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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Vegan Caesar Salad

    Published: Nov 2, 2023 by Gaby Dimova · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

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    Enjoy the best vegan caesar salad made with crisp romaine, vegan parmesan cheese, crispy croutons, and a simple creamy caesar dressing that's free of anchovies and egg but still creamy, dreamy, and full of flavor! I've added some crispy chickpeas for added protein making it suitable for a heartier meal.

    Vegan caesar salad in a wooden bowl with croutons on top.

    I love salads! Especially a caesar salad so believe me when I say I was thrilled to finally develop a recipe for a vegan and vegetarian caesar salad that would be suitable for anyone following a vegan diet or who's simply looking for more meat-free and dairy-free options!!

    Looking for more vegan salads? Try my Grilled Peach Salad or Vegan Greek Salad.

    What You'll Need to Make This Vegetarian Caesar Salad Recipe

    There are three main components to my recipe! The salad base, a homemade Caesar dressing, and some crispy chickpeas. Let's look at the highlights. You can find the full list and quantities in the recipe card further down on the page.

    • Romaine lettuce: The classic lettuce used to make Caesar salad. You can certainly use other types of leafy greens but they won't have the classic crispness found in romaine.
    • Vegan parmesan: Choose your favorite brand!
    • Chickpeas: Crispy chickpea croutons are added to the salad for more protein.
    • Nutritional yeast: Used to coat the chickpeas and gives cheesy flavor to the vegan Caesar salad dressing.
    • Bread: I used sourdough bread to make my homemade croutons but you can use any bread you enjoy.
    • Tahini: It's the secret to making a creamy dressing that's close in texture and color to a traditional caesar dressing except that it's completely vegan.
    • Olive oil: Thins out and emulsifies the dressing. You also need a drizzle over the chickpeas too to help them crisp up.
    • Lemon juice: Provides acidity and brightness to the caesar dressing. I highly recommend using fresh lemon juice if possible.
    • Capers: Capers have a unique brininess that really adds flavor to the dressing made without fish products.
    • Dijon mustard: This helps emulsify the dressing and keep it from separating but it also adds flavor. You can use other types of mustard but they do not have the same flavor profile.
    • Garlic
    • Maple syrup: Just a bit of sweetness to balance out the acidity and flavors in the vegan caesar dressing.

    Variations

    Looking to change up this vegan caesar salad recipe? Here are some quick ideas:

    • Kale Caesar Salad: Swap the crisp romaine lettuce to make a version with curly kale.
    • Crispy Garlic Chickpea Croutons: Add a teaspoon of garlic powder to the chickpeas before roasting in the oven.
    • Add More Protein: Throw on a handful of baked tofu to make your salad heartier.
    • Traditional Caesar Salad: Skip the chickpeas if you want but I love the little extra add to the salad!
    • Gluten-free: Use your favorite gluten-free bread to make the croutons.
    • Add More Veggies: Feel free to add any of your favorite salad veggies! Tomatoes, olives, sliced avocado, and red onions are a few that work well.

    How to Make Vegetarian Caesar Salad

    This recipe goes together quite quickly! There are a few steps but it's mostly combining the simple ingredients with very little prep. Here are the highlights but the full instructions are in the recipe card at the end of the page.

    1. Combine the chickpeas with olive oil, nutritional yeast, salt, and pepper. Toss them together and then bake until crispy.
    2. Spread out the cubed pieces of bread in a baking dish and drizzle with olive oil. Bake in the oven until golden and crispy.
    Chickpeas spread out on a baking pan.
    Cubes of bread on a baking tray to make homemade croutons.
    1. Combine the homemade dressing ingredients in a blender.
    2. Blend together until the dressing is smooth.
    Adding all the ingredients to the blender container to make dressing.
    Creamy caesar dressing in a jar with a spoon lifting some up and drizzling back into the jar.
    1. Add the chopped romaine to a large mixing bowl and drizzle the top with the dressing. Add the chickpeas and croutons to the top and finish with a sprinkle of vegan parmesan.
    Drizzling some dressing over romaine lettuce to make a vegetarian caesar salad.

    How to Store

    Vegan caesar salad is best enjoyed fresh after all the ingredients are tossed together. The lettuce, chickpeas, and croutons will soften the longer they sit with the dressing added to it.

