Vegan Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. 
Serving Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Vegan Caesar Salad
Crisp romaine lettuce tossed in a creamy plant-based Caesar dressing.
Contains common allergens
In the app, Listahan checks these against your household automatically.
Good to know
- Ready in under 30 minutes
Matched from this dish's own ingredients and timing. Browse more: 30-minute meals
Instructions
6 steps- 1
In a blender, combine the soaked cashews, water, lemon juice, capers and caper brine, garlic, Dijon mustard, and nutritional yeast.
- 2
Blend on high until completely smooth, scraping down the sides as needed, 1 to 2 minutes.
- 3
With the blender running, stream in the olive oil until the dressing is thick and creamy; thin with a little extra water if needed.
- 4
Season the dressing with salt and black pepper to taste.
- 5
Place the chopped romaine in a large bowl and toss with enough dressing to coat the leaves evenly.
- 6
Top with vegan croutons and an extra sprinkle of nutritional yeast, then serve right away.
Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Listahan Family Score™
57/100
Works for many families
Score reflects how well this recipe fits a typical busy household. In the app, your Family Score is personalized to your household's allergens, kids, and pantry.
Nutrition
per serving190
Calories
6 g
Protein
11 g
Carbs
15 g
Fat
Estimated per serving. Actual values depend on the brands and portions you use.
Listahan cooking guide
Chef notes & practical guide
Technique notes, ingredient swaps, serve-alongside ideas, storage guidance, and equipment for this recipe.
Cultural context
The Caesar salad was invented in Tijuana, Mexico, in the 1920s by restaurateur Caesar Cardini, built around romaine, a garlicky dressing, and a tableside flourish. The vegan version rebuilds the famously rich dressing without egg yolk, anchovy, or parmesan, using blended cashews or tahini for creaminess, capers or seaweed for the briny umami, and nutritional yeast for the cheesy edge. What makes it distinct is that it has to engineer all that savory depth from plant sources to match the original's punch.
Listahan note
This version builds a creamy cashew-and-caper dressing that delivers the briny, garlicky bite Caesar is known for. It is designed to be a crowd-pleasing salad that holds up as a light meal with added protein.
Technique cues
- Replace the anchovy's brine with capers, a little caper liquid, or a pinch of seaweed flakes so the dressing keeps its savory backbone.
- Blend the dressing until completely smooth, since any cashew grit reads as a flaw against the creamy benchmark.
- Dress the romaine just before serving and toss thoroughly so every leaf is coated without going limp.
Kitchen flow
- Parallel prep
- Toast the croutons while the cashews soak and the lettuce dries, so all three components finish together.
- Make-ahead
- Blend the dressing up to three days ahead and keep it chilled; it thickens, so loosen with water before tossing.
- Leftover move
- Dressed salad does not keep well, but extra dressing doubles as a sandwich spread or veggie dip the next day.
- Cleanup rhythm
- Rinse the blender right after making the dressing, since the cashew cream dries into a tough film.
Ingredient brief
Role, handling, and swap guidance for each key ingredient.
romaine lettuce
crisp base
Purpose: Romaine's sturdy, crisp leaves stand up to the rich dressing without wilting immediately.
Handling: Wash, dry thoroughly, and tear or chop into bite-size pieces.
Adaptation: Little gem lettuce or chopped kale work; massage kale first to soften it.
cashews
creamy dressing base
Purpose: Soaked blended cashews replace the egg and parmesan creaminess of classic Caesar.
Handling: Soak until soft, then blend with the other dressing ingredients until smooth.
Adaptation: Silken tofu or tahini make a nut-free creamy base.
capers
briny umami
Purpose: Capers provide the salty, briny punch that anchovy gives in a traditional Caesar.
Handling: Add to the dressing with a little of their brine for extra savor.
Adaptation: A small pinch of seaweed flakes or a dash of soy sauce can supply the briny note.
nutritional yeast
cheesy depth
Purpose: Nutritional yeast stands in for parmesan's salty, savory edge in the dressing and topping.
Handling: Blend into the dressing and sprinkle extra over the finished salad.
Adaptation: A vegan parmesan made from cashews and yeast works as a topping.
croutons
crunch
Purpose: Crunchy croutons give the textural contrast that defines a Caesar.
Handling: Toss bread cubes with oil and garlic and toast until crisp.
Adaptation: Use gluten-free bread for the croutons, or toasted chickpeas for a crunchy alternative.
Technique notes
- Keep the dressing thick and cling-ready, then thin gradually with water, since an over-thinned dressing slides off the leaves.
- Balance the dressing with enough lemon and garlic to make it taste bright and assertive rather than just creamy.
- Add croutons at the last moment so they stay crisp and do not soak up the dressing into mush.
Ingredient swaps
- Nut-free option
- Build the dressing on silken tofu or tahini instead of cashews to keep it nut-free.
- Gluten-free direction
- Use gluten-free croutons or roasted chickpeas and confirm any vegan parmesan is gluten-free.
- Higher-protein direction
- Top with crispy chickpeas or grilled tofu strips to turn the salad into a full meal.
Serve alongside
- Crusty garlic bread
- Roasted cherry tomatoes
- Grilled tofu skewers
- White bean and herb soup
- Sparkling water with lemon
- Iced green tea
- Dry sparkling apple juice
Serving suggestions only — check pairings for your household's allergens.
Storage & reheating
- Keep the dressing and components separate; undressed romaine and croutons stay crisp in the fridge for a couple of days. The dressing keeps for up to three days in a sealed jar, stir and thin before using. Do not store the salad pre-dressed, since the leaves wilt and the croutons turn soggy quickly.
Equipment
- High-speed blender
- Large salad bowl
- Sheet pan for croutons
- Salad spinner
Make this household-aware
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Plan it in Listahan
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