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The BEST Vegan Caesar Salad

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Posted by:

Erin Lynch

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Updated:

March 27, 2025

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5 from 10 votes

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VEGAN CESAR SALAD PINTEREST IMAGE.
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This Vegan Caesar Salad has all the tanginess and creaminess that you’d expect from a traditional Caesar salad, but it’s completely plant based. Topped with fresh avocado, crispy fried capers and croutons.

Overhead shot of vegan caesar salad on plate with small bowl of dressing.

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5 stars
I love your vegan caesar dressing! Made it already twice the last days 💜

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Aline

Growing up, my dad was a vegetarian. He still is for the most part. However, because he travels out of the country quite often for work to places like Ireland, Spain and Germany, dinners with his colleagues don’t always come “meat free”.

In that sense, he’s a bit of a “flexitarian.” He tells the story of how on one trip he was treated to dinner at a place called “The House of Foie Gras.” A restaurant serving entirely duck and goose liver. I’d have to call that flexible to the max!

Overhead close up of vegan caesar on serving plate.

If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know that I personally am not a vegetarian nor a vegan. Far from it actually. 

However, I do enjoy making over recipes into healthier versions of the original.

Traditional caesar dressing has a great creamy texture and tangy flavor. But, to get that richness, the classic recipe calls for raw egg yolks and anchovies, ingredients that many people are a bit squeamish about.

This vegan Caesar Salad dressing uses raw cashews which are processed with a blender until very smooth, creating an amazing silky texture. I’m also adding in some nutritional yeast (which has an almost cheesy like flavor) garlic, and lemon juice.

Then, to top it all off, I piled on some fresh chopped avocado, crispy fried capers (swoon 😍) and some garlicky homemade croutons that I made with just a bit of leftover bread tossed in olive oil and baked in the oven. Or, you can make these air fryer croutons even quicker!

Table of Contents

  • Salad ingredients
  • Vegan caesar dressing ingredients
  • How to make it
  • Tips
  • Variations
  • What to serve with it
  • Erin’s wine pairings
  • Full Recipe

Salad ingredients

  • Romaine Lettuce – I used two heads of romaine lettuce chopped into bite sized pieces. You can also leave the lettuce leaves whole.
  • Avocado – I like to add some sliced avocado on top to give this salad some extra creaminess.
  • Fried Capers – To make the fried capers, just drain some capers, pat them dry, and shallow fry them in a little oil. They get crispy, salty and become so delicious! You can also just throw the capers on straight from the jar, or skip them if you’re not a fan.
  • Croutons – I make homemade croutons using this simple recipe. However, you can also use store bought croutons or leave them off.

Vegan caesar dressing ingredients

Ingredients for vegan caesar dressing labeled on counter.
  • Cashews – You’ll want to use raw cashews, not the roasted salted kind so that the dressing is extra creamy, and not too salty.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Fresh Lemon Juice – Fresh is best here. Don’t go with the bottled stuff.
  • Nutritional Yeast – This mimics the taste of parmesan cheese and is so tasty!
  • Garlic
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Water – We’ll start with a little, then you can add more or less depending on how thick you want your dressing to be.

How to make it

Step 1

Make the Dressing

  • Place all dressing ingredients in a blender or food processor and process until very smooth. Add additional water to achieve your desired consistency.
  • Tip: I used my Vitamix to get just the right texture, and processed for about three minutes. I cannot stress enough how much I love this blender. It’s a bit pricey, but I do use it on almost a daily basis.
Close up of crispy Fried capers draining on paper towels.

Step 2

Fry the Capers

  • Add the oil to a small saucepan until it is 1/4 inch deep.
  • Heat the oil over high heat, until shimmering.
  • Add the capers to the pan and fry until golden and crispy, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Remove with a slotted spoon and spread out on a paper towel lined plate.
Croutons on baking sheet after cooking.

Step 3

Make the Croutons

  • Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
  • Add bread cubes to a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil and spices. Toss to coat.
  • Spread the bread cubes out in a single layer on a baking sheet.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes, tossing once during cook time.
  • Tip: You can also air fry your croutons.
Overhead shot of vegan caesar salad on plate with small bowl of dressing.

Step 4

Assemble the Salad

  • Place your chopped lettuce in a bowl and toss with 1/2 cup of the dressing, add more or less to suit your taste. Top with avocado, croutons and fried capers.
  • Tip: I like to toss the lettuce with the dressing, starting with just a little, and adding more as I go, just enough to perfectly coat those leaves. You’ll have extra, so add as little or as much as you’d like. The leftover vegan caesar dressing will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Tips

  • I used my Vitamix to get just the right texture, and processed for about three minutes. I cannot stress enough how much I love this blender. It’s a bit pricey, but I do use it on almost a daily basis.
  • You could also do this easily in a food processor, although if you have a small prep-sized one, that would be preferred. Just be sure to scrape down the sides of your bowl as needed while processing.
  • You may also need to add some water as you go to be sure that your dressing is the consistency that you’d like. Make it as thin or as thick as you’d like.
Side view of vegan caesar dressing in small jar with spoon.
Finished vegan caesar salad dressing in bowl.

Variations

  • Add some roasted garlic to your dressing to give it even more of a umami kick.
  • Top your salad with some vegan parmesan or crispy roasted chickpeas.
  • Get creative with your dressing. You can add in dijon mustard or worcestershire sauce (non-vegan) to add even more flavor.

What to serve with it

This Vegan Caesar Salad is the perfect side dish to accompany some pasta or a quick chicken piccata, but it’s definitely substantial enough to be a meal in itself – perfect for weekday lunches at the office.

