ceasar salad vegan style











Right now I'm loving this cool, crisp salad everyday for either lunch or dinner.  I got the recipe here at Post Punk Kitchen.
It's so refreshing during this heat we've been having.  Some days I use Trader Joes Vegan Chicken Strips instead of the garbanzo's but the real star of this salad is the dressing.  It's easy to make and incredibly delicious.

I did change the recipe up just a tiny bit b/c I wanted my dressing a little thicker so I just cut back on the water a bit and only use 1 1/2 T of nutritional yeast instead of the full 2 Tablespoons that she calls for. Either way it is incredible.

Here is my version...

Dressing:
1/4 cup tahini (i use Trader Joes)
1/4 scant cup water (I use a little less)
2 small or 1 large garlic clove
1 1/2 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes 
2 teaspoons whole grain dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
Salad:
8 oz romaine (2 hearts), chopped
15 oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 avocado diced
Fresh black pepper to taste
Or any other topping you'd like such as vegan bacon, croutons, tomato


64 comments

  1. The salad looks fantastic - much nicer than the dish you had in London! Hope you're well x

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  2. I know what I'm having for lunch today-yum! Off to open the garbanzos...

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  3. That looks delish, but do you know if the dressing will keep in the fridge for a few days?

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    1. yes it will keep for a few days but it won't b/c you are gonna want to eat it all right away!

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    2. I make a similar salad, only I love TJ's "Goddess" dressing:)

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    3. oh you are preaching to the choir re tj's goddess. i even wrote a post about it awhile back. it's always been my go-to but this new one even blows goddess away!

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  4. Looks yummy, am going to have to try that. I'm into kale caesar these days, will have to try with the chickpeas!

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  5. Ooooooo ... my daughter's coming for dinner tomorrow night and she loves Caesar salad. She's always excited to try a new vegan recipe so I'm going to make this for her!

    Thanks, Janet.

    S
    xo

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  6. THANK YOU! I just returned from a family dinner - Grissini and white wine for me. ;-)
    I will happily try this recipe!

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    1. One month later my mum welcomes me with tomatoes, tofu and peanut butter and many more vegan alternatives. She asked me what to buy so I won't have to stick with Grissini and Wine.

      Today I googled the salad I was not familiar with till today. So lucky: the supermarket around the corner had exactly this type of salad on stock. It is not common and the company that produces that salad that is sold at the supermarket is a bio-organic farm. :-) I will chop those two hearts tonight.

      Other good news - since I think you like to hear about your vegan message growing from seeds to plants: Mr Paula not only cooks the most delicious vegan meals but also finds it more and more difficult to grab one of those styrofoam-trays with chopped turkey breats or minced meat at the supermarket. Last time he returned without meat, telling me he just could not buy it. He looked at it, holding it in his hands and had to put it back. Instead he stocks our fridge with tofy and ricemilk. :-)

      It was a puzzle that formed over time that exists of many pieces that made me quit eating animal products. Your piece in this puzzle is right in the centre. So once more: Thank you, Janet!

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  7. I have been checking your blog more then ever because my 15 year old went vegan over night(literally) We went out for Pizza and yougurt 1 night I went to wake her up the next morning and she said "I am a Vegan meat is disgusting" We are trying to support her but my family of 6 is not vegetarian or vegan. We do love Trader Joes and alot of things that I was having trouble with they seem to have.We had a vegan dinner last night and it was a hit. We have been givling her Vegan alternatives to what we eat. I am encouraging her to be responsible for preparing her own meals. I love your blog btw your home is so serene and peaceful (the opposite of mine) You have great style. Ralph Lauren should be paying you for advertising! Corinne

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    1. i'm so excited for your 15 yr old. she's right you know, meat is pretty disgusting if you think about it. i wish i had *gotten it* at her age, she's an inspiration to ME!

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  8. That looks delish (and sorry I am a huge meat eater!!! I would have to put real bacon on it...)

