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    Home » Picnic Food

    Vegan Caesar Salad with Crunchy Chickpea Croutons (Gluten Free!)

    Published: Mar 27, 2018 · Modified: Nov 14, 2024 by Louise-Claire Cayzer · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    I am going to give you the recipe to this yummy, scrummy, garlicky Vegan Caesar salad with crunchy delicious chickpea croutons. This super delicious vegan salad recipe is an absolute FAVOURITE of mine. In fact, I make it again and again. It first made an appearance back in March 2018, when I wrote the below story about it. (Use the jump to buttons to skip the little story!)

    Platter showing vegan caesar salad with extra croutons, smoked tofu and dressing. this recipe
    Jump to:
    • 📖My Original Post
    • 🥗The Dressing (And why it is GREAT!)
    • 🌱Other Key Ingredients:
    • ❓Salad FAQ
    • 💚Similar Recipes & Serving Ideas
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    📖My Original Post

    ..but first I have to tell you little story. (What . You can't wait? Well...the button there's a button right up there that will take you to the recipe)

    Anyhooo... Vanessa & I were having a debate about which order to post a series of scrummy new recipes we've created. You see every couple of weeks we get together in The Vegan Larder test kitchen (aka my scruffy little cottage kitchen) and cook, laugh, debate, taste and photograph a whole lot of dishes that we're experimenting with.

    Our in house tester (aka Louise's Husband) is used as a taste guinea pig, and he gives us valuable feedback to our dishes. We also sometimes take our creations out into the world and force feed our colleagues, our neighbors and our friends and beg for critiques. Any that have passed the muster then get photographed and we write up the recipe and accompanying notes, the ones that fail get sent back to the kitchen for re-think.

    Original Vegan Ceasar Salad Photo from back in March 2018!

    This means we have a selection of recipes pretty much nearly ready to go at any one time, however it also means that sometimes we can't decide which one to go up first. Usually this is decided by the weather, season or by what we have just posted or needs to be posted soon (we like to mix up what we give to you)

    However, this time we had two equally delicious recipes, and both had a valid argument to be posted first, and so- I took the debate to Instagram stories and created a (not terribly scientific) poll between this recipe, and a delicious Chocolate & Pistachio Tart.

    Guys- we REALLY thought the tart would win.

    We were wrong. So very wrong.

    75% of you wanted this Vegan Caesar salad with chickpea croutons recipe! - I mean. WOW.

    75% of YOU, our readers want SALAD? Not chocolate?

    Seriously?

    (Happy dance!)

    I can't blame you really. I mean this salad is full of the good stuff. Smoked tofu that's been grilled, crunchy chickpea croutons, all backed up with the soft bite that comes with a good cos lettuce. Yum.!

    Caesar salad in a bowl with extra smoked tofu.

    🥗The Dressing (And why it is GREAT!)

    The dressing for this vegan Ceasar Salad is just AMAZING!

    Creamy from tahini, loads and loads of garlic. The tang of capers.. a hit of lemon..Whew. It's quite probably one of my fave dressings. Ever. It also happens to be naturally oil free, which is amazing!

    Don't be scared by the raw garlic in this, it mellows out with the brine of the capers and lemon juice. Usually, a Caesar salad dressing would have anchovies in it, however we use capers for that delicious salty hit. We think they work just as well!

    This recipe makes more dressing than you will probably need. But that's a very very good thing. Keep it in a jar in the fridge and use it to jazz up any other salad you can think of. Or dip leftover lettuce leaves in it while standing at the fridge door and scoff. (I did. I have no shame).

    If you love this dressing, then you'll also love the tahini dressing for our Malfouf Salad (Lebanese Cabbage Salad).

    Caesar Salad with extra chickpea croutons

    🌱Other Key Ingredients:

    Chickpea Croutons: These yummy little bombs of flavour are essential for the overall crunch and texture of this salad. Head to my Crispy Roasted Chickpea Snack recipe for how to make these perfectly every time. And go a long way to help keeping you full and feeling powered up for the rest of your day. They also ensure this recipe is gluten free! By all means use regular garlic croutons if you would like.

    Cos or Little Gem Lettuce: This salad needs a robust lettuce leaf to hold up to all the dressing and salad additions. I find cos, or it's little cousin 'little gem' to be the best vehicle for the best scooping up of salad dressing action.

    Smoked Tofu: Yummy, smokey tofu that gets cut up and griddled or fryed. The smoky flavour is perfectly balanced with the garlic heavy dressing. We love Taifun smoked tofu the best for here. Or you could make your own : check out how here : How to Tofu! Beginner Level- Basic Crispy Tofu (aka Facon!)

    Nutritional Yeast: Traditional Caesar Salad would have parmesan cheese sprinkled all over it. We like to generously sprinkle nutritional yeast (aka Nooch) all over ours for that yummy, savoury, cheesy flavour! - We suggest getting one like this one with added B12 (affiliate link)

    ❓Salad FAQ

    How long does the dressing last in the fridge?

    About a week in an airtight container

    I don't like tofu, what else could I use instead?

