To keep our version plant-based and gluten-free, we opted for chickpeas instead of chicken and candied pecans in place of cornbread, and we crafted a 5-minute smoky chipotle dressing to cut down on prep time. The result is an incredibly satisfying salad that strikes the perfect balance between smoky, spicy, savory, and sweet. Just 8 ingredients and 30 minutes required. Let’s do this! This recipe is inspired by both Mexican and Indian cuisines- two of our favorites! The dressing is Mexican-inspired, seasoned primarily with chipotle peppers in adobo (learn more about this ingredient in this post). While the chickpeas are coated in tandoori masala, which is an Indian seasoning blend comprised of spices like coriander, ginger, cardamom, and nutmeg (find a traditional recipe here). Making this salad starts with roasting the chickpeas with avocado oil, tandoori masala seasoning, and sea salt. You’ll want the chickpeas to be thoroughly coated in the spices — so don’t skimp out here! We really do mean 2 ½ – 3 tablespoons! To make this salad even simpler, you could also opt for store-bought crispy chickpeas. Then it’s time to prepare the candied pecans (or opt for store-bought in a pinch). These taste dangerously close to candy, friends! We like making a half batch, using 1 cup of pecans and omitting the walnuts. Then it’s time to make the dressing and assemble the salad! Here are the components:
Kale (massaged with lime juice and avocado oil) Tandoori roasted chickpeas Candied pecans Grape tomatoes 5-Minute Smoky Chipotle Dressing
You’ll have enough dressing to generously dress the salad, plus have extra! We hope you LOVE this salad. It’s:CrunchySavory-sweetSmokySpicySatisfying& So delicious! It’s perfect on its own as a lighter meal. Or for a heartier meal, it would be delicious with our 1-Pan Mexican Shredded Chicken (or tofu), Easy Green Chile Chicken Tamales, or Easy 1-Pot Black Bean Soup.
More Kale Salad Recipes
Easy Massaged Kale Salad Abundance Kale Salad 20-Minute Asian Kale Salad Chickpea Caesar Salad
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
