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Healthy vegan Caesar salad with crispy spiced chickpeas, dairy-free parmesan, and creamy vegan cashew dressing is a crunchy, flavorful, and light dish for lunch or dinner.
I love coming up with healthy salad recipes that aren't totally boring. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a basic chopped salad with a simple oil and vinegar dressing, but sometimes you just need...more! More crunch, more flavor, more creaminess, more texture. And definitely more protein to make it a meal.
That's why this Caesar salad recipe is one of my favorites. Every bite is complete with crunchy homemade croutons, delicious spiced chickpeas, super creamy caesar dressing, and "parmesan cheese".
Ingredients
This is a classic Caesar recipe with a plant-based twist to make smooth cashew-based dressing. The result is every bit as flavorful, creamy, and addicting as regular Caesar dressing. I think you'll love it as much as I do. Reminder: You can find the printable, detailed recipe in the recipe card below.
- Romaine lettuce. This is a must-have for crunch, fresh Caesar. Chop it into bite-sized pieces for easier eating.
- Chickpeas. This is how I love to add extra crunch and protein to my Caesar salad to make it a vegan meal.
- Garlic powder. Adds just the right amount of savory flavor to crispy spiced chickpeas.
- Dried parsley. This is the key to adding a fresh, herby flavor to your chickpeas.
- Cashews. You'll need these to make your own quick and easy vegan parmesan. You can also use store-bought parmesan. My favorite is by Follow Your Heart.
- Nutritional yeast. A go-to flavor enhancer to add nutty, cheesy flavor without any dairy.
- Garlic croutons. Because no Caesar salad is complete without plenty of crunchy croutons!
- Vegan caesar salad dressing. This is what really brings your salad to life!
Storage
After dressing, the salad should be enjoyed right away. You can store the dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
Keep the croutons and crispy chickpeas in an airtight container on the counter for up to one week. If they lose any of their crispiness, dry them ut in a 350°F oven until they're crunchy again.
Substitutions & Swaps
- Gluten-free. Substitute gluten-free bread or pre-made croutons.
- Other proteins. Use Crispy Pan-Fried Tofu, tempeh, or seitan for another plant-based protein option.
Video
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Looking for more easy, healthy lunch ideas? Try these rainbow hummus wraps next!
Recipe
Vegan Caesar Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Spiced Chickpeas
- 1-2 teaspoons oil - - ex. grape seed or olive oil
- ⅓ cup chickpeas
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried parsley
- pepper to taste
Vegan Parmesan
- ¼ cup cashews
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
Caesar Salad
- 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- garlic croutons
- vegan caesar salad dressing
Instructions
- Spiced chickpeas: Add oil and chickpeas to a skillet. Mix in salt, garlic powder, parsley, and pepper. Heat on medium until warm and browned, about 5 minutes.
- Vegan Parmesan: Blend together cashews and nutritional yeast until it becomes the texture of traditional parmesan cheese. A spice grinder is perfect for this, but a regular blender or food processor will also work.
- In a bowl, toss the chickpeas, vegan parmesan, and romaine lettuce with the croutons and the amount of salad dressing you prefer. Add more vegan parmesan on top if you wish! This recipe makes 2 big salads or about 4 if served as a side salad.
Notes
Nutrition
More Yummy Vegan Salads:
Emmillie Ritz says
In place of the oil I used tahini and a bit of filtered water. Turned out pretty good
Karissa says
Sounds great!
Deena says
Wish there was a dressing for this that was oil free! Finding a good salad dressing that is oil free is sooooo hard. There aren't any vegan oil free mayonnaise products yet. Love your blog and use lots of your recipes!
Karissa says
You can substitute more cashews in place of the mayo, or you can try it with this recipe: https://www.karissasvegankitchen.com/vegan-oil-free-mayo/
Sara says
What exactly do you think mayo is made from? The primary ingredient (at least 75% of the recipe) of any mayonnaise is oil. If you're attempting to follow an oil-free diet, you should go ahead and accept that you will not be eating mayonnaise. Ridiculous.
Anna says
Can I omit the nutritional yeast. It causes stomach issues with one of my kids. I have been trying to find an alternative to it that isn't processed product. Have any suggestions?
Karissa says
Yes, you can just leave it out.
Nicky says
Soooo...where do you get your vegan caesar dressing from? I was hoping for a recipe for actual vegan caesar.
Karissa says
It's linked to within the post 🙂 Here it is again: https://www.karissasvegankitchen.com/vegan-caesar-salad-dressing/