Description
Tangy buffalo flavor, tender cauliflower, and a creamy avocado dressing come together for a game-changing pasta salad that will be a hit at this summer’s potlucks.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta Salad:
- 1 lb regular or gluten-free pasta
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 head cauliflower, broken into florets and thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup vegan buffalo sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 14.5-oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed (reserve liquid for dressing)
- 1/2 cup vegan blue cheese crumbles
- kosher salt, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the Buffalo Avocado Dressing:
- 2 avocados
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1/4 cup vegan buffalo sauce
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup aquafaba (liquid drained from a can of chickpeas)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions.
- Saute the cauliflower: In a large skillet, heat the oil and add the garlic. Cook for about 3 minutes until fragrant. Stir in the cauliflower and continue cooking for about 10 minutes until the cauliflower is fork tender. Season with salt and pepper. Add in the buffalo sauce and garlic powder.
- Make the dressing: Meanwhile, in a blender combine all of the ingredients for the dressing except the aquafaba. Pulse until combined. Slowly, one tablespoon at a time, pour in the aquafaba and process, and then the water until you reach your desired consistency. Taste and season with more salt, pepper or lemon juice.
- Assemble the salad: Drain the pasta and return to the pot. Stir in x cup of the buffalo dressing. Stir in the cauliflower and chickpeas. Stir in ¼ cup more of the dressing. Fold in the blue cheese. Taste and season with freshly ground black pepper.
Notes
- Spoiler Alert: Buffalo Cauliflower Pasta Salad will stay fresh in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a week.
- For non-vegans: Add cooked, shredded chicken. Instead of stirring in the vegan bleu cheese, serve on the side, along with a dairy bleu cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: American
- Method: Stove
- Cuisine: American