Description
A delicious and nutritious twist on the classic Caesar salad, this Kale Caesar Pasta Salad combines tender kale, crispy smoked chickpeas, and a flavorful vegan Caesar dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or as a side dish for dinner.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Crispy Smoked Chickpeas:
- 1 can chickpeas (15 oz)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
Caesar Dressing (vegan-friendly):
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 4 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp tahini
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 tsp nutritional yeast
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 4 tbsp water
Salad:
- 8oz pasta, cooked according to package directions
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese (omit for vegan)
- 5 cups shredded kale
Instructions
- Crispy Smoked Chickpeas: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Drain and rinse the chickpeas. Remove excess water by rolling them in a paper towel. Discard loose skins. Mix chickpeas with olive oil, smoked paprika, and sea salt. Bake for 30-40 minutes.
- Caesar Dressing: Blend olive oil, lemon juice, tahini, mustard, garlic, nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, and water until smooth.
- Mix the Salad: Combine pasta, kale, chickpeas, parmesan cheese, and dressing in a bowl. Toss to mix. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Massage kale with olive oil for better flavor.
- Dry chickpeas thoroughly before roasting for crispiness.
- Salt pasta water for enhanced flavor.
- Cook pasta al dente for firm texture in salad.
- Add more cheese for extra flavor.
- Adjust dressing consistency with water or lemon juice.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
