Summer=salads! The heat is so big that apart from not wanting to go into the kitchen for a long time, when it's time to eat you want to enjoy something that will cool you down and certainly won't make you sweat.

This salad is just that. Cool, super summery, full of nutrients, divine taste and lots of colors. Everything a salad should have is here.
The basic ingredients you will need to make it are: chickpeas (ready, boiled), orzo (it is the only ingredient that needs cooking), cabbage, carrot, raisins and some cashews.

As for the dressing, it's creamy, slightly hot (if you want it) and transforms a salad in seconds. The basic ingredients you will need to make it are sriracha (or ketchup if you don't want it hot), sunflower seeds, chia seeds, olive oil, lemon and maple syrup.
This particular salad is also ideal for meal prep, as long as you place the ingredients in the tapers in the correct order. Start by putting down the sauce. Add chickpeas, couscous, raisins, crunchy vegetables (cabbage, carrot, cucumber) and finish with mint and cashews. When it's time to enjoy your salad, simply flip the taper on a plate and mix. The salad is ready to eat.

Tips and Substitutions
Instead of white cabbage you can put purple cabbage.
Instead of cashews, you can put whatever nuts you like.
Instead of orzo you can use rice, small pasta of your choice or couscous.
You can replace the chia seeds with hemp seeds or ground flaxseed.
Of course you can, if you are not vegan, replace the maple syrup with honey.

If you like this recipe, you can also try one of the following:
Summer Salad with Beets and Carrots
Pasta Salad | Light and ideal for the lunch box
The Most Popular Polish Salad | Salatka Jarzynowa
Salad with Orzo, Zucchini, Okra and Vegan Feta

Chickpea Salad with Orzo and Creamy Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup orzo
- 400 gr. chickpeas
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1/4 shredded cabbage
- 4 shredded carrots
- a little mint
- 1/4 cup cashews
- 1/4 cup raisins
for the sauce
- 2 tbsp sriracha sauce (or ketchup)
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 lemon
- 1,5 tbsp maple syrup
- salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Start by boiling the orzo according to the instructions on the package in salted water. Add the turmeric to the water.
- In the meantime prepare your vegetables. Grate the cabbage and carrot and chop the mint.
- Soak the sunflower seeds in hot water until your orzo is ready.
- Pour all the ingredients for the sauce into the food processor after draining the sunflower seeds and beat well. Put the sauce aside.
- In a large bowl, pour the chickpeas, the orzo, all your vegetables, the cashews, the raisins and the sauce on top. Mix and enjoy a delicious salad-meal.
Did you make the recipe too?
Upload a photo on Instagram and tag me (@emilyvagia) so I can see it too or send me a photo on Facebook. here.
