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Make the BEST vegan Caesar salad with crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy vegan croutons, and homemade ultra-creamy vegan Caesar dressing. A crowd-pleasing salad for potlucks, picnics, BBQS, and everyday meals that’s ready in under 30 minutes.
Table of contents
5-Minute Crowd-Pleasing Vegan Caesar Salad
Although a classic Caesar salad has been around for over 100 years, the traditional recipe definitely isn’t vegan (or even vegetarian) friendly, thanks to ingredients like parmesan cheese, anchovies, and eggs.
Luckily, it turns out it’s actually really easy to produce an equally delicious vegan Caesar salad recipe, free from all animal products, with a homemade ultra-creamy, umami-loaded vegan Caesar dressing (which, by the way, is actually good for so much more than this delicious salad!).
It’s fresh, light, and crisp yet creamy and bold, so easy to throw together, and a great crowd-pleasing simple salad to serve at any meal or gathering. Plus, there are even several ways to adapt and customize the recipe to your liking.
Looking for more simple vegan salad ideas? Check out our easy panzanella salad, artichoke salad, roasted beet salad, or rainbow salad.
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The Ingredients and Substitutes
- Romaine lettuce: This lettuce is super crisp and crunchy. For the crunchiest salad, use the inner lettuce leaves.
- Croutons: We highly recommend making your own for the best texture. Store-bought vegan croutons will work in a pinch, though. Baked pita or crispy chickpeas also work.
- Vegan Caesar dressing: We make our own, which is perfectly thick, creamy, rich, and loaded with all the original flavors but 100% vegan.
You can also optionally add some shaved vegan parmesan cheese (like Violife) or homemade vegan parmesan sprinkle to the vegan Caesar salad recipe.
What could I add to Vegan Caesar Salad?
While not always traditional, there are several optional mix-ins we’ll often include in this simple salad to make a heartier and more delicious meal.
- For vegan chicken Caesar salad: Add some of your favorite vegan mock chicken.
- Other proteins: E.g., baked or grilled tofu or tempeh or crispy chickpeas.
- Avocado: For rich creaminess, healthy fats, and plenty of antioxidants.
- Cucumber: For added fresh crunch. Use English or Persian cucumbers, which have a thin peel and fewer seeds.
- Cherry tomatoes: For bursts of juicy bright flavor.
- Potato: Finely diced boiled/steamed potatoes are a super hearty addition.
- Roasted vegetables: Like bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, Brussels sprouts, etc.
- Pasta: Turn it into a Caesar pasta salad with cooked pasta and extra dressing.
- Brussels sprout Caesar salad: Replace the lettuce with raw, shredded sprouts.
How to Make Vegan Caesar Salad
- If you haven’t already, first prepare the homemade vegan Caesar dressing and croutons (if making them at home – refer to FAQs).
- Then, wash and thoroughly dry the romaine before cutting lengthwise into 1-inch strips/pieces.
- In a large bowl, add a couple handfuls of lettuce with 3 tablespoons of dressing and toss well, then repeat with more ingredients until all the lettuce is evenly coated.
- Finally, garnish the vegan Caesar salad with the croutons and serve – enjoy!
FAQs
You may not know it, but making croutons is actually really simple. Use slightly dry bread and preheat your oven to 350F/175C. Meanwhile, chop or tear the bread into ½-¾-inch pieces and toss them with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Spread them across a baking tray and bake for about 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway or until golden brown and crispy along the edges.
Absolutely! Just use gluten-free croutons. The homemade dressing is already gluten-free (double-check any ingredients you’re unsure about).
Romaine lettuce is the traditional choice, as it’s super crisp and crunchy. However, you could replace it with another type of lettuce, mixed greens, or even kale.
To make vegan kale Caesar salad, massage the leaves with some olive oil until wilted (to make them tender) before adding the dressing.
Pro Recipe Tips
- Thoroughly toss the salad: That will ensure the dressing coats every leaf.
- Only add croutons when serving: They’ll go soggy quickly.
- Play around with add-ins: Sure, it won’t be a traditional Caesar salad, but we love using this as a ‘clear the fridge’ meal option at the end of the week.
Storage Instructions
You can prepare the various elements in this vegan/ vegetarian Caesar salad recipe in advance, storing them in separate containers in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Once assembled, we highly recommend eating it immediately; otherwise, the croutons will become soft. The individual elements (dressing, croutons, and lettuce) should all last about 5 days in separate containers in the fridge.
If you plan to enjoy it as a work lunch, store the elements separately and combine them just before serving.
What to Serve with Vegan Caesar Salad
This simple salad works perfectly as a side or main (when bulked up with protein) on your family table, at picnics, potlucks, BBQs, you name it. This is a crowd-pleasing, versatile salad the whole family can enjoy alongside:
- Grilled tofu, tempeh, vegan kabobs, and other vegan proteins.
You can also make a vegan chicken Caesar wrap with your protein of choice, lettuce, and the dressing in a tortilla wrap.
- Vegan burgers and hotdogs.
- Falafels and other patties, fritters, and ‘bites.’
- Pasta – like this 15-minute cherry tomato pasta, lasagna, pesto pasta, alfredo, etc.
- Bread – think fluffy focaccia or rich garlic bread.
- Roasted vegetables – like broccoli, asparagus, corn, zucchini, etc.
- Soup – serve it as a side for minestrone, tomato soup, roasted red pepper soup, etc.
More Easy Vegan Salad Recipes
- Raw carrot salad
- Peanut noodle salad
- Fattoush salad
- Strawberry kale salad
- Vegan broccoli salad
- Shaved Brussels sprout salad
Photos by Alfonso Revilla
Vegan Caesar Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups of vegan croutons
- 2 large head of romaine lettuce
- 1 batch of homemade vegan caesar dressing
Instructions
- Wash the heads of romaine and dry them well. Cut them lengthwise and then chop them into bite size 1-inch pieces.
- In a large bowl, add two handfuls of lettuce and 3 tablespoons of dressing. Mix well, then add two more handfuls of lettuce, mix well and add 1 to 2 tablespoons of dressing or as needed. Repeat the process until all the lettuce is evenly covered with dressing. (Go light on the dressing, you can always add more on the side.)
- Garnish with croutons and serve immediately.
Notes
- Thoroughly toss the salad: That will ensure the dressing coats every leaf.
- Only add croutons when serving: They’ll go soggy quickly.
- Play around with add-ins: Sure, it won’t be a traditional Caesar salad, but we love using this as a ‘clear the fridge’ meal option at the end of the week.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Although plantbasedonabudget.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Plantbasedonabudget.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
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Love this veganized version!