Recipe: Avocado Ranch Salad with Crunchy Chickpeas
This flavorful salad is loaded with fresh veggies and crunchy roasted chickpeas and is tossed in a creamy, low-fat avocado ranch dressing. It may be a salad, but it’s packed full with protein and healthy fats and is such a filling, satisfying meal!
Crunchy, oven-roasted chickpeas are (1) great for snacking and (2) a healthier alternative to croutons on a salad. And the dressing is so, so simple—a bit of avocado and yogurt, a bit of milk and ranch dressing seasoning, a touch of lemon juice, vinegar and garlic and you’re in business. Omit the milk and you’ll have a thick dip that’s perfect for sweet potato fries or oven-roasted green beans. This is a salad you’ll come back to again and again!
INGREDIENTS
1 large avocado
1/4 c. plain non-fat Greek yogurt
2 t. lemon juice
3 cloves garlic
2 t. white wine vinegar
1 T. ranch dressing seasoning
1/2 c. milk
Salt & pepper, to taste
Butter lettuce
1 can chickpeas, drained
1 T. olive oil
1 t. smoked paprika
1/2 t. garlic powder
1/4 t. salt
1/8 t. ground cumin
1/8 t. cayenne
1/8 t. onion powder
Shredded carrots
Diced red onion
Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Cooked quinoa
STEPS
1) Combine the avocado, yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, white wine vinegar, ranch dressing seasoning and milk in a food processor and purée until smooth. Season with salt and pepper and mix well.
2) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Add the drained chickpeas to a large plastic bag with the olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, cumin, cayenne and onion powder. Shake well to coat. Transfer to a baking sheet and cook for about 25 minutes or until crunchy.
3) Place the lettuce onto a plate and top with the carrots, red onions, cheese, quinoa and chickpeas. Drizzle with the avocado ranch dressing.