Mediterranean Winter ChickPea Pasta Salad

Everyone enjoys a good pasta salad during the summer months when veggies are at their peak.  During the winter, tomatoes, especially, suffer from lack of taste, texture and flavor.  This is a delicious, warm pasta salad made with chickpea pasta!  If you love pasta (and who doesn't) but are trying to watch your carbs or just want to start eating healthy for the new year, this is a great recipe.  High in protein and fiber, this is a nice additional to your pantry on a night that you just need a pasta fix!  The folks at Banza sent in their "Banza Boys" to the local ShopRite to give everyone a sample of their pasta. 

Banza is a small team based in Detroit with a big goal:  To change food for the better!  By making pasta from chickpeas instead of wheat, they have discovered that pasta can be as healthy as it is delicious!

Mediterranean Winter Pasta Salad
1 8 oz. box Banza Shells 1 5 oz. clamshell Organic Baby Spinach 2/3 cup marinated artichoke hearts, roughly chopped 1/2 small red onion, chopped 1 red roasted pepper, drained and chopped 6 sun-dried tomatoes, coarsely chopped 1/2 cup marinated kalamata olives halved 1 plump clove of garlic, minced 1/4 cup liquid from marinated artichoke hearts 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 1/2 tsp. dried oregano 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbles Salt and Pepper to taste
Directions:
Bring 6 inches of water to a boil in a large pot.  Salt boiling water and add pasta.  Cook according to package directions or until desired tenderness.  While pasta is cooking, roughly chop baby spinach.  Add spinach into colander where you will drain your pasta.  When pasta is cooked, drain directly over spinach to wilt slightly.  Transfer warm spinach and pasta to a large bowl.  Add artichoke hearts, onion, roasted red pepper, sun-dried tomatoes and olives and mix to combine.
In a one cup measure, combine marinade liquid, olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano and salt and pepper to taste.  Combine with pasta mixture.  Serve warm with feta cheese crumbles.

Visit Banza to learn about the benefits of chickpeas and for more creative Banza recipes! You can find Banza on Facebook Twitter and Instagram  And yes - their pasta is available nationwide at Wegmans, ShopRite, Whole Foods & Fairway- among many other retailers.