Vegan Caesar Salad
Ingredients
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon capers
- 1 ½ teaspoons red wine vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons almond/tahini/cashew butter
- ½ teaspoon pink Himalayan or sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (or to taste)
Salad:
- 1 large or 2 small heads of romaine lettuce, chopped into bite-sized pieces
Optional add-ins:
- Roasted/sprouted nuts or seeds
- Dried cranberries or cherries
- Favorite protein
- GF croutons
Instructions
- Make the dressing by either blending or processing all of the ingredients together. Set aside.
- Place chopped up romaine lettuce into a large bowl and drizzle with dressing. Toss gently to evenly coat the lettuce leaves.
- Add in any optional ingredients, if desired. Enjoy right away for maximum crunch!
Notes
Serves 4 small side salads. Per Serving (based on using red wine vinegar & almond butter):
Calories: 147 |
Total Fat: 11 g |
Total Carbohydrate: 2 g |
Dietary Fiber: 1 g |
Protein: 4 g
Ingredient Highlights
Capers are one of the highest plant sources of the flavonoids rutin and quercetin, which are both powerful antioxidants.
You can easily make your own cashew or almond butter at home by blending raw or roasted cashews or almonds in a high-speed blender or food processor until creamy.
Cayenne pepper is a good source of beta carotene and antioxidants that support the immune system. The key compound in cayenne called capsaicin is also cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, helps prevent kidney stones and speed up metabolism, and has beneficial effects on the GI system.
Dijon mustard is the traditional mustard of France made from black and brown mustard seeds and white wine. It is both more intense and has a more complex flavor than typical yellow mustard.
There are over 300 varieties of garlic grown around the world. It is considered both a vegetable and an herb and is clinically proven to support the immune system.
Enzymes in fresh lemon juice accelerate the digestive process. Even though lemon juice is acidic, it actually has an alkalizing effect on the body.
Pure olive oil is high in nutrients including vitamins D, E, K, and A as well as omega-3 fatty acids. For the highest quality, look for organic extra virgin olive oil in dark glass bottles or tins that have an expiry date.
Red wine vinegar is made from red wine once the alcohol has turned to vinegar and is popular in Mediterranean cooking. This flavorful vinegar has been shown to have beneficial effects on blood sugar levels and to help with appetite suppression.
Romaine lettuce is a crispy salad green that’s packed with nutrients and low in calories. Also known as cos lettuce, it has a neutral flavor that won’t overpower the flavor of your dressing. Just two cups of romaine provides more than 100% of your DVI of vitamin K. It’s also an excellent source of vitamin A, folate, and molybdenum.
Thank you for all explanation about the recipe below and of course for the creative salad option
This looks great. One question do you use 2 TBSP of each of those nut butters or do you choose one?
Hi Laura, great question.
The recipe calls for you to use either almond, tahini, or cashew butter. So it would be 2 Tablespoons of any one of these ingredients mentioned.
Hope this helps. Keep us posted if you decide to give this recipe a try. We'd love to hear how it turned out for you.
Thanks so much. Wishing you a lovely day!!