Quick & Easy Banza Chickpea Pasta Salad
This weekend I spent my Friday night doing what you do best during #SummerTimeChi – rooftop BBQ-ing! It was my best friend Kylee’s birthday, so I wanted to put together something that I knew she would love (hint – it includes a healthy pasta swap – chickpea pasta!) Honestly, one of my absolute favorite parts about summer is grilling with the people I love, sipping on wine and diving into the delish dishes while enjoying the beautiful weather. I’m meant to be outside in the warmth ALWAYS! 🙂
An ideal BBQ for me includes TONS of grilled veggies, chicken skewers with grilled pineapple and of course a watermelon for dessert – nature’s candy. When my friends and I were chatting about the menu for Kylee’s BBQ, we knew she would LOVE a pasta salad, but I knew i could come up with some way to make this #PurelyPope approved ;)! Enter – Banza’s Chickpea Pasta, one of the best swaps for traditional pastas in my book.
Healthy Swaps Made Easy!
I know I say this all of the time, but living a healthy lifestyle does NOT have to be restrictive. There are so many useful resources out there to educate yourself on how to make simple, easy and healthy swaps so that you still enjoy the traditional items you’re accustomed to, but in a way that serves your body and makes you feel good too.
Personally, my go-to pastas are Banza’s Chickpea Pasta, Trader Joe’s Lentil Pasta (literally ONE ingredient – lentils) or Palmini Pasta (made from hearts of palm.)
Diving Into the Chickpea Craze…
Banza’s chickpea pasta kills it when it comes to the nutrition facts. It packs 25 grams of protein per serving, has 13 grams of fiber and 43 grams net carbs. Chickpeas are also packed full of healthy fats and help maintain blood sugar levels.
For some more info on ALLLL the benefits that Chickpeas pack, check out this article by Mind Body Green: “The Surprising Superfood No One Talks About: A Cardiologist Explains.”
Quick & Easy Banza Chickpea Pasta Salad
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Ingredients
- Banza® Chickpea Pasta Rotini Pasta, 1 8oz Box
- Quartered Artichoke Hearts, 1 Can
- Cherry Tomatoes, 1/2 Package, Diced
- Banana Peppers, 1 9 oz. Jar, Drained
- Cucumber, 1 Medium, Diced
- Low Fat Feta Cheese Crumbles, 1/2 Cup
- Good Seasons Italian Seasoning, 1 Packet
- Crushed Red Pepper, 2 Tsp
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 1 Tbsp
Instructions
Powered Up Pasta Salad Coming at Ya!
- Grab a saucepan and some water, bring the water to a boil.
- Pour in your Banza Pasta, stirring periodically, boil for about 8 minutes.
- Drain pasta and immediately mix in a large bowl with the olive oil (prevents from sticking together.)
- While the pasta cools, dice your veggies up and drain the artichokes and banana peppers.
- Once the pasta is cooled, you can mix everything together, and then add your Italian Seasoning and Crushed Red Pepper.
- Finally, pop in the refrigerator and let everything marinate for a a few hours for the best flavor!
