Kale Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe
This Kale Caesar Pasta Salad is a vibrant, flavorful dish combining hearty pasta, crispy seasoned chickpeas, and a creamy, tangy dairy-free Caesar dressing made from tahini and nutritional yeast. It’s a wholesome vegan salad perfect as a light lunch or side dish, featuring smoky paprika chickpeas for crunch and kale for a nutrient boost.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Scale
Chickpeas and Seasoning
- 1 can chickpeas (15 oz), drained and rinsed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
Dressing
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 4 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp tahini
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tsp nutritional yeast
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 4 tbsp water
Pasta and Greens
- 8 oz pasta (Fusilli Bucati Corti recommended), cooked according to package directions
- Fresh kale, chopped (quantity not specified, suggest 3 cups chopped)
Instructions
- Prepare Chickpeas: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss chickpeas with 1 tbsp olive oil, smoked paprika, and sea salt. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 20-25 minutes until crispy, shaking the pan halfway through.
- Cook Pasta: Boil pasta in salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse briefly under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta.
- Make the Dressing: In a blender or bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, tahini, Dijon mustard, garlic, nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, and water. Blend or whisk until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble Salad: In a large bowl, toss cooked pasta with chopped kale and the prepared dressing until everything is evenly coated.
- Add Chickpeas: Sprinkle the crispy roasted chickpeas over the salad and gently toss once more before serving.
Notes
- If you don’t have nutritional yeast, you can substitute with a little grated vegan Parmesan or omit it, but it adds a cheesy flavor.
- For extra flavor, massage the kale with a small amount of salt and lemon juice before tossing with pasta to soften it.
- This salad can be served cold or at room temperature.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days; add chickpeas just before serving to maintain crispiness.
Keywords: kale pasta salad, vegan pasta salad, chickpea salad, tahini dressing, kale caesar salad, healthy pasta salad
Find it online: https://bitesizedbenny.com/kale-caesar-pasta-salad-recipe/
