Blueberry and Broccoli Pasta Salad

Blueberry and Broccoli Pasta Salad with a tangy Lemon Buttermilk Dressing ~ spring forward with this colorful and healthy pasta salad made with Chickapea gluten free pasta, lots of fruits and veggies, and an extra dose of crunch!

*Hey guys ~ I’m teaming up with Chickapea Pasta today, thanks for supporting me and my brand partners, I only work with the very best, and they help keep tvfgi up and cooking!

This salad was fun to fun to invent, and so easy to put together once I had all the flavors figured out., but honestly, when I told my husband I was making a salad with blueberries and broccoli he screwed up his face in the most annoying way.  If you’re not sure about blueberries and broccoli just trust me ~ the first bite of this wonderful salad will convince you.  It all starts with a box of naturally gluten free Chickapea Pasta, made from just 2 ingredients ~ organic chickpeas and lentils!  So you can see where we’re going here…this salad is not only yummy, it’s honest to goodness super food.  My spirals are full of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals ~ no empty carbs here.

There are carbs, and then there are smart carbs ~ smart carbs like chickpeas and lentils are better for us because our bodies burn them more slowly and evenly, preventing the spikes in blood sugar that can lead to diabetes and other health issues.

After cooking and draining, I toss the pasta with some of my lemony buttermilk dressing ~ it keeps the pasta from sticking together, and will also soak in a bit while I prep my other ingredients.  This salad has an unusual mix of fresh veggies and fruit, along with dried fruit, nuts, and seeds.  The end result is really wonderful, I love the contrast between the sweet and savory flavors

TIP: This salad is sophisticated enough for an adult palate, but also a great kid-pleaser ~ those juicy blueberries and crunchy apples can help introduce the joys of broccoli to your picky eaters,

You can make this healthy pasta salad recipe in the morning, it will hold up fine in the refrigerator.  I like to refresh it with a little more dressing just before serving.   The dressing is a tangy mixture of lemon juice, poppy seeds, buttermilk, and mayo…not as thick as most mayonnaise based dressings and so delicious  I could eat it with a spoon!  I used a similar dressing for my CHICKEN SALAD WITH POPPY SEED MAYONNAISE, but that one doesn’t contain buttermilk.  If you want to try a mayo-less version, check out my LEMON POPPY SEED DRESSING recipe.

Why are smart carbs so important?

So many of the carbs we consume in our Western diet are empty, overly processed carbohydrates like white bread and white rice.  They’re wreaking havoc with our bodies and leading to all sorts of health problems like obesity and diabetes.  But I love carbs, and I’m not about to do with out them, so I try to replace the empty ones with better choices.   Good carbs, or smart carbs, are foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables and beans.   You can instantly improve your diet by simply switching out refined flour pasta with this chickpea and lentil pasta, I love simple solutions like this!

The flavors in this salad work together so well, I hope you give it a try, I have a hunch it’ll become a family favorite.  And if you have little ones who would live on pasta if they had their way, this is a really smart choice for them.  My youngest daughter wanted ‘buttery pasta’ 24/7, I wish Chickapea had been around for me then :)

Chickapea pasta tastes just like regular pasta, I can’t tell the difference.  The texture is firm and chewy, no limp noodles here, and they hold up beautifully in sauces and salads like this one.

I’m thrilled to be working with a team of talented bloggers as part of the Chickapea influencer team ~ I hope you follow me on facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest because I’m sharing lots more easy recipes you can make with your Chickapea pasta.

Notes:

• If you like, add some cheese to this salad, I think mild cheddar, Gouda, or Monterey Jack would work well, and cut it in a small dice.
• You can incorporate Chickapea pasta into any of your favorite pasta recipes, like my Israeli Pasta Salad, or my Pasta Salad with Tuna.
• If you can’t find Chickapea pasta at your local store, you can find it on Amazon, HERE.

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