A plant-based twist on the classic, this vegan Caesar dressing has all the traditional texture and flavor: tangy, zesty, and creamy.
Recreating the classic salad with this vegan Caesar dressing was a serious delight. Let me tell you why: since becoming lactose intolerant in 2012, I have not had a single Caesar salad! I’m serious — I have been deprived! I haven’t even attempted to make it plant-based before this because I think I got used to not having it at all!
The Protein
Traditionally, Caesar salad is topped with chicken although it’s also been topped with steak, shrimp – pretty much any type of animal protein. For our plant-based take, I’m using tempeh strips marinated with buffalo sauce. If spicy isn’t your thing, then check out my Crispy Baked Tempeh instead.
Tempeh is a cake-like compilation of fermented soy beans that is high in protein, prebiotics, and calcium. It’s also a lower source of carbs compared to other plant-based sources of protein.
Tempeh is already pre-cooked which makes this a fast and easy protein option. Lightlife has tempeh strips that are already marinated in buffalo sauce. If you can’t find those at your local market, any tempeh will do! You’ll want to let it marinate in buffalo sauce for at least 10 minutes. Then, to cook, lightly pan-sear or bake/air-fry until lightly crispy and golden. Afterwards, brush with buffalo sauce.
However, if tempeh isn’t your cup of tea, this recipe can easily be recreated using roasted chickpeas.
The Greens
Typically, Caesar salad is made with romaine lettuce. In our mix, we’re leveraging the powerhouse leafy green: kale. I did a blend of half romaine lettuce and half raw lacinato/dino kale. Then I lightly massaged in extra virgin olive oil, a squeeze of lemon and salt.
Vegan Caesar Dressing
Personally, I try to avoid store-bought dressings because they’re usually loaded with dairy, unnecessary sugar, and hydrogenated, processed oils. In contrast, this vegan Caesar dressing maintains the classic flavor but uses clean and wholesome ingredients that are easy to find. Check out the recipe below!
Other Ingredients
Buffalo sauce. Most buffalo sauce brands use beef bone broth as one of their ingredients. If you’re vegan/exclusively plant-based, you’ll want to read the label. Our favorite brand of Buffalo sauce is the mild or medium flavor from The New Primal.
Croutons. You would think that dried bread is safe but oftentimes, croutons are made with milk and cheese.
Parmesan Cheese. We use the Violife brand of vegan parmesan cheese.
Wrap. We made these wraps using whole wheat flour tortillas but these can certainly made with any type of bread that you have on hand: sliced sandwich bread, pita bread, spinach and tomato wraps – it all works well!
Not interested in the wrap? Assemble a classic Caesar salad, pictured below.
Vegan Caesar Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup raw cashews
- 1/4 cup plant milk
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1-2 small garlic cloves
- 1/2 tbsp worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp capers
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1.5 tsp red wine vinegar
- 2-3 tbsp water
Instructions
- Soak the cashews in boiling water for ten minutes.
- Add the cashews to a high speed blender with all the rest of the ingredients.
- Blend until smooth and creamy.
Video
@thewholescoopblog Easy vegan Caesar Dressing ##veganrecipes ##vegan ##cooking ##fyp ##cookingtips
♬ Morning – Liqwyd
Notes
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