Mouth-Watering Vegan Caesar Salad

Do you love a great Caesar Salad? I know I sure do! This Mouth-watering Vegan Caesar Salad recipe is adapted from my favorite restaurant caesar salads. Kale & radicchio balance the tangy garlic and herb caesar salad dressing. Crunchy and airy garlic croutons add tons of texture while the chickpeas add protein and flavor.

Don't get overwhelmed by all the ingredients - this recipe is really 4 recipes in 1! You can easily make the dressing, croutons and parmesan in advance and just assemble the salad right before lunch or dinner.

Vegan Caesar Salad

Vegan Caesar Salad Dressing

Homemade Garlic Croutons

Homemade Vegan Parmesan

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What you need for the Vegan Caesar Salad

2 Cups Radicchio Chopped

1 Cup Kale Chopped

1 Cup Arugula

½ Cup Carrots Grated

½ Cup Chickpeas Drained and rinsed

½ Cup Garlic Croutons *See recipe below

⅓ Cup Vegan Caesar Dressing *See recipe below

Vegan Parmesan To taste, *see recipe below

Black Pepper To taste

What you'll need to make the Vegan Caesar Salad Dressing

I recently adapted this Vegan Caesar Salad Dressing from a Caesar Dressing I have been making for over 20 years. I created the original recipe in 1999 for a little pizza place I owned in Northern California. The original recipe was made with raw eggs and lots of oil. Now that I'm eating vegan, I decided it was time to adapt one of my all time favorite (and most requested) recipes.

*Tip - For the best flavor, make this dressing a day in advance and let the flavors meld together overnight.

The dressing is good for up to 5 days and makes more than you'll need for the salad. It's also great a a dip and as a sandwich spread.

• Makes 1 cup
• Time - 10 minutes

½ Cup Vegan Mayo

1 Tbsp Whole Grain Mustard

1 Tbsp Soy Milk Plain, unsweetened or milk of choice

1 Clove Garlic

1 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar

2 Tsp Distilled White Vinegar

2 Tsp White Balsamic Vinegar (Sub Balsamic Vinegar)

2 Tsp Lemon Juice

1 Tbsp Capers Chopped

1 Tsp Thyme

½ Tsp Italian Seasoning

½ Tsp Black Pepper

1.In a medium bowl, combine the vegan mayo and mustard. Mix well.

2. In a food processor or high speed blender combine: soy milk, chopped garlic, the vinegars and lemon juice. Blend on high until garlic is completely pureed (about 30 -60 seconds). Keep in blender

3. To the blender add: chopped capers, Italian seasoning, thyme and black pepper. Blend on medium speed for 10-15 seconds or until capers are well incorporated in the sauce but still chunky.

4. Using a whisk or spatula, stirring the whole time, add the blender mixture to the mayo mixture.

5. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

*The flavors will really develop overnight, so I recommend making this a day in advance.

*The dressing is good for up to 5 days and makes more than you'll need for the salad.

*Makes a great dip and sandwich spread.

How to make Homemade Garlic Croutons

There is nothing like homemade croutons on a great Caesar Salad! These croutons are easy to make and only take about 20 minutes. This is the quick version of the croutons I've been making for years.

I recommend making this in advance to save you time (and dishes) when assembling the caesar salad.

The croutons are good for up to 1 month, covered and stored room temperature.

• Makes about 3 1//2 Cups
• Time - 25 minutes

Preheat the oven to 400F

1.Cube the sourdough bread into ½ inch cubes, add to a medium bowl.

2. In a food processor, blend olive oil, garlic, Italian Seasoning and salt until the garlic is fully pureed.

3. Pour oil mixture over cubed bread. With clean hands toss the bread cubes with the oil. Squeeze the oil into the bread to ensure all of the oil is absorbed. (If your bread starts to crumble a little, that's ok! The breadcrumbs are the best part.)

4. Arrange the croutons in a single layer on a baking sheet

5. Bake for 10 minutes, after 10 minutes, pull from oven, toss and and let rest for 5 minutes. Bake 5 more minutes, remove from oven, toss and let rest 5 more minutes.

3 Cups Cubed Sourdough Bread (about 4 slices)

⅓ Cup Olive Oil

1 Tsp Italian Seasoning

1 Clove Garlic or 2 small

½ Tsp Salt

*Crush the croutons over the top of your salad for extra texture and crunch - it's amazing!

How to make Vegan Parmesan at home

It's super simple and easy to make vegan parmesan at home! All you need are 4 ingredients and a food processor.

I recommend making this in advance to save you time (and dishes) when assembling the caesar salad.

Combine all the ingredients below in a food processor and pulse until a grated parmesan-like texture forms. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

• Makes just over ½ cup.
• Time - 5 minutes

½ Cup Cashews raw

2 Tbsp Nutritional Yeast

½ Tsp Salt

¼ Tsp Garlic Powder

A few great dishes to serve with this Caesar Salad:

Rosemary and Olive Bread (No-Knead + Skillet Baked)

Vegan Mac + Cheese

Vegan Eggplant Parmesan

Spaghetti with Garlic Chili Oil, Spinach + Olives

Recipe

https://www.pinterest.com/thevirtualcaterer/