This caesar salad, made with tender spring mix and hearty kale, is full of flavor and spice! A perfect starter to any meal.
Welcome to #TripleSBites! For the next week, I’ll be sharing some fun, romantic recipes. Now, my definition of romantic might be a little nontraditional, but my husband LOVED every recipe I’m sharing so that works for me. 🙂 For more details about this week, and to enter the giveaway, go here now!
To start things off, I thought I’d share a salad. Salads have a reputation of being a boring way to eat veggies, especially if they are just a side salad. They don’t have to be boring though! I think it’s all in the toppings and dressing! To set the stage for this caesar salad, I made a fresh dressing that is just out of this world… just lemon juice, dijon mustard, garlic, olive oil, and some seasoning. Simple and fresh, just how I like it. [The recipe is from Melissa D’Arabian’s new cookbook so you know it has to be good!!] After tossing the dressing with my greens of choice [this time, spring mix and kale], I added the star of the show: fried chickpeas. [And gigantic shreds of parmesan cheese. Ben was in charge of that, haha. :)]
Now, for these fried chickpeas I used one of our sponsor products: Acala Farms Chili Cumin Oil. This oil is awesome! It’s an infused cottonseed oil and is slightly spicy, so it gives a great flavor to those chickpeas as you fry them up in a skillet. I also seasoned them with dried parsley so they’d look a little prettier and to cut that spice a bit. Acala Farms also sent me a Cilantro Oil to try and I can’t wait to play around with that! If you don’t have time to fry up some chickpeas as a salad topper, did you know that you can buy crispy chickpeas that are kinda sorta the same thing?!? Another #TripleSBites sponsor is 2 Armadillos [what a fun name, btw!] and they make all sorts of flavored crispy chickpeas: rosemary, spicy cayenne, tomato basil, and cinnamon toast. So far, rosemary is my fave but I haven’t tried cinnamon toast yet so we will see! They’re perfect for a snack or to put on salad. I’m wondering about trying to bake with them too… as a crust or in granola or something?! Hmmmm… Since the package arrived the other night I just want to snack on them all. the. time! Who would’ve guessed chickpeas would be so tasty?! I truly loved the oil and the chickpeas, and don’t want my blog to read like an ad but simply must say… you need to try these products! I love buying from small businesses and really appreciate how the internet has made purchasing from smaller companies SO much easier. Hope you check them out! 2 Armadillos is on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Acala Farms can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Thanks to these great sponsors!
Well, that’s all I have today but be sure to come back later this week for more #TripleSBites recipes, and check out the linkup below for more recipes from other #TripleSBites gals! Happy Monday!
one year ago: Chili Relleno Casserole
two years ago: Baked Jalapeno Popper Ranch Dip
three years ago: Fried Eggs on Pesto-Parmesan Toast
four years ago: Mini Meatloaf
Caesar Salad with Fried Chickpeas
dressing recipe from Supermarket Healthy by Melissa D’Arabian
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon Acala Farms Chili Cumin Oil
- 15 ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained and patted dry
- 1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes
- 4 cups lettuce, kale, or spinach [I used half spring mix and half kale]
- shaved parmesan
for dressing
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
- pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Directions:
In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat. When hot, add chickpeas [make sure they are dry!]. Season with parsley and fry for 10-12 minutes, tossing occasionally and allowing all sides to get browned.
Meanwhile, prepare dressing. Whisk together lemon juice, dijon, and garlic. While whisking, pour in 1 tablespoon oil. Season with red pepper, salt, and black pepper. Add extra oil and/or water to thin as necessary.
Toss dressing with lettuce. Serve with shaved parmesan and fried chickpeas.
Check out these other yummy #TripleSBites recipes!
Disclosure: I received some infused cottonseed oil from Acala Farms and some chickpea samples from 2 Armadillos as part of my participation in #TripleSBites. I was not compensated in any way–for my time, to create a recipe, or to publish positive comments. I was not required to use these products as part of my recipe. My opinions are my own.
What a great take on Caesar Salad. Thanks for sharing.
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thanks wendy!
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I love the fried chickpeas instead of croutons! I did the same thing.
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they’re so yummy! 🙂
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What a fun idea to fry chickpeas in the Acala oil. Great looking salad!
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thank you, sarah!
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J and I always say you have to order Caesar salad as a couple so that you’ll still kiss the one with garlic breath when you go home. This looks lovely! Crispy chickpeas are delicious!
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hahaha makes sense! 🙂 we are both garlic-a-holics around here 🙂
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Cumin in crack to me. Honestly. I love the smell, the taste, everything about it. The hubs, not so much. If I could wear cumin scented perfume, I would. I just love it which means I LOVE your chick peas! YUM!
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thanks, christie! i go through SO much cumin it’s ridiculous. 🙂
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I am always up for a good Caesar, especially if it is a little healthified! This sounds great!
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thank you, joanne! 🙂
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I love that you used chickpeas! What a great idea!
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thanks, ashley! it was so good!
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I love a good ceasar salad but I bet those chickpeas take this over the top! Looks wonderful!
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thank you, ashley! i’ve gotten a little obsessed with chickpeas these past few weeks, haha 🙂
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Caesar salad is one of my favoites. Never tried fried chickpeas before!
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i also like to bake chickpeas to make them crispy! mm! they are a great snack.
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What a great idea to add fried chickpeas. I love the addition of a little crunch in a salad! Yum, Hugs, Terra
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thank you, terra!
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What a fun idea to add fried chickpeas. Love the idea of adding the crunch to a delicious Caesar salad! Perfect lunch option! Yum, Hugs, Terra
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I love chickpeas. Fried and topping a salad—Yes, please!
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thanks! 🙂
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YUM! I adore salads! This looks like another to add to the list!
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thanks, amy! a good salad is my fave 🙂 🙂
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