Kale Salad with Cajun Spiced Chickpeas and Buttermilk Dressing

Directions

Prepare the dressing first, so the flavors have time to blend. In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk dressing ingredients . Taste the dressing and add more salt if desired. Refrigerate the dressing until ready to use. Drain the chickpeas in a colander and rinse with cool water. Add the olive oil to a non-stick skillet and place over a medium flame. Add the drained chickpeas along with the salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cayenne, thyme, and another 10-15 cranks of a pepper mill. Sauté the chickpeas and spices for about five minutes, or until the chickpeas are slightly toasted. Remove from the heat. Remove the stems from the kale, then slice the kale leaves into thin strips . Rinse the kale with cool water and allow the excess water to drain away. Thinly slice the red onion. To build the salad, place the washed kale in a large bowl , add the spiced chickpeas, a few slices of red onion, and a light dusting of Parmesan . Finally, taste the buttermilk dressing after it has had time to refrigerate and adjust the salt if needed. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and then serve.