Generally, I'm not a salad person (meaning a person who enjoys salad, not a person made of salad, though I'm not that either). But somehow, a Caesar salad is different. It's probably the only kind of salad I have ever ordered at a restaurant - the tangy, creamy Caesar dressing, crispy croutons and shavings of parmesan cheese make it feel very un-salad-like (can anything topped with bread and cheese really be called a salad?).
There's no denying that a Caesar salad is something a bit special.
Unfortunately, I don't get to enjoy it very often, since restaurant versions are often not veggie-friendly - anchovies in the dressing (or even added on top), real parmesan as opposed to the vegetarian equivalent... so I decided to make my own! This is the ultimate vegetarian Caesar salad. Homemade Caesar dressing, and all the usual Caesar salad elements - plus a few of my own additions to turn a simple salad into an exciting full meal.
Now tell me that doesn't entice you...
First up, the lettuce. A Caesar salad is usually made with romaine lettuce, but since I was going for perfection here, I used a bag of mixed lettuces - we're going for an 'every bite is different' kind of dinner here. I used Florette's 'Mixed' bag, which contains all kinds of varieties - escarole, frisée, green batavia, green cos, iceberg, radicchio... you get the picture. Lots of lettuce. You want to use a few really big handfuls - fill the bowl, as you need a good base for all the tasty toppings you'll add later.
Speaking of toppings: I stuck with the classic croutons (homemade, of course) and parmesan cheese (vegetarian, of course). But I also got a little carried away with some of my own additions. Cherry tomatoes, roasted edamame, roasted asparagus, and even a boiled egg. This vegetarian Caesar salad is full of protein, and there are enough tasty bits to keep you interested all the way through.
And finally, the homemade Caesar dressing! It was super easy to make - just a few simple ingredients thrown in my beloved mini food processor, and blitzed up. You can adjust the quantities depending on how tangy, how creamy, or how cheesy you want it to be. Just remember that when you taste it straight from the bowl it might taste a bit overly strong, but once it's mixed through all that yummy Florette lettuce and all those heaps of toppings it will taste much more mellow. I will definitely be making this again!
And there you have it - my ultimate vegetarian Caesar salad. What would you add to the top of yours? I'm thinking next time I might add some sweetcorn too, for another little pop of colour and flavour. Why not.
Ultimate vegetarian Caesar salad
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Print Pin CommentIngredients
For the homemade Caesar dressing:
- 1 very small clove garlic, peeled
- ~5 capers
- 1 tablespoon grated vegetarian parmesan-style cheese
- 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
- Black pepper
To assemble:
- 1 slice wholemeal bread
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (not extra virgin)
- ~10 thin spears asparagus
- 80 g frozen edamame (~ ½ cup)
- Salt
- Black pepper
- 2 eggs
- 3 leaves large handfuls mixed salad
- 10 cherry tomatoes, halved
- Vegetarian parmesan-style cheese, shaved
Instructions
- To make the homemade Caesar dressing, add the small clove of garlic to a mini food processor, and add a few capers and the finely grated parmesan. Blitz until finely chopped. Add the Greek yogurt, extra virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, dijon mustard, and plenty of black pepper, and blitz again until well combined. Taste, and adjust quantities as desired (remember it will taste overly strong and tangy straight from the bowl).
- Cut the slice of bread into 1 inch pieces, and toss in a little olive oil, along with the asparagus and edamame (I cooked mine straight from frozen, but fresh would work too). Lay everything out in a single layer on a baking tray, and season with salt and pepper. Roast at 190°C (Gas Mark 5 / 375°F) for around 20-25 minutes, tossing halfway, until the croutons are crispy and the vegetables are soft.
- Cook the eggs in boiling water for around 8-9 minutes, or until cooked to your liking. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside to cool, then peel and cut in half.
- To assemble the vegetarian Caesar salad, fill two large dinner bowls with mixed lettuce leaves. Top with the halved cherry tomatoes, croutons, roasted edamame and asparagus, and a few shavings of parmesan. Finish with the boiled eggs and Caesar dressing, and serve immediately.
Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on your exact ingredients. Please calculate your own nutritional values if you require accuracy for health reasons.
Note: Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on exactly what ingredients you choose.
Alyce Jackson says
Loved this recipe, a great twist on a Caesar Salad. I'm a very busy vegetarian, so this was easy to follow and really yummy.
I made double sauce because i love extra sauce on everything and i'm glad I did because the sauce was my favourite, even with a little left over my partner wanted to put it on his sandwiches for lunch.
Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says
Thanks Alyce, so glad you enjoyed it :)
Shreya says
You say the ultimate 'vegetarian' salad and you put up the pictures containing egg? Although the way you described it was good.
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
Hi Shreya, egg is vegetarian, it's just not vegan :)
kate says
You don't need to say "vegetarian parmesan-style cheese" all cheese is vegetarian. Vegetarians eat dairy vegans don't.
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
Actually not all cheese is vegetarian. Parmesan is made with rennet, which comes from the lining of a cow's stomach. So it's not the dairy that makes parmesan non-vegetarian, it's the rennet. Most other cheeses are indeed vegetarian but you need to use a vegetarian parmesan-style cheese instead of real parmesan.
Celesta says
This dressing is delightful -- tasty and easy. The evo + mayo combination really works making it just the right creamy texture. If you love capers, google the Seitan Picata recipe from Candle 79. It's just delicious.
Big thanks, celesta
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
Thanks Celesta, glad you like it!
Camilla @FabFood4All says
Just lush Becca, love the addition of the asparagus spears, my family would love this:-)
Michelle @ Greedy Gourmet says
Yes, salad is rabbit food. For me it makes all the difference in what you put with it. Protein is an absolute must and the dressing is keen, which is why you pulled it off in this case!
Sarah Maison Cupcake says
Oh I hadn't realised it even had anchovy in it (not that this is a problem for me) but your version looks really tasty.
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
Yes it's surprising how many things are unexpectedly non-veggie!
Ceri Jones says
I love Caesar salad, even with the anchovies, but since I often cook for vegetarians its good to know there is an alternative way of cooking it. Bravo!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
The Caesar dressing has sooo much flavour even without the anchovies - it's so good!
Sylvia says
Scrumptious looking salad, love the pictures. Caesar salad is definitely one of my favourites! I could eat it everyday :D