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vegan caesar salad dressing recipe with crispy chickpeas

Vegan Caesar Salad Recipe

Enjoy a creamy, delicious, and easy-to-make Vegan Caesar Salad with a rich, dairy-free tahini dressing and crispy chickpea croutons. Perfect for any plant-based meal!
5 from 5 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 2 Large salads, or 4 small.

Ingredients
  

Kale Salad

  • 1 bunch Kale (about 5 cups, chopped)
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil or lemon juice for massaging

Dressing

  • ¼ cup Tahini
  • 1-2 cloves Minced Garlic
  • 2-3 tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice (juice of ½ a large lemon)
  • ½ tsp Dijon Mustard
  • Cold Water to adjust the consistency
  • 1 tsp capers, finely chopped into a paste
  • 1 tsp caper brine
  • Salt & Fresh Ground Black Pepper to taste

Chickpea "Croutons"

  • ½ can Chickpeas, rinsed and drained (to make this more filling, use the whole 19oz can)
  • 1-2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp  Italian Seasoning
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • Pinch of Salt

Optional Toppings

Instructions
 

Dressing

  • Add all dressing ingredients into a mason jar. Put on the lid and shake until ingredients are well combined.
  • If the dressing is too thick, add water 1 tbsp at a time to adjust the consistency. (use a blender instead of shaking or whisking the dressing if desired) Set aside in the fridge.

Chickpea Croutons

  • Add the chickpeas to a pan on medium heat with olive oil. Cook until they are lightly browned and crisp. This should take about 5-6 mins.
  • Once the chickpeas are cooked reduce heat and add, garlic powder, salt to taste, 1 tbsp Italian seasoning. Mix them up and set aside.

Salad Prep

  • Wash kale, remove the stems and chop into bite sized pieces. Massage the kale for a minute or two with a little olive oil or lemon juice to remove the bitterness. (Or you can do what I do and just massage the caesar dressing into the kale)
  • Add to a large mixing bowl and pour on the vegan Caesar dressing.
  • Toss the salad and top with your chickpea "croutons", bread croutons, and sprinkle with vegan Parmesan cheese. Serve and enjoy!

Video

Notes

  • Chickpea Croutons: These don’t store well, so it's best to make them fresh. To save time, you can use a bag of pre-roasted crispy garlic chickpeas.
  • Enhancing Caesar Flavor: Add 1 teaspoon of capers and 1/2 teaspoon of caper brine to give the dressing a more authentic Caesar flavor. Capers are a fantastic vegan substitute for anchovy paste.
  • Cheesy Toppings: Vegan parmesan cheese tastes wonderful in this recipe. If you’re looking for a healthier option, nutritional yeast is an excellent substitute.
NOTE: The nutritional breakdown per serving (for 4 small salads). Nutritional information is approximate values and can vary significantly depending on the specific brands and quality of ingredients used. This information is for general guidance only and should not be considered professional nutritional advice.

Nutrition

Serving: 235g | Calories: 220.75kcal | Carbohydrates: 19.7g | Protein: 7.55g | Fat: 14.28g | Saturated Fat: 2.05g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3.53g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7.93g | Sodium: 155mg | Potassium: 252.25mg | Fiber: 4.45g | Sugar: 1.67g | Vitamin A: 4451IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 1.97mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!