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    Home » Recipes » Vegan Main Dishes

    Vegan Tahini Caesar Salad

    Updated Jun 3, 2022 by Lori · THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS.

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    Easy Tahini Caesar Dressing is savory, creamy, rich, and quickly comes together in a bowl! For this vegan Caesar salad we pair it with crisp romaine, homemade croutons, and roasted chickpeas. Make a meal of this hearty salad or serve as a side dish. 

    Vegan Caesar topped with Roasted Chickpeas and creamy dressing.

    Of all the classic salad dressings, Caesar might be the one that's the least vegan.

    Sure you have dairy-filled dressings like bleu cheese, but a Caesar salad contains not only Parmesan cheese, but eggs and anchovies, too! That's a lot of non-vegan stuff going on.

    But thankfully, fat, salt, and garlic are VERY much accessible to vegans, and in my opinion these are the most important flavors in Caesar dressing.

    There are a number of different ways to achieve a vegan Caesar, but one of my favorites is with a base of tahini. 

    Tahini is so rich and earthy and nutty and fantastic. I understand that not everyone is a fan of the flavor of sesame seeds, though. And if that's you, no problem! You can also make this dressing with raw cashew butter or whole cashews or sunflower seeds. Though you'll need a blender if using whole nuts/seeds.

    This tahini Caesar dressing couldn't be easier to prepare. Simply add the ingredients to a bowl and whisk together with a fork (hooray for minimal dirty dishes).

    Ingredient Notes

    Healthy salad dressing that can be made in less than 5 minutes, with only a fork and a bowl, is definitely one of my favorite things.

    labeled photo of tahini caesar ingredients in a bowl.
    • tahini - this is simply toasted sesame seeds that have been ground into a paste. At the grocery store you'll usually find it near the nut butters.
    • fresh garlic - garlic is critical for the best classic Caesar flavor.
    • nutritional yeast - this is our vegan answer to the Parmesan cheese usually found in Caesar dressing.
    • vegan worcestershire - there are a couple of brands out there that exclude anchovies; you'll find worcestershire near other sauces and condiments.
    • prepared mustard - dijon or stoneground
    • lemon juice
    • kelp granules - this is a type of dried seaweed. I included dulse granules as a vegan sub for anchovies, just to get that "hint of the sea." But it's fine to omit this ingredient if you don't have access to it.

    You can usually find dulse (kelp is another option) in specialty markets and health food stores. You can also order this Maine Coast Organic dulse online. 

    golden-colored Vegan Caesar Dressing in a glass jar.
    Smooth and creamy Tahini Caesar Dressing tastes great on so much more than salad!

    Ways to Use Tahini Caesar Dressing

    Think beyond the typical romaine salad, and use this tahini Caesar dressing as a:

    • dip for raw veggies
    • spread for sandwiches, wraps, and veggie burgers
    • sauce for grain bowls
    • and as a sauce for roasted and air fried vegetables - try it with air fryer green beans, cabbage, and zucchini!

    If you're a big fan of healthy dressings and sauces like I am, don't miss this post: 10+ Oil-Free Salad Dressings.

    stirring the Caesar dressing together in a bowl.

    How To Make Vegan Croutons

    Homemade croutons are seriously the best. If they're not something you make very often (or ever), I hope I can convince you to give them a try.

    Sourdough is probably my favorite bread to use for croutons but really, you can make it work with most any sturdy bread.

    Pictured are croutons made from whole-grain sandwich bread from a local bakery. It was pre-sliced which created thinner croutons.

    The nice thing about buying a whole loaf is that you can cut the bread into any shape you want, thin squares, cubes, or even triangles or rectangles.

    1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
    2. Arrange the cubed bread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Drizzle it with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt, dried thyme, and garlic powder. You can eyeball the amounts for these. Just go with your gut!
      If you're not sure about the level of seasoning, go ahead and taste a piece or two of bread after you've given everything a good toss. The hard part will be NOT eating the rest of the bread before it goes into the oven!
    3. Bake the croutons for about 10 minutes or until golden and crispy.

    If the bread was on the moist side, it may take a bit longer to reach that super crispy crouton stage. This is where taste-testing comes in handy again. 

    Vegan Caesar Salad with crisp romaine and seasoned croutons.

    Tips for Roasted Chickpeas

    As for the roasted chickpeas, well, they're just for fun. You certainly don't need to add chickpeas to make a delicious vegan Caesar salad, but since you'll have the oven on for the croutons, it just makes sense to multitask!

    If you've ever made "crunchy" roasted chickpeas before, you'll understand why I put quotes around that. But seriously, they ARE crunchy for a short period of time, like right out of the oven, and they ARE nutritious and delicious.

    I just hesitate to refer to them as "crunchy" or "crispy" because I don't want to get your hopes up. 

    To help the chickpeas along on their journey to crunchiness, after rinsing, draining, and thoroughly drying them with a tea towel, roll them in spelt flour (you can also use whole-wheat or all-purpose; even brown rice flour works).

    Then give the chickpeas a quick spray of oil and a sprinkle of salt. I like this trick because the flour absorbs some of the moisture, and the small amount of oil then helps the flour get crispy. 

