NEW RECIPE: Blackened Ranch Pasta Salad. Recipe by @kaizenfoodco
If you want a healthy twist on favorite Ranch style pasta salad loaded with protein, this one's for you. Recipe and pic by @kaizenfoodco (Thanks Arash and team!)
Ingredients for the Salad:
- 1 box (8 ounces) Kaizen Lumache pasta
- 1 cup halved cherry or grape tomatoes
- ½ red onion, finely diced
- 1 red, orange or yellow bell pepper, diced
- ½ large English cucumber, diced
- 4-5 cooked strips of bacon, chopped (optional)
- 2 large grilled chicken breasts, sliced or chopped (or 1-½ cups pre-cooked shredded chicken like rotisserie)
- 1 bunch fresh chives, chopped
- 1 avocado, sliced into thick wedges
Ingredients for the Blackened Ranch:
- ½ cup plain yogurt or plain Greek yogurt
- ⅓ cup avocado oil mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons dried dill
- 1 tablespoon dried chives
- 1-½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- ¾ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼-½ teaspoon ground cayenne (optional)
- Fine sea salt, to taste
DIRECTIONS:
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the Kaizen Lumache and cook for 4-5 minutes. Pour the pasta into a colander to drain the water, then run the hot pasta under cold tap water for a couple of minutes to cool. Transfer the pasta to a bowl and place in the refrigerator to cool the pasta completely while you prepare the salad.
- Make the blackened ranch: In a small bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and 1 tablespoon of almond milk. Whisk until smooth and add 1 more tablespoon of almond milk to thin, if desired. Stir in all of the spices and dried herbs, then taste and add salt as needed. Set aside.
- Assemble the pasta salad: Add the tomatoes, onion, bell pepper/capsicum, cucumber and bacon to a large bowl and toss with a couple of spoonfuls of the ranch dressing. Pour in the chilled pasta, then gently toss with more ranch. Add the chicken, and chives, and toss gently. Assemble with the avocado slices on top.