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  9. Thank you, my dear Janet for inspiring me to go meatless! I'm mostly making vegetarian meals for my family now, and I have to say everything has been delicious!!! At first I was having a hard time knowing where to start and to find meals that our kids would like, but now it's getting easier. My husband is totally on board and wants to live a healthy lifestyle. So thank you for showing us how :)

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  10. Oh how I wish I had a Trader Joe's where I live. But I do have all the ingredients for this salad on hand. I'm going to make this! Thanks.

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  11. God, that looks good. I just like the idea of someone making me a salad....I am tired of chopping.

    xo Terri

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  12. Yummy! That salad would keep me satisfied and happy.
    I had a salad today for lunch with spinach leaves, beans, corn and red peppers tossed in a light French vinaigrette...
    sounds funny but my eating regime revolves around salads.

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  13. Whether people want to follow the trends of eating meat/animal products or not is irrelevant to me.
    However, I do wonder how come so many vegans (and vegetarians) are apparently willing to eat so much processed food - specifically in this recipe, yeast flakes, bought tahini or "chicken strips" (or tofu, for that matter...)? This always baffles me, since if you're really worried about where your food comes from, wouldn't you want to be eating real food?!
    Also, a gentle reminder that "meat" is not evil and "bad" processing in the western world does not mean there is not sustainable, well-farmed, organic and utterly acceptable meat/animal products out there, certainly there is outside the US, e.g. here in Europe (where I live battery chickens have been banned for nearly 30 years, for example).

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    1. I think you are missing the point. Being vegan or vegetarian is about not ingesting or supporting an industry that brutalizes animals for human consumption. I respectably disagree with your assumption that eating meat is preferable to processed food. I do not want the cruelty to animals that occurs with factory farming, in my body! Being "sustainable" is a joke. The animal has been killed. Usually in a brutal and horrific way. Organic is an unrelated issue. There is no "acceptable" way to kill animals for our consumption. None.

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  14. i appreciate your comment b/c i'm sure many others have the same thoughts as you.

    tahini is just sesame seeds, water and lemon juice. nutritional yeast is just that, yeast, but a good source of vitamin b12. i consider both of these items and tofu to be real food.

    and i will have to respectfully disagree with you re eating meat. i do believe that factory farming or any farming of animals for animal by products is indeed an unacceptable and criminal. i don't believe there is any humane way to kill an animal for food.

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  15. this looks yummy. can't wait to try it. thanks!!

    jo

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    1. ok, so i made this for lunch. it is indeed delish but i was so intent on wolfing it down i didn't notice i left out the chickpeas! bugger. will have to make it again soon. this time WITH the chickpeas.
      thanks for sharing.

      jo

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  16. Janet, I agree. There is no humane way to kill an animal and eating meat is unhealthy. The filth and disease in slaughter houses is appalling and the conditions these poor animals live in is indeed criminal.

    Think about it, the piece of meat you eat today has been dead for days! Yuck, yuck, yuck!!

    Betty

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  17. Dear Janet -
    Thank you for another beautiful and inspirational post. Every time I see your Gardner's Cottage e-mail...I stop whatever I am doing and sit right down to take it all in!! Your recipes are so clean and fill me with motivation. I love your creative cooking...please share more of your stylish and humane living with all of us. By the way...your recent Office Makeover has inspired a spark of navy blue and flags for me too! Thank you for always making my day.
    Can't wait for your next post!
    Jeanne

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  18. Going to be trying this soon! I love every recipe you post. xoxo

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  19. I'm more vegetarian as I can't give up my love of cheese and bread. But a wonderful salad is yummy. I can't stomach garbanzos, I wish I could, so I use a lot of great nuts and cheeses.

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  20. Janet, I made this Friday night and it's delicious. I'm thinking it will be a regular around here.

    Question: what kind of bread did you use for your croutons?

    S
    xo

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    1. isn't it great sue? i use my homemade bread for croutons. glad you liked it!

