CHARD VEGAN CEASAR SALAD ROMAINE SALAD WITH KING OYSTER MUSHROOMS, GARLIC CROUTONS, CHEESY CAPERS 2

To make a vegan Caesar salad, we have to look at the individual ingredients, asking what flavor or texture it brings. The next step is finding vegan ingredients that produce the same flavor or texture.
Like many of us, a Caesar salad has been our go-to salad, it’s a classic. What’s not to like, the dressing is creamy with lemon, garlic, and parmesan cheese. The classic recipe hits all of the notes, acid, umami, and salty, it’s why it is a classic. Over the last eight years, I have been working on my Caesar salad. It has continued to develop, adding new techniques and ingredients.
For me, it all comes down to finding a combination of briney sea flavors and umami, all highlighted with bright lemon juice and raw garlic.

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WHAT YOU NEED…

Kelp granules are a key ingredient in the vegan Caesar dressing. The kelp granules bring the brine and sea to the recipe with a healthy amount of umami.
Black Vinegar is an ingredient that you need to have in your pantry. It is one of the most dynamic vinegar ever. The flavor reminds me of Worcestershire sauce, it is not as thick. Black vinegar has a nice round flavor that’s rich and has a slight sweetness to it.
Celery seeds are for sure a new ingredient to my Caesar dressing. Celery seeds have a savory flavor and saltiness that helps to lift the other flavors in the dressing. The celery seeds also have a little bitterness, adding another layer of balance to the dressing.
King Oyster Mushrooms are magical, I really mean it! The texture, when cooked, is so juicy and full of savory flavors and packs tons of umami. Basting the King Oyster mushrooms with maple syrup and poultry seasoning, and cooking under the broiler adds even more punch.
Capers, for being such a small berry, bring a whole new level of fun to this dish. When you fry a caper berry it pops open, creating crispy little pedals. The capers are then tossed with nutritional yeast. It is a fun spin on grated parmesan.

How To Make Vegan Caesar Dressing

vegan caesar salad dressing ingredients — I like to prepare all of my ingredients in advance.

KELP AND CELERY SEED OIL FOR VEGAN CAESAR SALAD DRESSING_ — The first step is to infuse the olive oil with kelp granules and celery seeds.

BLENDING VEGAN CAESAR SALAD DRESSING_ — Blend until smooth.

VEGAN CAESAR SALAD DRESSING ADDING NUTRIONAL YEAST, SALT,LEMON JUICE — Add the nutritional yeast, lemon, and salt.

VEGAN CAESAR SALAD DRESSING — Creamy vegan Caesar dressing is a must for this classic salad.

How to Make Garlic Vegan Croutons

CUTTING BREAD FOR CROUTONS — Start by dicing the bread.

DICED BREAD, SEASONED WITH GARLIC, NUTRITIONAL YEAST, OLIVE OIL FOR CROUTONS,_ — Next, you will toss with olive oil, garlic, nutritional yeast, and salt. Coat evenly.

COOKING DICED BREAD, SEASONED WITH GARLIC, NUTRITIONAL YEAST, OLIVE OIL FOR CROUTONS,_ — Spread the croutons onto a baking sheet.

GRALIC CROUTONS — Cook until golden brown and crispy.

How to Make Cheesy Fried Capers

DRYING CAPERS ON A PAPER TOWEL FOR VEGAN CAESAR SALAD — Dry the capers to remove excess water.

cooking capes in extra virgin olive oil_ — Fry in extra virgin olive oil until crisp.

crispy capers with nutritional yeast_ — Toss the capers in nutritional yeast for that cheesiness!

How to Make Broiled King Oyster Mushrooms

king oyster mushroom sliced and scored — Slice and score the king oyster mushrooms.

king oyster mushroom sliced and scored, and glazed for vegan caesar salad — Then you will glaze and cook under the broiler.

broiled king oyster mushroom sliced and scored, and glazed — You will flip these twice, basting with glaze each time. The final outcome is divine.

How to Make Charred Romaine

CUT ROMAINE LETTUCE_ — Cut the romaine lettuce into quarters, keeping the core intact.

CHARD CUT ROMAINE LETTUCE_ — In a hot pan, quickly char the outside leaves of the romaine.

DRESSING ROMAINE LETTUCE WITH CEASAR DRESSING_ — Massage the dressing into the romaine before serving.