Erin’s wine pairings

  • A Chablis or other un-oaked Chardonnay will work well with the tangy, creamy caesar dressing.
  • Rosé is another option. (Here are some great Rosé wines under $10.)
Prepared Vegan Caesar Salad next to bowl of fried capers.

More fresh salads to try

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Did you try this vegan caesar salad recipe?

If you loved this plant based caesar salad I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on  Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Facebook.

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Overhead shot of vegan caesar salad on plate with small bowl of dressing.

Full Recipe

Vegan Caesar Salad

This Vegan Caesar Salad has all the tanginess and creaminess that you'd expect from a traditional Caesar salad, but it's completely plant based. Topped with fresh avocado, cripsy fried capers and croutons. 
5 from 10 votes
Print Pin
Serves 4 servings
Created by Platings and Pairings
Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
Total Time: 35 minutes mins

Ingredients

Dressing

  • 1/2 cup cashews (raw)
  • 1/4 cup water (plus additional as needed to thin dressing to desired consistency)
  • 3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 3 Tablespoons nutritional yeast (***)
  • 1 clove garlic (smashed)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Salad

  • 2 heads romaine lettuce (chopped into bite-size pieces)
  • 1 avocado (chopped)

Fried Capers

  • 1/4 cup capers (drained and patted dry)
  • Vegetable oil (canola oil, or avocado oil )

Croutons

  • 2 cups bread (cut into 3/4" cubes)
  • 3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

Dressing

  • Place all dressing ingredients in high-powered blender or food processor and process until very smooth, taking the time to scrape down the sides of your container as needed. Add up to 4 tablespoons additional water to achieve your desired consistency.

Fried Capers

  • Add the oil to a small saucepan until it is 1/4 inch deep.
  • Heat the oil over high heat, until shimmering. To test if the oil is ready, add a caper. It should sizzle immediately. If it doesn’t, the oil isn’t hot enough.
  • Add the capers to the pan and fry until golden and crispy, about 2-3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and spread out on a paper towel lined plate.

Croutons

  • Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
  • Add bread cubes to a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Toss to coat. Sprinkle in Italian seasoning, garlic power, salt and pepper. Toss to coat.
  • Spread the bread cubes out in a single layer on a baking sheet.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes, tossing once during cook time.

To Serve

  • Place your chopped lettuce in a bowl and toss with 1/2 cup of the dressing, add more or less to suit your taste. Top with avocado, croutons and fried capers.

Notes

*** You can find nutritional yeast at any health food store. Also, many supermarkets carry it in the bulk section. It’s great sprinkled on popcorn or kale chips if you have any extra!
Variations
  • Add some roasted garlic to your dressing to give it even more of a umami kick.
  • Top your salad with some vegan parmesan or crispy roasted chickpeas.
  • Get creative with your dressing. You can add in dijon mustard or worcestershire sauce (if you’re not vegan) to add even more flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 472kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 1380mg | Potassium: 1261mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 27355IU | Vitamin C: 18.6mg | Calcium: 140mg | Iron: 5.6mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

 This vegan cesar salad recipe was originally posted in 2018. It was updated in 2023 to add new photos and information, and again in 2025 to add more information. The recipe remains the same. Enjoy!

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5 from 10 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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31 responses

  1. Kelsey
    March 16, 2018

    I had no clue ceasar dressing had anchovies! This sounds great, I love vegetarian meals.

    Reply
    1. Erin
      March 17, 2018

      Not all Caesar dressings have anchovies, but the most authentic ones do… This is a great dairy-free and fish-free alternative!

      Reply
  2. Jennifer
    April 15, 2018

    5 stars
    I have to tell you I just love this dressing. I subbed in almond milk for the water which made it a bit thicker and served it as dip with a veggie tray. It’s also amazing on sandwiches! So far it is my favourite plant based dressing and I make it at least 2 times a month. Thanks again!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      April 16, 2018

      Awww – So happy to hear that you like it Jennifer! Love your idea to use it as a dip for veggies!

      Reply
  3. Aline
    August 9, 2018

    5 stars
    I love your vegan caesar dressing! Made it already twice the last days 💜

    Reply
    1. Erin
      August 11, 2018

      So happy to hear that you like it Aline!!

      Reply
  4. Dilip K
    April 4, 2019

    Hai I have enjoyed it lot it’s nice to use vegans recipe’s thanks Erin

    Reply
  5. Mary e George
    July 4, 2019

    5 stars
    I made the vegan ceasar salad for a 4th of July pot luck. Lots of compliments. Large bowl. All gone. It was easy too. Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      July 8, 2019

      I’m so happy to hear that Mary – Thanks!

      Reply
  6. Healthy Caesar Dressing Recipe
    August 28, 2020

    […] you’re looking for a vegan recipe, take a look at this Vegan Caesar Salad by Platings and Pairings. No anchovies, no mayo, eggs, or dairy, this salad is made with blended […]

    Reply
  7. 21 Vegan Salad Recipes To Try This Month – Morgan Boulevard
    September 8, 2020

    […] Get the recipe here […]

    Reply
  8. Janine
    October 18, 2021

    Wow i love your recipe! <3 made this today and loved it.

    Reply
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Hi, I’m Erin!

Can I pour you a glass of wine? Let’s have some fun in the kitchen! Maybe some pasta? A juicy steak? I’ve got loads of yummy, easy recipes for you! Because cooking should feel as comfy as your favorite yoga pants. ♥

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