Kale + Smoked Chickpea Salad

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If you are looking for a salad that packs in protein without the meat, this is it!  This salad has 21 grams of protein, not to mention healthy fats and fiber to help balance out the blood sugar.  I love to use this salad in the cooler months, since the flavors feel very “Fall” to me, but feel free to eat it year round if you love it.  In our household, my husband and I have tried to implement meatless mains a few times weekly to give our gut a bit of a break, and to be sure we are feeding out microbiome with lots of colors and fiber.  This is so important to keep your gut healthy and happy, so it can operate at it’s best.  So let’s get to it!

Kale + Smoked Chickpea Salad 

CRISPY CHICKPEAS

• 2 T avocado oil
• 1/2 cup cooked or canned chickpeas, rinsed and patted dry
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (so good!)
• Pink Himalayan salt and fresh ground black pepper

GARLICKY NUT CRUMBLES

• 1 GARLIC CLOVE
• 1 T extra virgin olive oil
• 2 T raw cashew nuts
• 2 T hemp hearts
• Pink Himalayan salt

SALAD + DRESSING

• 2 T vegan mayo (I like Primal Kitchen Avocado Mayo)
• 1 T freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 cups chopped stemmed kale
• 1/2 cup chopped radicchio

Let’s get cooking!

1. For the chickpeas, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Sprinkle the chickpeas with the paprika, and toss in the pan to sauté for 3-5 minutes.  Transfer beans to a paper towel lined plate to cool.  Season with the salt and pepper.
2. For the garlicky nut crumbles, use a food processor to pulse the garlic clove, olive oil, and cashew nuts.  This will form a chunky paste, definitely not a smooth consistency.  Add the hemp hearts and pinch of salt and hand mix until incorporated well.
3. To put it all together, whisk the mayo, lemon juice, mustard, and garlic powder in a large bowl until smooth.  Add in the kale + radicchio, mix with the dressing.  Add in the chickpeas + nut crumbles, and toss again.

This recipe comes from one of my favorite cookbooks, Body Love Every Day, written by Kelly LeVeque.  If you don’t already own this book, it is packed with easy to follow (and prepare) recipes that help you feel energized and help balance your blood sugar.  As always, feel free to tweak your recipe by adding in additional veggies, like beets, broccoli, or even nut based cheese.  Enjoy!!