Servings: 6

Gardein meat crumble: subheading: Gardein meat crumble:
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1½ cups Gardein crumbles 1½ cups Gardein crumbles
½ onion, diced ½ onion, diced
1 tsp chili powder 1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground cumin
¾ tsp garlic powder ¾ tsp garlic powder
¼ cup pickled jalapeno peppers, chopped ¼ cup pickled jalapeno peppers, chopped
1 4 oz. can mild diced green chiles 1 4 oz. can mild diced green chiles
salt to taste salt to taste
 
Pasta Salad: subheading: Pasta Salad:
½ pound small pasta ½ pound small pasta
Head of lettuce or other favorite salad greens, chopped Head of lettuce or other favorite salad greens, chopped
1 carrot, grated 1 carrot, grated
2 leaves of purple cabbage, sliced 2 leaves of purple cabbage, sliced
1 15 oz. can black beans, drained 1 15 oz. can black beans, drained
½ cup corn (frozen or fresh) ½ cup corn (frozen or fresh)
1 tomato, diced or 8 oz of cherry tomatoes cut in half 1 tomato, diced or 8 oz of cherry tomatoes cut in half
several green onions, chopped several green onions, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
¼ cup roasted sunflower seeds* ¼ cup roasted sunflower seeds*
¼ cup roasted pepitas* ¼ cup roasted pepitas*
Renee's Pickled Onions Renee's Pickled Onions
 
Dressing: subheading: Dressing:
1/3 cup ketchup ⅓ cup ketchup
3 tbsps vegan mayonnaise 3 tbsps vegan mayonnaise
1/3 cup firm silken tofu + 2 tbsps ⅓ cup firm silken tofu + 2 tbsps
1/4 cup salsa ¼ cup salsa
1 tbsp brown sugar ( I used Wholesome Organic Light Brown) 1 tbsp brown sugar ( I used Wholesome Organic Light Brown)
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (I used O Organics) 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (I used O Organics)
1 tbsp yellow mustard 1 tbsp yellow mustard
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/4 tsp smoked paprika ¼ tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp salt ¼ tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper ¼ tsp pepper
1 tsp Sriracha 1 tsp Sriracha

Blend all the ingredients for the dressing until smooth. Set aside.
Cook the pasta according to their directions. Once cooked, rinse in cold water, drain and then mix in a couple of tablespoons of the dressing to prevent it from sticking. Set aside to cool.
To a frying pan, heat oil over medium temperature. Add both Gardein crumbles and onion to the pan, toss in the oil and cook for 4 minutes. Add the spices and cook for a minute longer. Then add the jalapenos and green chiles and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Set aside once done.
Place all the salad items and the Gardein crumbles to a bowl including the pasta. Add half of the dressing and toss and then add the rest to the desired amount. Some people like more dressing than others. I like to divide the ingredients between the bowls and then pour some sauce over the top, allowing the people I'm serving to mix it up themselves and add more dressing if they like from a squirt-type bottle. It also makes for a nice "serve yourself" buffet type dish, where people can add what they want and as much as they want to each bowl.

* You can use either all pepitas or all sunflower seeds, but I had both on hand and I loved the 2 different flavors.  * You can use either all pepitas or all sunflower seeds, but I had both on hand and I loved the 2 different flavors.
Veganized from this recipe ➡️ carlsbadcravings.com/cowboy-pasta-salad/  Veganized from this recipe ➡️ carlsbadcravings.com/cowboy-pasta-salad/