A simple and quick dinner, loaded with flavor and made from mostly pantry ingredients.  Perfect for a weeknight with few ingredients on hand, this Chickapea pasta recipe is nutritious and delicious. It is a gluten-free, nut-free and vegan recipe high in protein and suitable for even the timidest home cook.

Red Pepper and Tomato Italian Spirals

• Prep Time:  10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time:  20 minutes
• Course: Dinner
• Cuisine: Italian
• Servings:  3

 Ingredients:

• 1 package Chickapea Spirals
• 1 Tbsp salt, (for cooking pasta)
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• ½ cup roasted red pepper, drained and chopped
• ½ cup sundried tomatoes, packed in oil, drained and chopped
• 1/3 cup Vegan, Gluten-free Italian dressing, or more to taste
• ½ lemon, juice of
• 2-4 Tbsp vegan/ gluten-free parmesan, (optional when serving)
• Black pepper to taste
• Finishing salt to taste

 Instructions:

1. Prepare Chickapea spirals to package specifications. (Heat 16 cups of water in a large pot over high heat until boiling. Add pasta and 2 Tbsp of salt to the water, decrease heat to maintain a gentle boil. Stir and cook pasta for 7 minutes.)
2. Drain pasta and rinse with warm water.
3. Add pasta to a mixing bowl with, fresh red pepper, roasted red pepper and sundried tomatoes,
4. Mix in Italian dressing and plate desired portions.
5. Top each serving with a squeeze of lemon, desired amount of vegan/gluten-free parmesan, (optional), a pinch of black pepper and finishing salt.
6. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes:

• Not all store-bought Italian dressings are vegan and gluten free. For this recipe, Kraft dressing was used.
• Earth Island Grated Parmesan Cheese was used in this recipe but is an optional ingredient.