Chickpea + Cucumber Salad with Spirulina Chutney

A creamy cilantro, mint and spirulina dressing packs this easy salad full of flavor.

Spirulina is a great power/super food. How ever you prefer to label it, it’s simply good for you; and takes just a small amount to provide endless vitamins and nutrients. Believe it or not it, also has tons of protein, 16 grams to be exact!! The health benefits of spirulina are endless, but incorporating it into your diet can be intimidating and probably where most people fall short of using it frequently.

Nuts.com approached me with the challenge of creating a unique recipe using this powerhouse of a food, and their website is a great resource for further insight into the great benefits spirulina provides! https://nuts.com/cookingbaking/powders/spirulina/

The most obvious, or widely used way to incorporate spirulina is by adding it to smoothies. As it originates from algae, it does have a flavor reminiscent of seaweed.  Smoothies are great because the fruit flavors easily overpower spirulina. That’s when I realized, how easily it could be added to a very flavorful/herby dressing. Chutney is one of my favorites; the fresh bold flavors of cilantro and mint combined with the creaminess of tahini perfectly hide this secret little ingredient!

This dressing is great and can be enjoyed many different ways. I enjoyed this salad recipe on its own, atop a big bowl of lettuce, and inside a wrap, and I do have to say it was delicious each way!  Make a big bowl for a few different meals throughout the week!

The Innards:

• 2 cups Chickpeas, cooked
• 1 medium Cucumber, diced
• 1/4 Red Onion, diced
• 1 Lemon, juiced
• 2 tsp Spirulina Powder
• 1/2 cup loose packed Cilantro
• 1/4 cup loose packed Mint
• 1 TBSP Tahini (sesame seed paste/butter)
• Water
• Salt + Pepper

Serves: 6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

1. Cook and cool your chickpeas, or take them from a can and drain them.

2. Chop your cucumber and red onion and place in a large salad or mixing bowl.

3. In a food processor/blender, add the remaining ingredients (add water to thin the dressing out start with a tbsp and add to desired dressing consistency).

4. Pulse until herbs are chopped and everything is well combined.

5. Dress the salad and serve chilled!

You may have extra dressing (I did!), use it in other salads, or wraps as you please!

Bon Appétit!