Vegan Caesar with Chickpea Croutons (Printer-Friendly)

Plant-based Caesar with creamy vegan dressing and crunchy roasted chickpea croutons for texture and protein.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chickpea Croutons

01 - 1 can 15 oz / 400 g chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
04 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
05 - 1/4 tsp sea salt
06 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Salad

07 - 1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped
08 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
09 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced (optional)

→ Vegan Caesar Dressing

10 - 1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
11 - 2 tbsp lemon juice
12 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
13 - 2 tsp capers, finely chopped
14 - 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
15 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
16 - 1 tsp soy sauce or tamari
17 - 2 tbsp olive oil
18 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

19 - 2 tbsp vegan parmesan, grated (store-bought or homemade, optional)
20 - Freshly cracked black pepper

# Method:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F 200°C.
02 - Pat chickpeas dry with a kitchen towel. Toss with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper.
03 - Spread the chickpeas in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast for 25–30 minutes, shaking halfway, until crispy and golden. Let cool.
04 - Meanwhile, whisk together the vegan mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, capers, nutritional yeast, garlic, soy sauce, and olive oil until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
05 - In a large salad bowl, combine chopped romaine, cherry tomatoes, and red onion.
06 - Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat.
07 - Add the roasted chickpea croutons on top. Sprinkle with vegan parmesan and more black pepper, if desired.
08 - Serve immediately for the best texture.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Nobody suspects it's vegan until you reveal the secret, and the dressing is so creamy it fools even die-hard Caesar fans.
  • The chickpea croutons are a protein boost and satisfy that craving for crunch without a single breadcrumb.
02 -
  • If your chickpeas aren’t dry enough before roasting, they’ll steam and turn mushy instead of crisp—pat with a towel and let air dry for a few minutes.
  • Let the chickpeas fully cool on the tray; they continue to crisp as they cool and skipping this step can leave them chewy.
03 -
  • Letting the chickpeas cool completely on the tray is the secret to audibly crunchy ‘croutons’ every time.
  • The brininess from capers and good squeeze of lemon make the Caesar dressing unforgettable—don’t skip them.
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