Vegetarian Caesar Salad Recipe (gluten free)

The good thing about this vegetarian caesar salad recipe is that it is gluten free, meat-free, nut-free, vegetarian and has a vegan option and a dairy-free option. When I first went gluten free, it was so hard to find recipes that cater to more than one food allergy or restriction.  After that, making sure every single one of my recipes cater to people with multiple dietary restrictions and/or food allergies was so important to me!

This vegetarian caesar salad is packed with romaine lettuce, kale, spinach, homemade gluten free tuscan herb croutons, parmesan and a splash of lemon juice. This is the perfect delicious recipe to serve as a main simple salad or perfect side dish, just like my gluten free feta and pecan salad.

I feel like typical comfort food consists of creamy dishes, warm meals and recipes that stick to your bones… but one meal that doesn’t fit this description is a classic caesar salad. Hands down caesar salad is a comfort meal for me. Whether it’s the middle of the summer or deep in the winter, if i’m craving a caesar salad then I’m having a caesar salad. 

why you’ll love this recipe

• There are so many different versions of caesar salads that I could honestly eat it every day and never get sick of it. You can make a lemon chicken caesar salad, a crispy grilled caesar salad, a vegetarian caesar salad, a buffalo chicken caesar salad, a mexican caesar salad… the list goes on and on. 
• This caesar salad recipe is gluten free, meat-free, nut-free, vegetarian and has a vegan option and a dairy-free option. 
• This kale salad is packed with flavor! This vegetarian caesar salad skips the whole long process of making your own dressing. 
• Easy to add a vegan protein to! When I want to add some extra texture and body to this vegetarian caesar salad I add air fried chick’n tenders, vegan vegetable tots or even shredded jackfruit. 
• Ready in 15 Minutes:  The croutons take just 5-10 minutes to bake in the oven, leaving you free to prep the salad in the meantime.  This means you can have a delicious and nutritious meal on the table in 15 minutes or less!One-Pan Wonder: No need to dirty multiple pans! The croutons are baked on a single baking sheet, minimizing cleanup.
• Meal Prep Friendly:  This salad is ideal for meal prepping. Simply store the leftover croutons in an airtight container and keep the chopped greens in a separate container in the refrigerator. When you’re ready for lunch or dinner, just toss everything together and enjoy! I like bringing it to work with me when I’m in the office.

ingredients & substitutions

• Crispy Romaine Lettuce, Kale, Spinach: These chopped kale leaves are the base of the salad. Any type of kale will work sich as curly kale, tuscan kale, purple kale, etc. You can use any mix of greens you like for this vegan kale caesar salad recipe. Other greens you can mix in are spinach, crisp romaine lettuce, butter lettuce, or any base you’d use for a hearty salad. 
• Lemon Juice: Adds a tangy zip. You can substitute with white vinegar in a pinch.
• Caesar Dressing: Store-bought or homemade classic caesar dressing dressing works great to create the traditional caesar salad flavor. You can use a vegan dressing as well. You can also make your own with simple ingredients in a high powered blender. 
• Vegan Parmesan Cheese: Adds a salty cheesy flavor. Nutritional yeast can be used for a cheesy sprinkle without the dairy.
• Avocado (Optional): Provides creaminess and good-for-you fats. Can be skipped for a lower-fat option.
• Vegan Gluten-Free Bread: Regular gluten-free bread works too, if not dairy-free. Cubed bread gets toasted for homemade croutons. You can use sourdough bread, a gluten free baguette or sliced bread. Use roasted chickpeas if you do not have bread. My favorite is the schars gluten free baguette. It toasts nice and makes super crispy croutons with great texture.
• Herb-Infused Olive Oil: Adds so much flavor to the crunchy croutons. Regular olive oil is fine if you do not have herb infused. You can find many herb infused olive oils at your local grocery store next time you are grocery shopping. 
• Garlic and Herb Seasoning: This gives the crispy croutons a savory taste. You can use Italian seasoning or any blend you like.
• Sea salt and black pepper (optional topping)

taste & texture

This vegetarian caesar salad offers a mix of textures and flavors. The chopped romaine lettuce and kale add a crisp bite, while the spinach keeps things tender. The croutons provide a satisfying crunch in every bite. The vegan Caesar dressing is a creamy dressing with salty flavor, balanced by the tang of lemon juice. The vegan parmesan cheese adds a cheesy touch, and the avocado (if you use it) provides a creamy richness. Overall, it’s a light and refreshing salad with a burst of flavor and a variety of textures.

directions

step 1

First, make the croutons: Cut the bread into 1″ cubes or small bite-sized pieces. Drizzle the cubes with olive oil, add them to a parchment lined baking sheet. Next, sprinkled the bread cubes with dried garlic and herb seasoning and bake them on 400 for 5-10 minutes until they are crispy and brown. You can also air fry them on 400 as well! Make sure to continuously keep checking the croutons to make sure they are not burning. They cook very fast in the air fryer, trust me, I’ve burnt many croutons!

step 2

Once the croutons are golden brown, chop the greens and add them to a bowl together. Mix so they are fully combined and each bite will be a piece of each green. 

step 3

Add the croutons to the salad. Top with caesar salad dressing and a splash of lemon juice. Sprinkle with cheese and serve!

