Vegan Caesar Salad

Vegan Caesar salad is a copycat version of a traditional Caesar salad, veganized for plant-based salad lovers. You will love this vegan Caesar salad recipe.

Whenever I'm craving a savory salad, I make a vegan caesar salad with all the trimmings. With a few tweaks, I transform a tradition Caesar salad into a vegan Caesar salad recipe. It does, however, take a little creativity and some special ingredients to create an incredible vegan caesar salad recipe. As with most of my recipes, I add a little something special because I love veggies, and the more, the merrier. 

Jump to:

• Vegan Caesar Salad Ingredients 
• Vegan Caesar Salad Ingredient Substitutions
• Traditional Caesar Salad vs. Vegan Caesar Salad
• Crouton Ingredients
• Crouton Ingredient Substitutions
• Vegan Caesar Salad Dressing Ingredients
• Caesar Salad Dressing Ingredient Substitutions
• Recipe FAQs
• Tips
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews

I often set up a mini salad bar as part of dinner to make salad fun at my house. Instead of choosing what goes in everyone's bowls, I let the kids choose. As a result, the kiddos learned to grab more veggies and soon became fast-loving salad fans.

Vegan Caesar salad, for instance, is one of my family's favorite salads, so I veganized it for them! 

Vegan Caesar Salad Ingredients 

Because traditional Caesar salad contains a whole bunch of animal-based products, such as parmesan cheese, anchovies, egg, and buttery croutons, my plant-based Caesar salad contains less than half of the calories and fat in a traditional Caesar salad. 

• Romaine Lettuce: The most nutritious lettuce is Romaine. Compared to red leaf, green leaf, butterhead (Boston and bib types), and iceberg, it delivers more folate, potassium, beta carotene, and lutein.
• English Cucumber: An English cucumber is generally sweeter than the regular, common cucumber with many large seeds, contributing to their bitter flavor. In addition, the skin is thinner than a slicing cucumber and therefore doesn't need to be peeled.
• Grape Tomatoes: A Grape Tomato is shaped like a typical grape – most grow longer and oval. In comparison, a typical Cherry Tomato is shaped like a cherry – most grow perfectly round!
• Red Onion: Red onions are rich in anthocyanins, powerful plant pigments that may protect against heart disease, certain types of cancer, and diabetes.
• Capers: These small, green buds can lend a piquant sour and salty flavor to many other recipes. There's little prep needed, and they can be added to salads (including pasta and potato salads), used as a condiment or garnish, or chopped finely for dressings and sauces.
• Croutons: I make oil-free crispy garlic croutons
• Homemade Vegan Caesar Dressing: I make vegan Caesar dressing which is included in this post.
• Vegan Parmesan Cheese: My blend of cashews and seasonings makes a perfect vegan parmesan topping for extra cheesy goodness.

Vegan Caesar Salad Ingredient Substitutions

• Choose any preferred greens, such as spinach, kale, collard greens, or red leaf lettuce.
• Regular cucumbers work, but I suggest removing the seeds to reduce the moisture in the salad.
• Cherry tomatoes are an excellent substitute for grape tomatoes.
• Yellow onions or green onions replace red onions in recipes.
• If you don't like capers, skip this ingredient.
• Try a bottled vegan Caesar dressing if you don't want to make your own.

Traditional Caesar Salad vs. Vegan Caesar Salad

According to the Food Network, a traditional Caesar salad recipe contains an unbelievable amount of fat and calories. 

Therefore, a traditional Caesar salad has 470 calories, 40 grams of fat (9 grams of saturated), and 1070 milligrams of sodium. Even the “side salad” boasts 362 calories, 26 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, and 913 milligrams of sodium.

Unfortunately, many people confuse salad with healthy food without thinking about the ingredients. 

On the other hand, my vegan caesar salad is only 116 calories, with 3 grams of unsaturated fat and 565 milligrams of sodium. Yet, this one tastes just as good or better than that fattening version.; 

Crouton Ingredients

Although most store-bought croutons contain oil, my oil-free croutons pack just as much crunch without any of the oil. 

• Dave's Multi-Grain Bread: The bread needs to be frozen to make the perfect croutons.
• Aquafaba (Chickpea Fluid): The sticky aquafaba fluid in the can is a great oil substitute and helps the seasoning stick to the bread.
• Garlic Powder: Garlic powder is ground garlic and adds a beautiful flavor to the croutons.
• Onion Powder: Onion powder adds another level of flavor.
• Garlic Salt: Garlic salt adds another layer of garlic and the salt component to the croutons.

Crouton Ingredient Substitutions

• Use any frozen bread. Choose gluten-free bread for gluten-free croutons.
• Brush the frozen bread with unsweetened, unflavored plant-based milk instead of aquafaba.
• Choose any seasoning combination.
• For spicy croutons, add a small amount of cayenne pepper.

Vegan Caesar Salad Dressing Ingredients

And with most GREAT salads, the dressing steals the show! Try not to lick the fork after eating this vegan Caesar dressing. 

• Raw Cashews: Soak the raw cashews overnight to soften the cashews if you don't have a high-speed blender.
• Water: The water thins the dressing and acts as oil in neutralizing the dressing.
• Lemon Juice: I prefer using fresh lemon juice for the best flavor.
• Dijon Mustard: Dijon mustard is tangy and gives the caesar dressing texture and immense flavor.
• Garlic Powder: Garlic powder is ground garlic.
• Garlic Cloves: Fresh garlic gives the dressing a warm, earthy taste.
• Vegan Worcestershire Sauce: I like Wizard's gluten-free brand
• Capers: Capers are salty and add texture and flavor.
• Salt/Pepper to Taste: Add salt and pepper to taste. I prefer fresh ground pepper.

Caesar Salad Dressing Ingredient Substitutions

• Choose hemp seeds or sunflower seeds for a nut-free option.
• Or, use white beans or silken tofu in place of the cashews.
• Use bottled lemon juice if fresh lemon juice isn't available.
• Stone Ground mustard is an excellent replacement for dijon mustard.
• Instead of vegan Worcestershire sauce, use 1 Tablespoon of soy sauce for every Tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce.
• Green olives replace capers or skip the capers if you don't like them.

When I create a salad bar, my family gathers around and eats more salad. Then, I watch them go back for seconds. Sometimes the salad is the only part of dinner without leftovers the next day.

Recipe FAQs

Tips

• Soak the raw cashews overnight if you don't have a quality, high-speed blender.
• Wait to add the croutons or dress the salad until serving time.
• Make the Caesar dressing ahead of time, so it thickens and chills in the refrigerator.
• The dressing stays fresh for 5 days in the refrigerator.
• Keep the croutons in a dry space, covered. Please don't refrigerate the croutons.
• Prepare individual salads or make a salad bar for people to choose their toppings.

And I don't know about you, but that's a win at my house. So, bring on the vegan Caesar salad for your hungry crew.

📖 Recipe