Vegan Caesar Salad with Crispy Chickpeas, a plant-based twist made with vegan Caesar dressing, plant-based Parmesan cheese, and crispy chickpeas for protein, fiber, and flavor.
Caesar salady, but make it vegan 🥗
If you love Caesar salads, but you’re not sure how to make them plant-based, THIS is the perfect recipe for you.
It’s made with romaine lettuce, plant-based parmesan cheese, crispy croutons (make your own with this recipe), and crispy chickpeas for flavor and crunch.
It also uses plant-based Caesar dressing, which you can either buy (here’s a great option I like) or you can make your own vegan Caesar dressing with my recipe.
It’s a tasty, crunchy, and satisfying take on traditional Caesar salads. You’re going to love it!
Watch How to Make This Plant-Based Caesar
Watch this quick 40-second video to get an overview of how to make it, then keep scrolling to see more details about ingredients and prep steps.
Ingredient Notes
- Romaine lettuce: the foundation of a caesar salad, providing a crisp and refreshing base for the other ingredients
- Chickpeas: great source of protein and fiber that can be used to add texture and flavor
- Vegan Caesar dressing: creamy and tangy dressing that is the key component of a caesar salad, traditionally made with anchovies and Parmesan cheese, but made vegan with substitutes (try my homemade caesar dressing!)
- Croutons: crunchy and flavorful addition to the salad that can be made at home with sourdough bread.
- Vegan Parmesan cheese: a substitute for traditional Parmesan cheese that is made with plant-based ingredients and adds a nutty and salty flavor to the salad. I like Violife shaved Parmesan cheese.
- Olive oil: adds flavor and richness to the chickpeas when roasted with salt and pepper.
- Recommended tools: baking sheet, mixing bowls
Step-by-step photos
1
Roast chickpeas
First, roast the chickpeas in the oven until crispy.
2
Prep romaine lettuce
While the chickpeas are roasting, wash and cut the lettuce.
3
Toss salad
Add cut romaine lettuce to a bowl with vegan Caesar dressing, croutons, crispy chickpeas, and vegan parmesan cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
A popular substitute for anchovies in caesar salad dressing is capers. Capers are small, salty, and briny, which can add a similar flavor to the dressing as anchovies. Another option is miso paste, which can add a similar depth of umami flavor to the dressing. Try my favorite Homemade Caesar Dressing recipe using tahini, capers, and white miso paste.
Nutritional yeast, vegan Parmesan cheese made with cashews and nutritional yeast, and tofu crumbles or vegan feta cheese can be used as alternatives to Parmesan cheese in a vegan caesar salad. I like using a shaved vegan parmesan cheese, like this option from Violife.
To add protein to a vegan Caesar salad, options include adding legumes such as chickpeas or white beans, marinated tempeh, roasted or grilled tofu, and nuts and seeds such as almonds, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds.
More vegan Caesar recipes
Here are some plant-based Caesar recipes you’ll love:
Crispy Chickpea Caesar Salad
Ingredients
- 1 can chickpeas, drained
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 pinch salt and pepper
- 1 head romaine lettuce
- 4 fluid ounces vegan caesar dressing, about 1/2 cup
- 2 cups croutons
- ½ cup shaved vegan parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Roast chickpeas: Heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (about 200 degrees Celsius). Add 1 can chickpeas to a sheet pan, drizzle with 2 teaspoons olive oil, and sprinkle with 1 pinch salt and pepper. Then cook until chickpeas are crispy, about 15 minutes, stirring to brown all sides. When done, remove from oven and let cool.
- Prep and cut romaine lettuce: Remove leaves from 1 head romaine lettuce and then wash and remove excess water by using a salad spinner or laying flat to dry. Then stack the leaves and cut into 1 inch thick strips, removing any hard white stems.
- Toss salad: Add sliced romaine to a large bowl and add 4 fluid ounces vegan caesar dressing, tossing to coat the lettuce in the dressing. Then transfer salad to a plate and garnish with roasted chickpeas, 2 cups croutons, and ½ cup shaved vegan parmesan cheese.
Equipment
- 1 baking sheet
- 1 large mixing bowl
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Information
UPDATE: This recipe was originally published in April 2023 and updated for clarity and with a video in March 2025.
Leave a Reply