    Vegan Caesar Salad with Croutons and Roasted Chickpeas in a large bowl.

    Dress the Tahini Caesar Salad just before serving and top with those irresistible homemade croutons and roasted chickpeas.

    I hope you enjoy this garlicky Tahini Caesar Salad as much as we do! If you try the recipe I would love to hear from you! Comment below to let us know.

    You might also like:

    • Creamy Sunflower Seed Dressing
    • Nut-Free Vegan Ranch Dressing
    • Creamy Harissa Dressing
    • Tahini Salad Dressing 5 Ways
    • Black Lentil Salad
    • Creamy Nut-Free Kale Salad
    • Mediterranean Cucumber Salad
    overhead photo of vegan tahini Caesar salad in a bowl.

    Vegan Tahini Caesar Salad

    Author: Lori Rasmussen, My Quiet Kitchen
    This classic Vegan Tahini Caesar Salad is delicious any time of day. With a rich, salty, and satisfying oil-free Caesar dressing you'll want to put on everything, plus crunchy homemade croutons and oven-roasted chickpeas.
    Servings: 5 servings
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time: 25 mins
    Cook Time: 30 mins
    Total Time: 55 mins

    Ingredients 

    • 2 heads romaine lettuce, washed, cut into bite-size pieces

    For the dressing:

    • ¼ cup tahini or raw cashew butter - Alternatively, use ½ cup raw cashews and process the dressing in a blender.
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 Tbsp lemon juice
    • 2 tsp Dijon, stoneground or German mustard
    • 2 tsp vegan worcestershire
    • ½ tsp dulse flakes - This dried seaweed provides a subtle "sea" taste, replacing anchovies in standard Caesar dressing.
    • 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
    • ½ tsp fine sea salt
    • ¼ cup water

    For the chickpeas:

    • 1 ½ cups cooked garbanzo beans, drained, rinsed, and patted dry
    • 2 Tbsp flour of choice, such as spelt, all-purpose, whole-wheat, or rice flour
    • olive oil cooking spray
    • fine sea salt, a generous pinch

    For the croutons:

    • about 4 slices sourdough or other sturdy bread, cubed
    • 2 Tbsp olive oil
    • salt
    • dried thyme
    • garlic powder
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    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 375 degrees, and locate two baking sheets.
    • Combine the dressing ingredients in a bowl and whisk with a fork until combined. Set aside.
    • Pat the chickpeas dry with a tea towel, and discard any skins that come loose. Put the flour in a small bowl and drop the chickpeas in the flour a handful at a time. Toss to coat, then place on a baking sheet. Spray the chickpeas lightly with oil. Toss them around and spray again. Sprinkle with salt and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
    • Spread the cubed bread on the other baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, thyme and garlic powder. Taste and adjust seasoning. Bake the croutons for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown and crisp.
    • In a large bowl, toss the romaine with dressing. Transfer to individual serving bowls and top with croutons and roasted chickpeas. Serve immediately.

    Notes

    Dress the salad just before serving.
    Tahini Caesar dressing keeps in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
    Store leftover croutons at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
    Store leftover chickpeas in the refrigerator with the container lid not fully sealed.

    Estimated Nutrition (per serving)

    Calories: 385kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 16gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 830mgFiber: 11gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 21850IUVitamin C: 17.3mgCalcium: 200mgIron: 4.5mg

    Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used. We calculate this information using the online calculator cronometer.com.

    Tried the recipe?I love hearing from you! Share your feedback below!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sue

      August 13, 2022 at 12:02 pm

      Love this easy and full-of-flavor dressing! Thanks Lori.

      Reply
    2. Mandy

      June 20, 2022 at 1:41 pm

      This dressing is so easy and amazing ! My new favorite thanks so much

      Reply
      • Lori

        June 21, 2022 at 11:56 am

        Great! I'm happy you like it, Mandy. Thanks for the feedback!

        Reply
    3. Janet G

      January 07, 2022 at 5:01 pm

      I am currently addicted to Caesar salad, having an entire head of romaine each day. I love this dressing. It's been years since I had something as good as the non-vegan Rene's of days gone by. Admittedly, I double the lemon juice and the garlic for extra tang. So good.

      Reply
    4. Lea

      August 16, 2021 at 7:35 pm

      I LOVE Caesar salad so I cannot wait to make this! Thank you for a great recipe.

      Reply
    5. Brooke

      May 13, 2020 at 11:48 am

      I don’t typically comment on recipes but I found this one maybe 2 months ago and I’ve made it almost every week since then! The dressing is SO GOOD I love it with just vegetables as a snack!! It makes my caesar salads amazing!

      Reply
      • Lori

        May 13, 2020 at 9:08 pm

        I'm so glad you love it, Brooke. Thank you!

        Reply

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    Lori Rasmussen, Owner/Creator

    Hi, I'm Lori. Welcome to My Quiet Kitchen where I share easy vegan recipes with a healthier twist. Many are special diet-friendly or easily adapted. I also have a passion for veganizing classic desserts, and sometimes even those get a healthy-ish makeover.

    Learn more about me →

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