Recipes June 29, 2023  | | Prep Time: 1 hr 10 min | Cook Time: 2 hr 10 min

Vegan Caesar Salad with Crispy Chickpeas

Our vegan spin on this classic salad is delicious, wholesome, and versatile. The dressing works equally well with chopped raw kale, a sturdy lettuce like Romaine or a combination of both. It also has enough body to work as a dip and can be served with a variety of crudité for a social gathering. This recipe yields 2 cups, enough for a few salads or veggies and dip for a crowd. It will keep in the refrigerator for at least one week. In the Spirit Rock kitchen, we like to offer this salad with crispy chickpeas instead of croutons for a nutritious bite of flavor.

Caesar Dressing Ingredients

  • 1 cup cashews (soaked)
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • ½ cup lemon juice
  • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
  • 2 Tablespoons capers
  • 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 bunch kale, washed, stripped of hard stems and chopped into bite-sized pieces

Crispy Chickpeas Ingredients

  • 1 can (14 oz.) chickpeas, drained and blotted dry
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Directions for Caesar Dressing

  1. Soak 1 cup of cashews in warm water for one hour and drain.

  2. Add all ingredients to blender and process until smooth.

  3. Toss the kale or lettuce with ¼ to ½ of the dressing, depending on taste.

  4. Top with crispy chickpeas.

Directions for Crispy Chickpeas

  1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl.

  2. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet, and cook for 20 minutes at 400 degrees.

  3. Allow to cool and serve atop Caesar salad or on their own as a snack.

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