This easy Vegan Caesar Salad is so good, you'll never go back to the original. Even omnivores will never know there’re no anchovies or cheese in the dressing.
Are you trying to find a delicious and healthy vegan Caesar salad substitute? Look nowhere else!
Our vegan Caesar salad recipe is full of taste and nutrients, and it will quickly become a staple in your meal plan.
Made with a dairy-free Caesar dressing, crispy chickpeas and garlic croutons, this healthy salad is not only delicious but also cruelty-free.
This recipe is a must-try whether you've been a vegan for a long time or are only trying to increase the amount of plant-based foods in your diet.
My vegan Caesar salad dressing ingredients feature with capers, dijon Mustard and Tahini. It is perfectly savory and easy to make. You'll want to make a big batch and serve it as veggie dip too.
Prepare to dazzle your loved ones with this comforting and delicious vegan Caesar salad dish.
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Here's Why You'll Love This Recipe
- easy. Making a vegan Caesar salad is simple since it doesn't call for any ingredients that come from animals. Thus, there is no longer a need for labor-intensive preparation or cooking techniques.
- healthy. Romaine Lettuce which is the base for this crowd-pleasing Vegan Caesar Salad is high in minerals such as potassium and magnesium. In addition, it's packed with Vitamin C. That's what makes romaine lettuce a good addition to a healthy plant-based diet.
- perfect for any occasion. Vegan Caesar salad is a fantastic option for gatherings or parties. First of all, because it is a traditional and well adored dish, it is a good choice for a wide range of people with various tastes and preferences. It is also a flexible dish that may be easily modified to satisfy various dietary restrictions or preferences.
Ingredients
Here's an overview of the specific ingredients for this recipe. For the exact ingredients and measurements, please scroll to the recipe card below.
Ingredient Notes
- romaine lettuce. It's important to make sure that the lettuce leaves are crisp-looking, bright green in color, and not wilted. Otherwise, this vegan Caesar salad will look less than appetizing.
- chickpeas. I used canned chickpeas. However, you can also make this vegan Caesar salad using dried chickpeas. Before roasting, you will have to soak them first and cook them in water for about 50 minutes. For this recipe, you will need ½ c dried chickpeas.
- vegan parmesan cheese. I used Violife Parmesan cheese. It's sold in most grocery stores in the refrigerators aisle.
- sea salt. Recently I started using and recommend Jacobsen Kosher Sea Salt, as it contains one of the lowest levels of Lead and no microplastics.
Instructions
Vegan Caesar Salad is one of the easiest salads to make. I'll show you step-by-step how to prepare this famous and crowd-pleasing salad.
- Preheat the oven to 425 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a large paper towel on top. Drain and rinse the chickpeas. Place them on the paper towel and pat dry. Discard the paper towel.
- Using a long knife, chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces.
- Make sure the chickpeas are nice and dry, otherwise they won't come out crispy. Use more paper towels if needed. Sprinkle the chickpeas with garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, and pepper.
- Place all chopped lettuce in a large bowl.
- Toss the chickpeas with the oil and spices and spread them evenly on a baking tray. Bake for 25 minutes stirring halfway through until the chickpeas are nice and crispy.
- Add grated cheese, and Caesar dressing and mix well.
- Top the vegan Caesar salad with crispy chickpeas and croutons. Drizzle with more dressing if desired and serve!
Chef's Tip
Make sure the roasted chickpeas are nice and crispy before tossing them with the salad. If after 25 minutes, they're still on the softer side, you can bake them for 5 more minutes.
Variations & Substitutions
- romaine lettuce. Did you know that you can make a crowd-pleasing vegan Caesar salad using other leafy green vegetables? Some of my suggestions are spinach, endive, iceberg lettuce, arugula, or kale. Keep in mind that you can combine several greens to create a blend of different flavors and textures that you want.
- chickpeas. Instead of roasting the chickpeas, you can marinate them for a few hours in a mixture of lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and herbs. They will have a great flavor and texture and can be used in the salad.
- dressing. Although in this vegan salad, I love using my super easy Tahini-based Caesar dressing, you can also buy a store-bought dairy-free Caesar dressing.
- add-ons. Want to see more plant-based protein in your vegan Caesar salad? Add some vegan chicken, Tempeh, or marinated tofu. Additionally, you can add more veggies to this salad, like thinly sliced cucumber or avocado.
- oil. If you prefer to make this vegan Caesar salad recipe oil-free, you can omit the oil and instead, roast the chickpeas with some reduced-sodium soy sauce or Tamari.
- cheese. You can omit Parmesan cheese and instead use nutritional yeast for some cheese flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, however, make sure it has a neutral flavor.
I recommend preparing separate ingredients versus making a Caesar salad and letting it sit for a few or more hours. This will result in soggy croutons and chickpeas.
You can prepare the croutons, crispy chickpeas, and vegan dressing ahead of time. In addition, you can wash and chop the lettuce and store it in a container in a fridge. When you're ready to enjoy the salad, combine everything in a big bowl and serve.
Bread cubes, avocado oil, garlic, and salt. You can either use my recipe for croutons or buy store-bought croutons.
Serving Suggestions
This crowd-pleasing vegan Caesar salad can be enjoyed as a meal on its own or as a side dish.
If you're serving it as a side salad, here are a few main dishes that will complement this fantastic vegan salad.
Also, don't forget about dessert. My vegan Croissant Muffins will be a perfect culmination of any meal.
Storage Tips
You should ideally consume this best vegan Caesar Salad on the same day. If you have any salad leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge and consume on the next day.
Similar Recipes
Recipe
Crowd-Pleasing Vegan Caesar Salad (You Won't Believe There's No Dairy)
Ingredients
- 1 head romaine lettuce
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas
- ⅓ c vegan Parmesan cheese grated
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 recipe Vegan Caesar Dressing
- 1 recipe Garlic Croutons
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 F and line a baking sheet with a parchment paper. Place a large paper towel on top. Drain and rinse the chickpeas. Place them on the paper towel and pat dry. Discard the paper towel.
- Sprinkle chickpeas with garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt and pepper.
- Toss the chickpeas with the oil and spices and spread them evenly on a baking tray. Bake for 25 minutes stirring halfway through.
- Cut off 1 inch of the bottom of the lettuce. Wash and pat dry each leave. Using a long knife, chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces.
- Place all chopped lettuce in a large bowl.
- Add grated cheese, and Caesar dressing and mix well.
- Top the vegan Caesar salad with crispy chickpeas and croutons. Drizzle with more dressing if desired and serve!
Notes
You can prepare the croutons, crispy chickpeas and dressing ahead of time. In addition, you can wash and chop the lettuce and store it in a container in a fridge. When you're ready to enjoy the salad, combine everything in a big bowl and serve. Storage. You should ideally consume this vegan Caesar Salad on the same day. If you have any salad leftovers, store them in the airtight container in the fridge and consume on the next day.
If you make this recipe, please leave me a comment below and rate it. I always appreciate the feedback. Also, you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.
Iryna Bychkiv is the founder and writer of the culinary website Lavender & Macarons, where she shares clean, European-inspired recipes that are delicious, easy to prepare, and made with wholesome ingredients. Iryna loves creating meals that are simple yet healthy and unique, including vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Iryna is also a freelance writer for MSN and Associated Press Wire.
Mashka says
I made this salad and it was sooo tasty. Thanks for the recipe.