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Also known as the Caesar Salad with color and flavor!

The New Vegan Caesar Salad | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Because you guys know…I do not do boring salads.

For me, summer salads should be loaded to the brim with fresh produce, and this Caesar is just that. Loaded to the brim with flavor, color, and texture.

OK, but before I tell you all about this salad, can I give you a little background story on why I decided to create a vegan Caesar? Way back when I was a preteen, I think around the age of twelve, my Nonnie would often take me to lunch and we’d go shopping afterwards. We’d do this kind of thing all the time, but especially in the summer, when I was out of school and had all the time in the world. We always had so much fun!

One time we went to a restaurant out at Crocker Park in Westlake, Ohio. Me being the super odd twelve-year-old that I was, ordered the Caesar Salad. I remember my Nonnie looking at me kind of funny, but I loved the salad and I think I ate a decent portion of it. Almost immediately after we left the restaurant I started to feel nauseous. I think my Nonnie realized something was off, because we ended up just hopping in the car after lunch and heading home. I was completely silent and with every minute that passed I felt worse and worse, and then it happened. Ahhh yes, I totally threw up all over the front seat of her car. Sorry if that’s a little too graphic for a food blog, but there’s really no pretty way to put it.

The New Vegan Caesar Salad | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Sooo, that was my first, and last, experience with a real caesar salad. Granted, it probably wasn’t too smart to order a Caesar from a sports bar restaurant (pretty sure it closed shortly after it opened….hmm), but ever since then I’ve shied away from Caesars. Of course, I would totally try a Caesar again, but I also love the idea of an egg free, vegan Caesar, which is why I was so excited to create this vegan Caesar Salad.

This Caesar Salad is really like no other. I kind of put my own “Tieghan” touches on it using Tuscan kale, lots of avocado, fresh fruit, and grilled bread.

I mean, I don’t know about you guys, but that right there sounds a lot more exciting than a Caesar with iceberg lettuce, dressing, and stale croutons. I mean, right?!?

Hoping you guys agree!

The New Vegan Caesar Salad | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

The dressing is a mix of tahini, almond milk, olive oil, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, a little dijon, some garlic, salt, and pepper. Nothing weird, but still so delish. If you’re not vegan, you can certainly use parmesan cheese in place of the nutritional yeast.

The dressing gets massaged onto the kale, along with some of my homemade vegan parmesan (you know I am not vegan, but I really love this stuff!). And then it’s assembly time! I used romaine lettuce, sweet cantaloupe (the sweetness pairs nicely with the salty flavors happening in the salad), avocado, roasted marcona almonds, and a handful of fresh herbs and edible flowers.

So yeah, very “Tieghan” like. I promise though, it’s so good, and pretty filling too.

Instead of using croutons, I grilled up some bread for a hearty carb on the side. I love grilling bread with some olive oil, salt and pepper and serving it alongside salads. It adds a heartiness to them that I love.

The New Vegan Caesar Salad | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

What’s great about this Vegan Caesar is that you don’t have to worry about any of the ingredients going bad on you. Meaning it’s a great salad to make on Sunday and eat throughout the week. It’s also perfect for summer entertaining.

If you wanted to make it more of a main course salad, I love the idea of adding a grilled pesto chicken. Or to keep it vegan, you could use pesto chickpeas. Either option would be delicious!

The New Vegan Caesar Salad | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

The New Vegan Caesar Salad.

Author: Tieghan Gerard
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 781 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

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Ingredients

Dressing

Vegan Parmesan

Salad

  • 1 bunch Tuscan kale, roughly torn
  • 2 heads romaine lettuce, halved or chopped
  • 1/2 of a cantaloupe, sliced
  • 1 avocado, sliced
  • 1/2 cup roasted, salted marcona almonds
  • grilled or toasted bread, for serving

Instructions

Dressing

  • 1. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Dressing can be made up to a week in advance and stored in the fridge. 

Vegan Parmesan

  • 1. Heat a small skillet over medium heat and add 1/4 cup sesame seeds. Cook, stirring often until lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining sesame seeds. Let cool. 
    2. Add the sesame seeds, nutritional yeast, hemp seeds, and a pinch of salt to a blender and pulse until ground and the mix resembles grated parmesan. This can be made ahead and stored at room temp for up to a week.

Salad

  • 1. Add the kale to a large bowl and massage with olive oil, 2 tablespoons of the Dressing, and 2 tablespoons Vegan Parmesan. Toss in the cantaloupe. Divide the salad among bowls. Add the romaine lettuce. Drizzle with dressing and top with avocado and marcona almonds. Enjoy!
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The New Vegan Caesar Salad | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Non-boring summer salads for the win. <–YES.

{This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Almondmilk, thank you for supporting the brands that keep Half Baked Harvest cooking!}

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Comments

  2. This salad looks delicious Tieghan. I love the dressing. I have a few friends who are vegan, so I’ll need to make this for them!

    Reply

  3. I gave up Caesar salad a long time ago, but your version sounds dreamy, and far more nutritious than the classic!

    Reply

  5. I LOVE their Almond Cashew Blend and I LOVE that you used it to make a dressing!

    Reply

  6. Nothing beats a GOOD caesar salad and I loooove their almond/cashewmilk blend. One of my favorites. Great idea to use it in this recreation!

    Reply

  8. Yikes… I’ve had an experience like you described, and it definitely ain’t pretty. You can laugh about it much later, at least haha. I love Caesar salads, and yes, I ordered them as a 12-year old (and even younger). I’ve tried a whole variety of them, and I don’t care if that makes me basic. LOVE a good Caesar. I’ve definitely had some better than others, and the best ones I’ve had are usually homemade. I love a little anchovy in the dressing, but obviously that wouldn’t work with a vegan one. Love your vegan take on this classic salad!

    Reply

    1. Awh I totally hope you can laugh about yours now too! I hope you like this vegan take on the salad, Natasha! Thank you!

      Reply

  9. sorry…. “tuscan kale, lots of avocado, fresh fruit, and grilled bread” …. not remotely a caesar, vegan or not

    Reply

    1. Hey Linda! Yes, these ingredients are not usually added to caesar salads, but when making a recipe I like to make it my own and add my own touches into it. Personally, I really love a salad with a lot of healthy fats and fruit. Feel free to leave them out if you decide to make this recipe. Thanks!

      Reply

  12. I would take a vegan Caesar salad before any regular salad any day! 😀

    Reply

  14. Here’s to many more non-boring salads! Love all the colors and nutrients there. And yay for the Crocker Park mention 🙂

    Reply

  15. Tieghan, I could eat this for lunch every day! It looks like a perfect summer salad!

    Reply