Think tangy, creamy, a hint of sweet and ALL the nourishment packed up in one delicious salad dressing!! No one will know there’s spinach in there either, I promise. This dressing is paired with a Caesar-inspired salad that’s filled with crunchy romaine, pasta, and chickpeas for a hearty, protein-rich meal – enjoy!

Dressing Ingredients:

  • large handful of spinach
  • 2-3 garlic cloves
  • juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 1 tbsp capers
  • 1 tsp juice from the caper jar
  • 1 tsp red wine vinegar
  • 1-2 tbsp honey
  • 3/4 cup cottage cheese
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • salt & pepper, to taste

You can use this dressing on any salad you like, but here’s what I paired it with!

Crunchy Caesar-Inspired Pasta Salad:

  • 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 2 cups penne pasta, cooked
  • 1/4 cucumber, chopped
  • 1/4 red onion, diced
  • 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
  • 2 tbsp dried cranberries
  • 1/3 cup chickpeas
  • 1 cup croutons

Instructions:

Make the Dressing:

  • Add the spinach, garlic, lemon juice, capers, capers juice, red wine vinegar, honey, cottage cheese, and olive oil into a blender or food processor.
  • Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as desired.

Prepare the Salad:

  • In a large bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce, cooked penne pasta, cucumber, red onion, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, chickpeas, and croutons.

Assemble the Salad:

  • Pour the creamy cottage cheese dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat evenly.

Serve:

  • Serve immediately and enjoy a flavorful, protein-packed salad that’s perfect for lunch or dinner!

Watch the video below!