Looking for an healthier take on the classic bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich? This Easy Gluten-Free BLT Pasta Salad will satisfy your carb cravings, without the annoying crash!
Classic BLT
I grew up in a single-parent home with a working mother, so my mom needed to prepare the easiest meals. I can distinctively remember many of the staples from my childhood, and one of them was the famous bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich. There were several other delicious sandwiches and casserole dishes, but this recipe was by far my favorite. A great trait about this sandwich is that it is customizable. Mayonnaise is a common ingredient on most BLTs. However, my mother new I wanted it left out of the sandwich. Even though the ingredients are pretty simple, the options for additional toppings are endless! I wanted to create a different take on the classic sandwich that didn’t leave me tired from an overload of carbohydrates. This recipe is based off of the toppings that I would put on my BLT, if I were to make one today.
Gluten-Free Chickpea Pasta
After years of consuming white and whole wheat flour pastas, we realized how sluggish and bloated they made us feel. Since pasta is life, we never thought once about giving it up. We tried several gluten-free alternatives, and none of them cooked or tasted like regular pasta. Fortunately, a few years ago we discovered Banza. Banza is a pasta made from chickpeas, and it has become our go-to. We will not buy anything else! The pasta is packed with protein because it is made from chickpeas. It also has fewer carbs than wheat or rice based pasta. We no longer experience the “carb crash” after eating our meals, because the pasta is gluten-free! It also cooks just like “regular” pasta. We made it for our friends, and they had no idea that it was made from chickpeas! Also, they have several different pasta shapes, including spaghetti, angel hair, and linguine noodles. I used their shells to make this recipe because it fits well with the other ingredients. You can find Banza shells, and many other shapes, at your local Whole Foods and most Target stores.
If this is your first time trying the B.L.T. combination, I hope you enjoy it! If you do try my take on the famous recipe, I would love to hear your thoughts and see your masterpiece!
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Easy Gluten-Free BLT Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 oz Banza pasta
- 1/2 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 green onion chopped fine
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup hummus
- 1/2 Tbs garlic powder
- salt to taste
- 1/4 cup spinach chopped
- 1/3 cup red onion diced fine
- 8 slices turkey bacon low sodium, uncured if possible
Instructions
- Prepare the water for cooking the pasta according to the instructions on the box.
- While the water heats up prepare the vegetables and spices, and place them in a large mixing bowl. Set aside
- Cook the turkey bacon and dab with a paper towel when finished to absorb any extra oil. Allow to cool before cutting the bacon into 3/4 – 1" pieces.
- Add the bacon and rest of the ingredients to the bowl of prepared veggies, and finish cooking the pasta.
- When the pasta is finished, drain well and rinse with cold water. If you will be serving the pasta immediately, rinse the pasta until it has cooled completely. Then combine with the ingredients in the mixing bowl.
- Mix well until the yogurt and hummus has completely covered the ingredients.
- Serve immediately, or store in the fridge for several days (depending on the date of your yogurt).
Nutrition
All images and text ©Alexis Stambaugh for Passport Flavor™
I'm a 20-something foodie with a passion for travel. As a self taught chef, I believe food is what brings us together. When I'm not in my kitchen creating recipes, I love connecting with people as I experience cuisines from other cultures. Come join me on my culinary and travel adventures!