High-Protein Buffalo Chickpea Salad is delicious & creamy. It contains chickpeas, celery, scallions, ranch dressing, hot sauce, & crumbled blue cheese. These items are very simple, and we can easily find them in supermarkets. This Buffalo Chickpea Salad has blue cheese and ranch dressing in it, so they are not good for a dairy-free diet. We have to utilize vegan blue cheese & dairy-free ranch dressing for this purpose. It contains 12 g of protein & 250 kcal per serving. High-Protein Buffalo Chickpea Salad is stored nicely in the fridge, so it is not good for long-term storage. Serve this salad with roasted broccoli, whole-grain toast, and grilled chicken.
STATS:
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Serving size: ¾ cup
- Cook time: 0 minutes
- Cuisine: American-inspired
- Total time: 10 minutes
- Course: Lunch, Salad, Main Course
- Diet: Vegetarian, High-Protein
- Serving: 2 servings
EQUIPMENT:
- Medium mixing vessel
- Can opener
- Cutting board
- Colander
- Knife
- Mixing spoon
INGREDIENTS:
- ½ cup diced celery
- 2 tbsp. ranch salad dressing
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- ¼ cup scallion slices
- One can chickpeas — no-salt-added
- ¼ cup blue cheese crumbs
INGREDIENT NOTES:
RANCH SALAD DRESSING:
- It is added to include a creamy taste in this salad. We have to utilize our favorite ranch dressing for this purpose. We can also use the gluten-free dressing and check the label to ensure it is gluten-free if required.
HOT SAUCE:
- Utilize the hot sauce to include a spicy Buffalo flavor in this salad. We can utilize Frank’s Red Hot for this purpose. We have to adjust the quantity according to our preferred taste.
CHICKPEAS:
- These are the main components to prepare this dish. We have to utilize the canned chickpeas, then wash & strain them completely so the salad will not get watery.
BLUE CHEESE:
- It is added to include a tangy & salty taste in the salad. We have to utilize the blue cheese crumbs for this purpose. We can utilize feta cheese to add the mild taste if required.
INSTRUCTIONS:
- First open the pan, strain the chickpeas, and wash them and again strain to eradicate the water content.
- Include the ranch dressing and hot sauce in a medium mixing vessel and mix until they combine.
- Put the chickpeas, scallion slices, and celery in and mix to coat them properly.
- Now add the blue cheese crumbs on top and mix gently.
- Add the salad in two portions, put in the fridge, then serve.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS:
BREAD AND WRAPS:
- Whole-grain toast
- Whole-wheat pita bread
- Tortilla wraps
- Lettuce wraps
GRAINS:
- Brown rice
- Quinoa
- Whole-wheat couscous
VEGETABLE SIDES:
- Roasted broccoli
- Cucumber salad
- Steamed green beans
- Roasted zucchini
SOUPS:
- Tomato soup
- Vegetable soup
- Chicken vegetable soup
EXTRA TOPPINGS:
- Diced avocado
- Fresh parsley
- Extra scallions
- Crushed walnuts
TIPS:
- First, wash & strain the chickpeas properly, then add them to the salad or else it will dilute the dressing.
- Make the small slices of celery and add them just before mixing so it remains crisp.
- Include the extra chickpeas or chicken to add additional protein to the salad.
STORAGE INFORMATION:
FRIDGE:
- Add the salad in a closed box and store for three to four days.
FREEZER:
- Don’t freeze this salad, as the celery will not remain crisp in the same way and the ranch dressing will separate.
FAQs:
Is this salad good for a vegetarian diet?
- Yes, this salad is good for a vegetarian diet, as all the items are good for this diet.
How to make the dairy-free salad?
- Utilize the vegan ranch dressing & blue cheese to make the dairy-free salad.
Does this salad contain protein?
- Yes, this salad is enriched with protein as it has chickpeas & blue cheese and has 11 to 12g protein in one serving.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:
Calories: 250 kcal
Net carbs: 22 g
Iron: 2.5 mg
Total carbs: 31 g
Vitamin A: 100 µg RAE
Fiber: 8 g
Calcium: 150 mg
Protein: 11–12 g
Serving size: ¾ cup
Sodium: 400 mg
Serving: 2
Potassium: 350 mg