    However, you can store everything separately and store it as I've noted below:

    • Romaine lettuce: Make sure it's very dry. Then store it in an airtight container or bag lined with a paper towel. Cut and washed lettuce is best eaten within 2-3 days.
    • Dressing: Transfer it to a jar and store it in the fridge for up to a week.
    • Crispy chickpeas and croutons: Store them separately in containers and keep them at room temperature for 2-3 days.

    Recipe Tips

    • Dry Lettuce. This is the secret to any good salad as any additional moisture may water down your salad dressing. I suggest using a drying mat or salad spinner after washing your lettuce to ensure it's dry.
    • Adjust the Dressing. It's a pretty creamy dressing but if you prefer a thinner dressing you can add some extra water to thin it out.
    • Enjoy as a Side Salad for Meals or Main Dish: It's pretty flexible! It goes especially well with my lemon garlic pasta, pasta with homemade pasta sauce, and vegan fettuccine alfredo.

    Video

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why isn't a classic Caesar salad vegan?

    It's not vegan because a classic Caesar dressing contains anchovies and eggs while the salad contains parmesan cheese. This recipe does a pretty good job of making a flavorful vegan version of the traditional salad with a tangy dressing that tastes great!

    What is a good vegan substitute for parmesan cheese in a Caesar salad?

    There are some good brands of vegan parmesan cheese that work well to replace the parmesan cheese sprinkled over the top of the salad. My favorite is VioLife but there are definitely other brands that also work well. Nutritional yeast is another way to add some cheesiness but I find it works better in the dressing that is sprinkled over the top of the salad.

    A closeup of caesar salad in a bowl with dressing on the lettuce and croutons on top.

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    Vegan caesar salad in a bowl topped with fresh croutons.

    Vegan Caesar Salad

    Gaby Dimova
    Enjoy the best vegan caesar salad made with crisp romaine, vegan parmesan cheese, crunchy croutons, and a simple creamy caesar dressing that's free of anchovies and egg but still creamy, dreamy, and full of flavor! I've added some crispy chickpeas for added protein making it suitable for a heartier meal.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine Italian-American
    Servings 2 servings
    Calories 1515 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 8 oz fresh Romaine lettuce
    • vegan parmesan

    Crispy Chickpeas Ingredients

    • 1 can chickpeas drained and dried
    • 1 drizzle olive oil
    • nutritional yeast
    • salt & pepper to taste

    Croutons Ingredients

    • ½ loaf of bread I used sourdough
    • 1 drizzle olive oil

    Dressing Ingredients

    • ½ cup tahini
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • ⅓ cup water
    • juice of 1 lemon
    • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
    • ¼ cup capers
    • 2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
    • 2 cloves garlic
    • 2 teaspoon maple syrup
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 400*F/ 200*C.
    • In a bowl, combine the chickpea ingredients. Transfer to a baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes.
    • Slice the bread into squares. Transfer to a baking dish, drizzle with olive oil, and bake for 10 minutes, until golden and crispy.
    • In a blender, combine the dressing ingredients and blend until smooth.
    • To assemble the salad, add the greens to a large bowl, top generously with the dressing, add the chickpeas and croutons and top with vegan parmesan.

    Notes

    • Dry Lettuce. This is the secret to any good salad as any additional moisture may water down your salad dressing. I suggest using a drying mat or salad spinner after washing your lettuce to ensure it's dry.
    • Adjust the Dressing. It's a pretty creamy dressing but if you prefer a thinner dressing you can add some extra water to thin it out.
    • Enjoy as a Side for Meals or Main Dish: It's pretty flexible! It goes especially well with my lemon garlic pasta, pasta with homemade pasta sauce, and vegan fettuccine alfredo.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1515kcalCarbohydrates: 120gProtein: 36gFat: 104gSaturated Fat: 31gPolyunsaturated Fat: 26gMonounsaturated Fat: 43gTrans Fat: 0.3gSodium: 2396mgPotassium: 1335mgFiber: 21gSugar: 47gVitamin A: 9994IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 218mgIron: 11mg
    Keyword vegan caesar dressingv, vegan caesar salad, vegetarian caesar dressing, vegetarian caesar salad
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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      5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    1. Lucinda

      March 05, 2024 at 8:27 pm

      5 stars
      A really good vegetarian option.

      Reply
      • Gaby Dimova

        June 17, 2024 at 2:30 pm

        Really glad you liked it!🥰

        Reply

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    My name is Gaby and I'm the face behind Veggie World Recipes! On my site, you will find recipes that are vegan and made with a healthy twist. My goal is to make plant-based cooking accessible, fun, and always delicious!

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