digestive health and promoting satiety.

Intermittent Fasting

This nutrient-dense panini is ideal for intermittent fasting eating windows, providing sustained energy from whole grains, plant-based protein from chickpeas, healthy fats from olive oil, and fiber-rich vegetables to help maintain satiety throughout fasting periods.

Intuitive Eating

This satisfying panini honors intuitive eating principles by combining nourishing whole foods that provide both pleasure and nutrition—creamy chickpeas, melty cheese, crispy bread, and fresh greens—creating a balanced, enjoyable meal without restriction or food rules.

Mediterranean Diet

This panini perfectly embodies Mediterranean Diet principles with its emphasis on plant-based proteins from chickpeas, extra virgin olive oil, whole grains, and abundant vegetables. The recipe uses legumes as the primary protein source, incorporates fresh vegetables and greens, and relies on olive oil and herbs for flavoring rather than excessive salt or saturated fats.

Mindful Eating

This panini is perfect for mindful eating with its variety of textures (crispy bread, creamy filling, fresh greens), colors (golden bread, red peppers, green arugula), and flavors (savory chickpeas, tangy lemon, peppery arugula) that engage multiple senses and encourage slow, conscious consumption.

Plant-Based Diet

This panini is fully plant-based when made with dairy-free cheese or by omitting the mozzarella, featuring chickpeas as the protein-rich foundation along with roasted red peppers, arugula, whole grain bread, and olive oil—all nutrient-dense plant ingredients.

Vegetarian Diet

This vegetarian-friendly panini provides complete nutrition with plant-based protein from chickpeas, whole grains from the bread, and dairy from mozzarella cheese, while featuring abundant vegetables and healthy fats from olive oil.

Weight Watchers

This recipe aligns with Weight Watchers principles by prioritizing plant-based protein from chickpeas, whole grain bread, and plenty of vegetables while using minimal added fats and avoiding processed ingredients, creating a satisfying yet nutritionally balanced meal.

Instructions

1

Add the drained and rinsed chickpeas to a medium mixing bowl. Using a fork or potato masher, mash the chickpeas until mostly smooth with some chunks remaining for texture.

2 min
2

Add the chopped roasted red peppers, 2 tablespoons olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, cumin, salt, and black pepper to the mashed chickpeas. Stir well to combine all ingredients into a cohesive mixture.

1 min
3

Preheat your panini press to medium-high heat. If using a skillet method, preheat a large skillet over medium heat.

3 min
4

Lay out 4 slices of whole-grain bread on a clean work surface. Divide the chickpea mixture evenly among the 4 slices, spreading it to the edges.

1 min
5

Top each slice with equal amounts of mozzarella cheese, distributing it evenly over the chickpea mixture.

6

Place about 1/2 cup of fresh arugula on top of the cheese on each sandwich.

7

Top each sandwich with the remaining 4 slices of bread. Brush the outside of each sandwich (both top and bottom) lightly with olive oil.

1 min
8
5 min

Place the sandwiches in the preheated panini press and close the lid. Cook for 4-5 minutes until the bread is golden brown and crispy, the cheese is melted, and grill marks appear. If using a skillet, place sandwiches in the pan and press down with a heavy pan or spatula, cooking for 3-4 minutes per side.

9

Remove the paninis from the press or skillet and let rest for 1 minute. Cut each sandwich in half diagonally and serve immediately while hot and crispy.

1 min

Frequently Asked Questions