expert tips & tricks

• Add oven roasted crispy chickpeas or garbanzo beans on top in place of croutons for chickpea croutons! Add to a baking sheet, season and bake fon 400 for 15-20 minutes. Leftover crunchy chickpeas can be used on any other dish such as sutffedd sweet potatoes, an easy beakfast bowl with egg yolks or any other salad recipes.
• Mix in white beans for a white bean caesar salad.
• Use a salad spinner to wash your greens before use. 
• You can make your own homemade caesar dressing by using fresh garlic or garlic powder, a little olive oil, dijon mustard, worcestershire sauce (gluten free) and anchovy paste high-speed blender. Adding a little bit of oil or cold water is a great way to create a thinner dressing. Adding greek yogurt or store-bought mayonnaise is a great way to crate a a creamy texture. You can also use an immersion blender or a food processor. Add some maple syrup to sweeten the taste if needed. Store the remaining dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for a good reason to make this salad again the next day. I use the pyrex ones with the rubber top at my house.
• Top with air fried crispy tofu for a vegan topping.
• Add your favorite protein on top for extra protein. You can even mix in quinoa for protein. 
• Add pumpkin seeds on top for another crispy topping.
• Top the vegetarian caesar salad with crispy breaded tofu, raw cashews, cherry tomatoes, pine nuts or garlic chickpea croutons for a new twist.
• Use vegan caesar salad dressing and vegan chick’n for a vegan chicken caesar salad. I love the meati chicken cutlets the best.

Variations

5 different spins on this tasty salad:

lemon chicken caesar salad: Add a grilled lemon chicken breast and black pepper croutons on top! Finish with lemon zest.

crispy grilled caesar salad: Grill the stalks of romaine lettuce on the grill before adding your topping! Then sprinkle some breadcrumbs on top before serving. 

buffalo caesar salad: Toss the croutons in buffalo sauce before baking!

mexican caesar salad: Add some corn, tomatoes and black beans to your salad. Mix 1/2 tbsp taco seasoning into the caesar salad dressing before serving. 

how to serve & store

Serve your caesar salad right away for the freshest taste and texture. Leftovers of the vegetarian caesar salad keeps well in the fridge for up to 2 days in an airtight container. However, the croutons will soften. To freeze the salad, store the chopped greens (without dressing or cheese) in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving. Reheat croutons, if frozen, in a toaster oven for a few minutes until crispy again. Meal prep by storing chopped greens in individual containers and croutons in a separate container. When ready to eat, toss everything together with dressing and cheese.

Looking for more allergy friendly easy recipe?

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Vegetarian Caesar Salad Recipe (gluten free)

Kayla Cappiello

This vegetarian caesar salad is packed with romaine lettuce, kale, spinach, homemade gluten free tuscan herb croutons, parmesan and a splash of lemon juice. This is the perfect delicious recipe to serve as a main simple salad or perfect side dish. 

I feel like typical comfort food consists of creamy dishes, warm meals and recipes that stick to your bones… but one meal that doesn't fit this description is a classic caesar salad. Hands down caesar salad is a comfort meal for me. Whether it's the middle of the summer or deep in the winter, if i'm craving a caesar salad then I'm having a caesar salad. 

The good thing about this vegetarian caesar salad recipe is that it is gluten free, meat-free, nut-free, vegetarian and has a vegan option and a dairy-free option.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Servings 1 salad

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup romaine lettuce chopped
• 1 cup kale chopped
• 1/2 cup spinach chopped
• 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
• 3 tbsp caesar salad dressing vegan
• 2 tbsp parmesan cheese vegan
• 2 slices Bread gluten free, vegan
• 1 tbsp Olive Oil
• 2 tbsp garlic and herb seasoning

Instructions

 

• First, make the croutons: Cut the bread into 1″ cubes. Drizzle the cubes with olive oil, add them to a parchment lined baking sheet. Next, sprinkled the bread cubes with dried garlic and herb seasoning and bake them on 400 for 5-10 minutes until they are crispy and brown. You can also air fry them on 400 as well! Make sure to continuously keep checking the croutons to make sure they are not burning. They cook very fast in the air fryer!
• Once the croutons are done, chop the greens and add them to a bowl together. Mix so they are fully combined and each bite will be a piece of each green.
• Add the croutons to the salad. Top with caesar salad dressing and a splash of lemon juice. Sprinkle with cheese and serve!

Notes

• • Add oven roasted crispy chickpeas or garbanzo beans on top in place of croutons for chickpea croutons! Add to a baking sheet, season and bake fon 400 for 15-20 minutes. Leftover crunchy chickpeas can be used on any other dish such as sutffedd sweet potatoes, a beakfast bowl with egg yolks or any other salad recipes.

• • Mix in white beans for a white bean caesar salad.

• • Use a salad spinner to wash your greens before use. 

• • You can make your own homemade caesar dressing by using fresh garlic or garlic powder, a little olive oil, dijon mustard, worcestershire sauce (gluten free) and anchovy paste high-speed blender. Adding a little bit of oil or cold water is a great way to create a thinner dressing. Adding greek yogurt or store-bought mayonnaise is a great way to crate a a creamy texture. You can also use an immersion blender or a food processor. Add some maple syrup to sweeten the taste if needed. Store the remaining dressing in an airtight container in the frdige for a good reason to make this salad again the next day. 

• • Top with air fried crispy tofu for a vegan topping.

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