Vegan Mofo 2014 Day 4: Virtual Vegan Linky Party Walnut, Chickpea & Chicken Salad

Salad full of pleasing ingredients.

Almost three years vegan and I'm still getting that dreadful "where do you get your protein?" question. It's annoying. However, I manage to answer without eye rolling and hissy fitting. Sometimes.
Well, to Virtual Vegan Linky Party and 4th Vegan Mofo day, I bring this yummy versatile salad. It  has ample protein in four major ingredients. A whole can of chickpeas contain 21 grams, one serving of Beyond Meat's Grilled Chicken has 19 grams, handful of walnuts has 7, and nutritional yeast has 8 grams. Not to mention spinach adds a bit too.
Two servings, enough to please both Popeye and Olive Oil, slightly smashed chickpeas provides great background to Beyond Meat's amazing pea protein chicken. I think any of their strips would do. They are on sale for $4.49 at Whole Foods plus an $1 off coupons are featured in latest coupon book. Yay! Savory, crunchy-tastic walnuts bring on texture and nutritional yeast add that spazzy cheesy taste. Of course, I then added Treeline nut cheese and nom nom nom.....

Walnut Chickpea & Chicken Salad Ingredients and Preparation

15 oz chickpeas, 
1 cup spinach
6 Beyond Meat Chicken strips, diced
2 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1/4 cup red onion
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup walnuts

Mash chickpeas. Not all of them. Just some.
Toss in spinach, Beyond Meat chicken strips, nutritional yeast, red onion, garlic salt, and black pepper. 
Add walnuts and toss again.

Championship salad.

Where's my protein? Here on this plate. Thank you.

Time to stick a fork into this meal.

Topped with a dollop of Treeline nut cheese. Amazing stuff. Next mofo post.