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This Basil Pesto Carrot Chickpea Protein Pasta Salad is a cold, vegetarian, salad recipe that has shredded carrot, basil pesto, chopped celery, chickpeas, and protein Penne pasta.
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Basil Pesto Carrot Chickpea Protein Pasta Salad
Hi Everyone, I've been trying to share more of what I really make for dinner and meals here on the blog these past few years. This vegetarian, protein pasta salad is exactly the kind of thing that I would make in warmer weather or just year round as a meal prep option to have during the week for quick meal.
It uses my Basil Pesto recipe with fresh basil from my garden but you can use any other pesto recipe or even store bought if you don't feel like making a pesto from scratch (although it's super easy!).
If you don't have chickpeas, you can use any other can of beans, just make sure they are drained and rinsed.
For the protein pasta, our family has been using the Barilla brand with success for a year or so. It tastes more like normal pasta and other alternative pastas we have tried. (This is not a sponsored post for Barilla, we just like it and use it a lot with our home cooking).
For meal prep, if we have a huge bag of carrots, I use a food processor to shred them and then integrate the shredded carrot into recipes throughout the week as a way to get more veggies into the food we eat.
If you keep cans of chickpeas (or beans would work too), around in your pantry like we do, it's so easy to just open up the can, drain it and utilize it in this salad.
The rice vinegar (or your favorite light tasting vingegar) in this recipe is optional, you will probably get enough flavor from the Basil Pesto and Mayonnaise but if you feel that it needs extra tang, then by all means add some in to get the right balance of flavors.
If you try this Basil Pesto Carrot Chickpea Protein Pasta Salad recipe and like it, please give it a rating in the recipe card below and let us know in the comments.
This Basil Pesto Carrot Chickpea Protein Pasta Salad is a cold, vegetarian, salad recipe has shredded carrot, basil pesto, chopped celery, chickpeas and protein Penne pasta.
fresh chopped basil, optional, amount to taste, for serving
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, add the chilled pasta, chickpeas, basil pesto, shredded carrot, chopped celery, optional sliced onion, mayonnaise and optional rice vinegar toss together. Season with Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper, add any additional ingredients to adjust to your tastes and add optional fresh basil for serving. Enjoy!
Notes
*the rice vinegar or other mild, light vinegar is optional but it does add a little more flavor and tang, if you feel that it needs more flavor
Life’s Little Sweets is a seasonal cooking and local food blog featuring farm-to-table recipes, CSA inspiration, and creative ways to enjoy what’s fresh and in season.
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