Chefs Tips

Charring the romaine brings smoke and heat to the salad. I used a hot cast iron pan to char my romaine, the best method is to place the romaine on a grill, the smoke really adds that special element to the salad. Make sure to grill only one side, grilling just long enough to char but not so long that the romaine loses its crispy texture.

CHARD CEASAR ROMAINE SALAD WITH KING OYSTER MUSHROOMS, GARLIC CROUTONS, CHEESY CAPERS 2

Charred Caesar Salad (vegan)

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Caesar Salad, Vegan

Prep Time: 30

Cook Time: 30

Total Time: 1

Servings: People

Calories: 529kcal

Author: Those Vegan Chefs

To make this Vegan Charred Caesar Salad, it all comes down to finding a combination of brine sea flavors and umami, all highlighted with bright lemon juice and raw garlic.

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Ingredients

Caesar Dressing

½ cup cashew blanched and soaked
¼ cup olive oil extra virgin
1 Tbsp kelp granules
½ tsp celery seeds
6 oz silken tofu 6 ounces
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

2 Tbsp black vinegar
1 Tbsp soy sauce
¼ cup nutritional yeast

2 Tbsp lemon juice

Cheesy Fried Capers

¼ cup capers dried
2 Tbsp olive oil extra virgin

1 Tbsp nutritional yeast

Garlic Croutons

2 cups sourdough bread cubed
2 Tbsp olive oil extra virgin
1 tsp garlic granulated
2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
½ tsp salt kosher

Broiled King Oyster Mushroom

1-2 king oyster mushrooms
2 Tbsp sweet soy sauce
1 Tbsp olive oil extra virgin
1 Tbsp black vinegar
1 tsp poultry seasoning
¼ tsp salt kosher

Chard Romaine

2 romaine heads

Instructions

How to Make Vegan Caesar Dressing

Cook the cashews in boiling water for 3 minutes.
Allow the cashews to soak in the cooking water for 5 minutes. Drain and rinse the cashews. Set aside.
Heat a pan over medium heat, and add the extra virgin olive oil. Add the kelp granules and the celery seeds. Allow the kelp granules and the celery seeds to steep for 5 minutes.
Place the cashews, tofu, Dijon mustard, black vinegar, and soy sauce in a high-speed blender.
Puree until the mixture is very smooth.
Add the kelp oil to the blender, and puree until fully emulsified.
Add the national yeast and lemon juice. Adjust the salt levels.
Place in the refrigerator.

How to Make Cheesy Fried Capers

Place the capers on a few paper towels, pressing to remove as much moister as possible.
Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
When the oil is hot add the capers, cooking until crispy.
Place the capers immediately into a bowl and add the nutritional yeast, toss to coat.

How to Make Garlic Croutons

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Toss the diced bread with extra virgin olive oil, granulated garlic, nutritional yeast, and salt.
Make sure the bread is evenly coated.
Cook until a light golden brown and crunchy, roughly 12-15 minutes.

How to Make Broiled King Oyster Mushrooms

Turn the broiler on.
Slice the king oyster mushroom in ¼ inch thick slices length-wise.
Score the mushroom creating a diamond shape.
In a bowl combine the sweet soy sauce, olive oil, black vinegar, poultry seasoning, and salt. Mix to incorporate.
Brush the glaze on the king oyster mushroom.
Place under the broiler for 2 minutes, the glaze should be caramelized.
Flip the mushrooms, glaze the other side, and broil for 2 more minutes.
Flip again, glaze the mushroom, and set the mushrooms aside.

How to make Charred Romaine

Remove the outer leaves.
Cut the romaine in half length-wise.
Heat a cast iron over high heat. When the pan is smoking hot place the outside of the romaine down and gently press.
Cook for about 1 minute. The goal is to char the romaine but maintain the crispy freshness of the lettuce.

How to Plate Grilled Caesar Salad

I like to smear a healthy amount of dressing on the romaine, working the dressing in-between the layers of leaves.
Place some dressing on the plate, arrange the romaine on the plate, placing the king oyster mushrooms between the romaine.
Garnish with the croutons and the cheesy fried capers.

Notes

Nutritional values are an estimate. T

Nutrition

Vegan Caesar Salad

Le Creuset Skillet

Chefs Knife

High-Speed Blender

WHAT YOU NEED…

How To Make Vegan Caesar Dressing

How to Make Garlic Vegan Croutons

How to Make Cheesy Fried Capers

How to Make Broiled King Oyster Mushrooms

How to Make Charred Romaine

Chefs Tips