    You could use some vegan 'chikn' chunks, or vegan 'facon' instead.

    I don't have time to make the chickpea croutons, are they necessary?

    They only take about 20 minutes to make. Or use pre-made croutons from the supermarket instead. I've used garlic flavoured crisp breads when making this salad, which were delicious too.

    💚Similar Recipes & Serving Ideas

    This delicious vegan caesar salad is a meal in itself. We also like to serve it as a 'canape'. Layer a slice of tofu and some chickpeas onto a scoop shaped lettuce leaf. Drizzle with the dressing (so it forms a pool inside the leaf). Sprinkle some herbs and enjoy!

    Or why not try some of our other favourite salads!

    Easy Japanese Gomae Style Sesame Dressing with Winter Salad

    Beetroot, Butternut Squash and Chickpea Salad

    High Protein Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad (Gluten Free)

    Harissa Roasted Chickpea & Tomato Salad

    If you make our vegan Caesar Salad and love it, make sure to let us know in the comments! And share with all your friends too! x

    📖 Recipe

    Vegan Caesar Salad with chickpea Croutons in a bowl.

    Vegan Caesar Salad with Chickpea Croutons

    Louise-Claire Cayzer
    The crunch, the garlic, the creamy dressing and the lettuce and the yummy chickpea croutons! This vegan take on the classic Caesar is delicious !
    5 from 1 vote
    Prevent your screen from going dark
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    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Salad, Snack
    Cuisine American, Vegan
    Servings 2
    Calories 704 kcal

    Ingredients Note:

    For accuracy, I measure all ingredients in metric as standard, then convert and test the recipe for American cup measurements etc.

    (Heads up Aussie and UK readers- your measurements in cups are sometimes different, so please use metric or check you have the correct cup and spoon type!!)

    Ingredients

    For the Dressing

    • 3 tablespoon tahini
    • 3 tablespoon capers (finely minced/smashed)
    • 1 tablespoon Caper brine (the liquid that the capers comes in!)
    • 2 tablespoon lemon juice, (or to taste) (juice of around ½ lemon)
    • ½ teaspoon maple syrup (or coconut nectar)
    • 3 tablespoon fresh minced garlic (4-5 cloves)
    • warm water to thin as needed

    For the Croutons

    • 375 g (2 2/7 cups) cooked chickpeas (drained (about 1 x 15 oz can) )
    • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
    • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • pinch salt

    For the Salad

    • 500 g (17 ⅔ oz) Cos Lettuce ((About 1 head) Washed, dried & torn to bite size pieces)
    • 200 g (7 oz) smoked tofu (sliced into 1cm slices)
    • 4 tablespoon chives and parsley- chopped (optional, but pretty and tasty)
    • 2 tablespoon nutritional yeast

    Instructions

    For the Chickpea Croutons

    • Preheat the oven to 180℃/Gas mark 4/375℉
    • Drain the chickpeas and tip onto a baking tray
    • Drizzle over the oil, paprika and garlic powder. Add a little salt. Mix them all around well so all the chickpeas are covered in the oil & seasoning.
    • Bake for 20 mins, then stir and put back in the oven. Bake for a further 15 mins or until crispy. Depending on the day & your oven you might need to bake longer. Keep stirring until the chickpeas are crispy but avoid burning them.

    For the Salad Dressing

    • In a jar with a lid, mix together all the ingredients and shake well. 
    • Add a little water and mix- add more if needed so the dressing is creamy, yet pourable.
    • Taste the dressing. Add more salt, lemon juice or maple syrup to balance the flavours as needed

    For the Salad

    • Brush a griddle or fry pan with a tiny bit of oil. Griddle or fry the tofu on each side
    • Tear the lettuce. Then on a nice plate arrange the lettuce & tofu. Sprinkle with herbs. Drizzle over the dressing and toss some chickpea 'croutons' over.
    • Serve with extra dressing on the side.

    Notes

    NB: You can also cook the chickpeas in the air fryer. Pop it on at 180C/375F and roast for 10 minutes or until the chickpeas are crispy.  (it can take up to 15 minutes depending on the chickpeas) 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 704kcalCarbohydrates: 80gProtein: 39gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 384mgPotassium: 1612mgFiber: 25gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 23583IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 370mgIron: 12mg
    Tried this recipe and loved it? Follow and Mention @vegan_larder or comment and ⭐ below

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    1. mlz says

      February 20, 2024 at 6:20 pm

      i appreciate your recipes, a lot. BUT, you say you've been good about conversion, however you're inconsistent - eg, no F for oven temp; 500g lettuce, why no ounces ['1 head' does not tell us enough]; 200g smoked tofu in 1cm slices = '1pkg', what size pkg? I believe you either you do it or you don't but inconsistent is really just a tease and a lot more work. i'd love to make the recipe if you had only done what you promised - be well converted!!

      Reply
      • Louise-Claire Cayzer says

        February 21, 2024 at 10:29 am

        Thank you for your feedback. This is one of my oldest recipes and it hadn't had the full modern update with all the conversions yet. I've just popped the conversions in for you, so you should be able to make this easily now.

        Reply

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