BBQ Chickpea Salad with Vegan Ranch Dressing

This recipe is a great meat-free alternative to a bbq chicken salad. Chickpeas (garbanzo beans) have about 14.4 grams of protein in one cup. They are low in fat and high in fiber! They also have a good source of iron, calcium, and other nutrients that can all contribute to healthy bone structure and strength. Pair that with a nice green salad and you have an awesome healthy meal ready to go!
Sometimes salads can be boring and most of the time restaurants only know how to do one or two boring salads, you know the ones I'm talking about....Large chunks of lettuce with stems that get all over your face when you try to eat them and the regular tomato, cumber, carrot sticks with an olive oil and basic dressing..ick!    No wonder so many people turn their noses up at the thought of eating a salad. I don't want to eat a boring salad either, that is why I am giving you this recipe. It's not boring at all and you will actually want to eat it! You can add to it whatever else you like, be creative but remember to keep it as healthy as possible. 

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INGREDIENTS

• 1 can chickpeas, drained (also known as garbanzo beans)
• 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp Bbq Sauce -  (I used oil-free bbq sauce)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 2 Tbsp ketchup 
• 2 tsp maple syrup
• 1 cup red cabbage, shredded (I think it's purple personally ;)
• 1 head of lettuce, chopped
• Vegan ranch dressing (recipe below)
• Toppings : avocado, cherry tomatoes, or whatever you like. 

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Drain and rinse chickpeas then add to a bowl.
2. Mix in 2 Tbsp of the bbq sauce, salt, chili powder, and onion powder. Mix well.
3. Add the chickpea mixture to a pan on medium heat. Cook for 3 mins.
4. Add in the rest of the bbq sauce, ketchup, and maple syrup.
5. Cook until everything is well heated through and the sauce thickens up.  About 5-10 mins.  Let cool.
6. Mix lettuce with the shredded red cabbage and add to your salad bowl.
7. Add bbq chickpeas on top.
8. Add your toppings, I used cherry tomatoes and avocado.
9. Make your vegan ranch dressing and drizzle on top. 
** I also drizzled some balsamic glaze on top too, I love this on salads!

Vegan Ranch Dressing

• 1/2 cup hemp seeds
• 1/4 cup water (add more if needed to blend)
• 1/2 -1 lemon, juiced (start with 1/2 and add more if you like more tang)
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp dried dill
• 1/2 tsp salt

1. Blend on high until creamy and smooth.

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