Nut Free Vegan Caesar

This nut free vegan Caesar salad is a thing of wonder. The super creamy caesar dressing is made by blending white beans with all the usual suspects. Who knew that beans blended with olive oil, lemon, and a handful of other easy to find ingredients could make a dressing that tastes like caesar! The bulk of the salad is made with hardy kale, and crispy cajun tofu dressed in the creamy nut-free vegan dressing. It's to die for!

Why you will love this Nut Free Vegan Caesar

There is so much to love about this nut free vegan Caesar salad! First of all, this vegan dressing is dairy-free, egg free and gluten free. Second, kale Caesar salads are superior to romaine because the kale can stand up to being dressed without wilting. This caesar is perfect for meal prep because it stays yummy for about 3 days after tossing the salad with the dressing. Also there is plenty of protein in this salad because the dressing is made with beans and instead of croutons, it has crispy cajun tofu! This salad recipe is easy to make and is delicious and filling!

What is a Caesar salad?

In case you didn't know, Caesar salad is one of the most popular salads in America. It is usually comprised of romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese and croutons and features an emulsified dressing containing raw eggs, anchovies, garlic, lemon and olive oil. Legend has it that the original Caesar salad was made in 1924 by a restauranteur in Tijuana, Mexico named Caesar Cardini. He whipped together the unlikely combination after a big rush left him low on supplies. Rather than close up shop, he put together these strange ingredients and concocted the first Caesar salad. It has remained an incredibly popular salad since and most restaurants in the United States have a Caesar salad on the menu.

What is a vegan Caesar salad?

Us vegans have taken the classic egg and anchovy caesar and tweaked it significantly to produce a cruelty free dressing. Most Vegan caesar dressings feature tahini, vegan mayo or cashews. That is how they make a vegan caesar dressing. For this nut free vegan caesar we use white beans instead combined with flavorful ingredients to produce a creamy dressing that tastes like the original. We add lemon, garlic, dijon, olive oil, and nutritional yeast. Dulse flakes give this vegan dressing a little taste of the sea! Another way we make this a vegan recipe is by substituting nutritional yeast and hemp seeds for the parmesan cheese. Nooch gives the dressing a cheesy taste and hemp seeds give the salad more texture.

Ingredients for the Nut Free Vegan Caesar

This nut free vegan caesar is a three part recipe. First there is the salad, then there is the crispy tofu and last there is the nut-free creamy dressing. Let's go over the ingredients and talk about my favorite substitutes.

• Kale- For this kale Caesar salad we use a combo of Red Russian Kale and Dini Kale aka lacinato kale. If these are not available substitute curly kale or any other type that is available. I favor kale for this recipe because it is hardy and will taste good the next day. If you prefer Romaine lettuce or any other type of delicate lettuces, just wait until the salad will be consumed before dressing.
• Hemp Seeds- We use hemp seeds aka hemp hearts for extra protein and added texture in this recipe. Sub sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds or vegan parmesan.
• Tofu- I use extra firm tofu for baking crispy cajun tofu. You can substitute tempeh, chickpeas or any other protein source that you like. Just toss them in the spices and prepare the same way as the tofu.
• White Beans- White beans make this dressing super creamy! Since they have a mild flavor, they are combined with lemon, garlic, dijon mustard, olive oil, salt, pepper and pulse flakes. Beans make this nut-free vegan Caesar salad truly magical!
• Dulse Flakes- Dulse flakes give the dressing a subtle ocean taste like anchovies. If you cannot find any, you can use furikake or any dried seaweed or add a couple of capers or olives to give it a briny taste.

How to Make Nut Free Vegan Caesar

Making this summer salad is easy! There are just a couple of steps to follow that are simple enough for a beginner cook!

• Cook the tofu- You will be amazed at how simple it is to spice and bake tofu on a sheet pan. While it is cooking you can prepare the other ingredients.
• Make the dressing- A high speed blender makes easy work of dressings. We add the beans plus the spices, mustard, lemon, garlic and oil to a blender and puree til smooth.
• Massage the kale- Add the kale to a big bowl and pour half the dressing on top. Massage the creamy dressing into the leaves until they are tender and "relaxed".
• Toss the Salad-Then add the baked tofu, the hemp seeds and the remaining dressing and toss well.

Tips for making Nut Free Vegan Caesar

• Use only greens that are fresh and crisp. Save wilted veggies for soups.
• Be sure to drain the greens well or spin in a salad spinner until dry. Don't forget "water is the enemy of flavor".
• If you want the tofu to be crispier, add 5 minutes cooking time. Oven temps vary.
• Rinse and drain the beans well. Do not water down that delicious dressing with aquafaba.
• Fresh ground black pepper is far superior to store-bought ground. If you don't have a pepper mill, do yourself a favor and get your hands on one. Total game changer!

Other salad recipes you will love

• Simple Vegan Kale Caesar
• Loaded Vegan Caesar
• Garden Salad with Oregano Vinaigrette