Compliant Caesar Salad

By Cathy Fisher of StraightUpFood.com

I like this recipe when I want a fattening Caesar salad without the fat and salt.  The bell pepper adds some additional color and flavor. You can top the salad with nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavour. And air-fried potato cubes or roasted chickpeas add a change in texture.  I have adjusted this recipe to be oil and fat free.

You can buy pre-washed romaine lettuce in packages of three.  The dressing makes enough to dress three salads.  And one can of chickpeas can be divided into three parts as well. I eat this giant salad over three consecutive days.

Ingredients for Salad (1 serving)

• 1 large head romaine lettuce, coarsely chopped*
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

Ingredients for the Dressing (3 servings)

• ½ cup filtered water
• 1 can cooked white beans (navy or cannellini) Or 2 cups steamed cauliflower
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 Tbs. Dijon mustard
• 1 Tbs. raisins or 1 date, chopped
• 1 medium clove garlic, chopped
• 1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning

Method

1. Place the lettuce and bell pepper into a large bowl. 
2. Put all dressing ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
3. Pour one third of the dressing over the salad and mix well.
4. Sprinkle with nutritional yeast. (optional)
5. Add Compliant Caesar Chickpeas. (Optional: recipe below)
6. Add freshly ground pepper to taste.

*Note:  Using a plastic knife to cut the Romaine stops it from going brown.  Or hand ripping the lettuce also can reduce oxidation.  If you will be eating this salad over several days, prepare you lettuce this way, but store it separate from the dressing until you are ready to serve.
 
Go here to print this recipe:  compliant_caesar_salad.docx

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COMPLIANT CAESAR CHICKPEAS

These are a great addition to your salad.  They add extra protein and are tasty on their own.  Use them on your salad or make this recipe for people that love snacking on nuts.  It's a healthy low-calorie alternative.
 
Ingredients

• 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 ½ Tbs. nutritional yeast
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• Optional:  sprinkling of Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb seasoning

Method

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. Rinse and drain chickpeas.  Drain very well to get them as dry as possible.
3. In a small bowl, combine the nutritional yeast, garlic powder and Italian seasoning until evenly mixed.
4. In a medium bowl, add well-drained chickpeas and spice mixture. Stir to coat the chickpeas.
5. Transfer the chickpeas to the baking sheet.  Optional sprinkle with Mrs. Dash.
6. Put the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 15 minutes.  Then turn the chickpeas and return to the oven for an additional 15 minutes. 
7. Check the chickpeas after 30 minutes in the oven to see if they are the color and consistency you like.  If not, return for an additional 15 minutes.
8. After baking, remove the cookie sheet from the oven and let the chickpeas cool completely.

When they are completely cool, store them in an airtight container at room temperature so they don’t get soggy.

Go here to print this recipe:  compliant_caesar_chickpeas.docx