Crunchy Chick’n & Peas with Lime Citrus Vinaigrette

Separate mix-ins on any dish for an enticing, more unique look!
SIMPLE MIX-INS |
Chick’n Gardein Chipotle Lime Crispy Fingers |
Romaine lettuce, coarsely chopped |
Red onion, diced |
Multi-colored mini peppers, sliced thin |
Carrots, diced |
Frozen peas, cooked |
Pine nuts, toasted |
Bake the frozen crispy fingers in toaster oven. (I typically cook Gardein products longer than they recommend on the package). Use my favorite kitchen gadget to dice the red onion and carrots. Toast pine nuts in a dry skillet and watch carefully. Remove promptly from pan as soon as they start to brown and their aroma rises up to meet you. Assemble as shown. I could have blocked the carrots, onion and peppers which would have made this salad even prettier. I just happened to use a previously made salad that had those ingredients already mixed in.
Peas are a great addition to a salad. High in nutritional value but not high in calories. A great way to sneak in another vegetable for your family. When served cold in a salad, peas don’t have as strong a flavor as when served hot by themselves.
LIME VINAIGRETTE |
1 fresh lime, squeezed |
1/4 cup garlic olive oil |
1-2 tsp minced garlic (or 2 minced cloves) |
4 tsp sugar |
1/2 tsp pepper |
2 T apple cider vinegar |
This is not your typical citrus-style vinaigrette. The garlic olive oil and minced garlic adds a unique flavor which we absolutely loved.
This salad just felt perfect to close out the summer and bring in the fall. Light with rich flavor. And super easy!
Try food blocking the next time you take a dish to a gathering. Even if you only block 2 or 3 ingredients, it’s more decorative on a table.

I prefer wide, shallow bowls like this one from Crate & Barrel.
Comments are closed.
I have been so excited to make this – I “thought” I was making this tomorrow – but when I went to make my grocery list – I realized there are no quantities for the ingredients….
How many bags of the Gardein, how much romaine, peas, pine nuts, etc…
even if it is “guesstimated” it would be better than going in blind – especially if you do not normally cook or ; as I am; trying to adapt to a vegan lifestyle and am learning how to cook all over again.
Greatly disappointed…
If you get this and can respond asap….
Thanks, Sandy, for the question. I purposely only include amounts if I think they are critical. Amounts depend on how many you are feeding. This meal, in particular, is impossible to mess up I promise! The Gardein products come in very small bags in the frozen section. I purchased 2 of the bags of the lime encrusted chick’n strips for 3 of us (probably enough for 4). I used about 3/4 of a bag of frozen peas. Lettuce amount? Really depends on how much leftovers you would like to have. Pine nuts are caloric (but add a lot to the salad) so I think I used about 1/2 cup but feel free to use more or less. I realize that precise recipes can seem reassuring, however, it is a pleasure to throw together a quick vegan meal in 15 minutes in an amount adequate to feed yourself or a family without fear of messing anything up. That’s precisely my intent–teach people how to whip up a quick,healthy meal. Thanks again for your input.