Maybe it takes a little time to grill the zucchini, the peppers and the cashew, but it surely pays off. The smoky flavor of zucchini and peppers pairs wonderfully with the sour sweetness of the balsamic vinegar. The textures complete each other: the firm one from the chickpeas, cashews and pine nuts, on one side, and the delicate one from zucchini on the other side. The orange slices come with a tropical kick and the classic dressing with lemon juice and olive oil ties everything together.

Behind the Bite

A fully plant-based combination that still delivers complete, satisfying protein - chickpeas, cashews and pine nuts working together. The vitamin C from the orange and peppers helps the body absorb the plant-based iron in the chickpeas and cashews.

The recipe

Prepare and grill the vegetables

Use a cast iron grill or a heavy skillet to quickly prepare the zucchini and the green peppers. However if you find yourself outside near a hot barbecue feel free to use it. Oven comes as a third option if the first two options aren’t available.

Wash and slice the zucchini into about half-centimeter-thick slices.

Preheat the grill or skillet.

Grill the peppers about 5-6 minutes each side. Let them rest for 10-15 minutes in a covered bowl with a pinch of salt.

Grill the zucchini about 3-4 minutes each side. Note that the cooking time varies with the temperature of the grill or skillet.

Toast the cashews 2-3 minutes on the same grill, just enough to get a little crispiness and fragrance.

Chop the cashews, grilled peppers, and pine nuts together, to create a pesto-like texture.

Assemble the salad

Cut the lettuce into bite-sized pieces and add it on the bottom of the serving plate. (To enhance the salad's rustic appearance, you can tear it by hand). Add the zucchini and the chickpeas over the salad and drizzle over the balsamic vinegar.

Evenly distribute the chopped cashew and peppers mixture. Sprinkle the pine nuts.

A good drizzle of olive oil, a lemon squeeze and a few orange slices will dress this salad perfectly.

Enjoy!