Description
A vibrant and crunchy Broccoli Caesar Salad featuring roasted broccoli florets, crispy chickpeas, and toasted panko breadcrumbs, all tossed in a tangy Caesar dressing and topped with grated Parmesan cheese. This nutritious, flavorful salad is perfect as a light lunch or a side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 small heads broccoli, about 4 cups chopped florets (including tender parts of the stem, avoid rough bottom)
- 1 15.5 ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 3 tablespoons Caesar dressing of choice
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Seasonings and Oils
- 6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and ready two baking sheets for roasting the broccoli and chickpeas separately.
- Prepare Broccoli: Roughly chop broccoli florets including tender stem parts, avoiding the tough bottom. Place on one baking sheet and drizzle with 3 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper evenly. Set aside to marinate briefly.
- Prepare Chickpeas: Drain and rinse chickpeas thoroughly, then dry them well, removing any loose skins. Spread chickpeas on the second baking sheet and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then season with salt and pepper.
- Roast Broccoli and Chickpeas: Place both baking sheets in the preheated oven. Roast for about 20 minutes, tossing both halfway through cooking. Broccoli should be tender with light char marks and chickpeas should be a darker brown and crispy.
- Toast Breadcrumbs: While roasting, heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the panko breadcrumbs and toast them, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes until golden brown and fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Assemble Salad: In a large bowl, combine the roasted broccoli and about half of the crispy chickpeas. Toss with your chosen Caesar dressing until well coated.
- Finish and Serve: Add the toasted breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese to the bowl. Toss gently to combine all elements. Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- You can include broccoli stem pieces as long as they are trimmed to remove tough parts.
- Drying chickpeas properly before roasting ensures crispy texture.
- Remove outer skins from chickpeas for extra crispiness.
- Use your favorite Caesar dressing or make a homemade version for added flavor control.
- Store leftover salad and toppings separately to preserve crispiness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 7 mg
