Vegan and Gluten-Free Caesar Salad, Dressing and Parmesan Cheese

Creamy, tangy, and oh so garlicky, this Caesar salad recipe is a winner.  Dinner guests that tend to be “picky eaters”,  will never know it’s gluten-free and vegan.  Unless, of course, you tell them which I personally tend to reveal long after the plates are licked clean. 😉

This recipe comes from Kris Carr’s book, Crazy, Sexy Diet.  If you don’t mind a little sass, this book is an excellent and quick read.  Kris explains in an easy-to-understand way how to take total control of your own health.

VEGAN CAESAR SALAD AND DRESSING (from Crazy, Sexy Diet by Kris Carr)

• 1 cup * Vegenaise
• 1 1/2 teaspoons gluten-free Dijon mustard
• 1 clove garlic (or more!)
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons nutritional yeast
• salt and pepper to taste

Put all ingredients in a food processor and process until well blended. Pour desired amount over chopped romaine leaves, slivered or chopped red onion,  and gluten-free croutons, if desired.  Using tongs, toss the salad to evenly coat the romaine leaves. Sprinkle top with a vegan Parmesan cheese (see below for a quick and easy recipe).

Store extra dressing in a jar in the fridge and use it later as a spread on sandwiches, steamed vegetables (it’s so yummy on steamed asparagus!), or as a dip for your raw veggies.

Here is a simple recipe for a Parmesan cheese that we absolutely love on our Caesar salad or pasta dishes.

VEGAN PARMESAN CHEESE

• handful of raw cashews
• 2 cloves of garlic
• sea salt to taste
• some fresh parsley (optional)

Place all ingredients in a food processor.  Pulse until you have coarse crumbs.  Store unused Parmesan in a glass jar in the fridge for future use.

If you are transitioning to a plant-based diet, I highly recommend this Caesar salad.  It satisfies any cravings you may have for cheese or other dairy foods.

* Not familiar with Vegenaise?  You may want to read here for its comparison with a jar of mayo.