if you have been missing a caesar salad since going vegan or plant-based or maybe you just have a dairy intolerance then you need to try this! a truly classic vegan caesar salad (with one tiny fun optional addition).
Prior to going vegan I absolutely loved Caesar salad. So, when I went vegan I was sad because I thought I wouldn’t be able to have it anymore. But then I played around with some things and I figured out how to make a pretty yummy and simple vegan Caesar salad dressing recipe. It is tahini based, so no nuts or tofu here! Keep it simple and easy with romaine lettuce, vegan parmesan, croutons and I throw a little twist in with some walnuts. I’ll explain the walnuts later!
Caesar Salad History
So let’s clear one thing up Caesar salad is not an Italian dish. You won’t go Italy and find Caesar salad on the menu. Even though here in the US you will find it at a lot of pizzerias and Italian restaurants. It has just become one of those things like chicken parmesan or meatballs with spaghetti. Also, Caesar salad has nothing to do with Julius Caesar… cue a Hangover reference. Caesar salad originated in the 1920s by Caesar Cardini who was an Italian immigrant who owned a restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico. According to his daughter the restaurant had become very crowded with customers and he just used some stuff he had left in the kitchen to make a dish: lettuce, olive oil, egg, croutons, parmesan, and Worcestershire sauce. He threw it all together and that is how we got the Caesar salad we know now.
The Vegan Caesar Ingredients
- Romaine Lettuce: the base of the Caesar salad. However, there are many variations now that people use different kinds of lettuce.
- Tahini: the base of the salad dressing. Tahini is sesame seed paste. On its own is a bit nutty but once you mix it with the rest of the ingredients it makes a beautiful creamy base.
- Vegan Parmesan: I am using the Violife vegan parmesan. There are many out there you can use. If you aren’t nut free or allergic to almonds you can also use my homemade vegan parmesan recipe.
- Lemon Juice: this will add some tang and acidity to the dressing. You can also use apple cider vinegar in its place.
- Croutons: it’s a Caesar salad, need I say more? You can use homemade or store-bought. Just be sure to check the ingredients because some contain milk. If you are gluten free, make sure you use gluten free croutons. I used these croutons.
- Walnuts: okay, not a traditional Caesar salad ingredient BUT my boyfriend and I go to a restaurant and they put walnuts in their Caesar salad. It makes such a yummy addition. It is totally optional and if you are nut free of course skip it.
- Nutritional Yeast: adds a bit of cheesiness and umami to the dressing. You can substitute it for more vegan parmesan or just skip it.
- Seasonings: of course we gotta use some seasonings to make it taste extra yummy!
Best Caesar Salad Tips
There are some things that take a good Caesar salad to an exceptional Caesar salad. First of all, make sure you have nice, fresh, crispy romaine lettuce. No one wants a soggy Caesar salad. Don’t be afraid to pull off rusty leaves and clean it off really well. I also like to keep the romaine pieces on the bigger side, 1 inch pieces. For the dressing I suggest to make it in either a small blender or use a frother. This will help the dressing to come out creamy and well mixed. If you need to do it with a whisk, you can but it will take a bit of elbow grease.
Caesar Salad Variations
I am a sucker for a traditional Caesar salad. But there are so many fun ways to make Caesar salads. Here are just a few ideas:
- Change the base. While romaine is superior, I won’t lie, you can do a base of kale, shredded Brussles sprouts, roasted broccoli – there are fun ways to mix it up.
- Fun additions. Add in some roasted chickpeas, crispy buffalo tofu, focaccia croutons, anything you like!
- Make it pasta salad. A really fun thing to do is add in some cooked pasta, makes such a fun pasta salad.
- Make it into a pizza. Growing up we had a pizzeria that made Caesar salad pizza and it was so yummy! Here is a recipe.
Vegan Caesar Salad FAQ
Here are some questions you might have! Be sure to check them out because I try to answer everything I think you might be wondering about.
- Is this recipe gluten free? As long as you use gluten free breadcrumbs, yes.
- Is this recipe nut free? Just leave out the walnuts!
- Is this recipe soy free? Yes.
- How long does this last in the fridge? Ideally, this should be enjoyed fresh. The salad will get soggy once you add the dressing on and let it sit overnight it turns soggy.
- How can I meal prep this? Prepare the dressing and leave it in a separate container for up to 5 days. You can pre cut the romaine lettuce ahead of time and keep it stored in a container. Then just add the dressing, vegan cheese, and croutons before eating.
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Vegan Caesar Salad
Equipment
- Blender or frother
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons (42g) tahini
- ¼ cup (60ml) water
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon nutritional yeast
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 romaine hearts (220g), chopped
- 1 ounce (28g) vegan parmesan, grated
- 3 ounces (85g) croutons
- ¼ cup (28g) walnuts, optional
Instructions
- In a small blender or using a small mixing device like a frother make the dressing. Add in the tahini, water, lemon juice, seasonings, and nutritional yeast. Blend until smooth.
- In a large bowl add the romaine lettuce, croutons, vegan parmesan, and walnuts if you are using them. I like to add a little black pepper on top, just a quick sprinkle. Pour over the dressing and toss well to coat.
- Serve with extra vegan parmesan on top if desired and enjoy.
Video
Notes
- I am using Violife parmesan here, for more info about vegan parmesan and a homemade version please read the blog post.
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