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  21. What a beautiful salad! Do you have a preferred brand of nutrtional yeast flakes? Love your posts.

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  22. Janet,
    You make everything look beautiful....even ceasar salad!
    xo
    annie

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  23. I hope this comment doesn't show up twice. Thought I posted it, but I don't see it. This doesn't have anything to do with this post, though the salad looks great! It has to do with your white sofa. Is it Pottery Barn, and is it white denim?

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  24. We are having this for dinner tonight and I have your chocolate cake in the oven for dessert. Thanks for posting some recipes again, they are really inspiring

    Mireille

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  25. oh, i am definitely going to try this!

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  26. Hi Janet on a different issue - did you go on an organised tour of the English gardens and if so would you mind telling me the name of the tour and the tour operator? Many thanks Emma

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    1. it was organized tour. janelle mcculloch arranged it all. she has a blog on my blog list called library of design. you can contact her directly there. i'm not sure if she plans to do another one. i highly recommend though if she does.

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  27. Where sre you janet??? I miss not seeing a new post:)

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  28. Hey Janet! Just making sure you are ok, haven't seen any new posts.nhopenyou and your family are well. Hina

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  29. Janet,
    My sister made this for me last week when I was visiting.
    Enjoyed it so much that I made it for myself and am sharing on my blog.
    pve

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  30. Are you planning on posting soon? It feels like it's been a while and I miss my Gardener's Cottage!

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  31. Picked up all the ingredients this afternoon. Will make the salad dressing tonight. Having friends for Sunday dinner tomorrow. This seemed like the perfect "Last Hurrah of Summer Salad". Thank you.
    Question: Did you use large flake or the fine flake nutritional yeast flakes?

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  32. Janet, where have you been, I miss you!!! I hope all is well

    Theresa

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  33. Are you ever coming back?

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  34. hey, janet. missing your posts. just stopping by to say I hope you are well. donna

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  35. thanks everyone for checking in and saying hey.
    i'm fine, just taking a small break. will be back as soon as i can find something to post about!!! :)

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  36. Yeah, it was weird; all of a sudden it hit me yesterday, OMG, did something happen where I got removed from the email list? So I pulled you up manually right now and, nope, I haven't missed anything. EEuuww, is this when we begin to feel like a leash?

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    1. Good. Blogging on either end shouldn't ever feel obligatory! All the best to you; enjoy a little hiatus! It's so darn hot, isn't it; ugh.

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  37. HI Janet, I came to the comments to see what's going on! I guess that is what one does when they miss one of their favorite reads. Hope all is well. Karen

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  38. Hello, I really enjoy your blog. I hope all is going well and enjoy the very last days of summer. Nancy

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  39. I knew others missed you besides myself!!! Maybe when our ghastly heat goes away you will feel inspired again...I don't feel like doing ***t right now!! I was doing a little cleaning with the a/c going and I was still sweating.

    Take care and enjoy your little break Janet.

    Linda
    xo

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  40. Hi Janet, I missed this post when I was away but I have to try this salad, it looks so delicious... I haven't had a caesar salad for years, I think the rascals will like this too. Hope you and yours are well and happy. xox

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  41. I decided to check in, too. I miss you! I was hoping all was well with you. Now I know. Enjoy your break.

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  42. Wanted you to know that the salad dressing/salad was a big hit. One thing I learned and this was my fault entirely--do not add the dressing until the very last-minute before serving. Still delicious but the lettuce went soggy very fast. No one complained but me. ;-)

    Wanted to add this little note: I had a tiny bit of the dressing still in the fridge a week later. I wanted a stir fry tonight so it was a skillet with olive oil, a couple of teaspoons of that marvelous dressing, chopped green onions, one fresh tomato sliced, fresh green beans from the farmer's market already cooked but still slightly crisp, and rice. I love a rice combination--wild rice, brown rice, and one which I have no clue. It a rice medley in one of the bins at the health food store. I kid you not....I put the entire skillet dinner on a trivet and ate dinner on a tv tray in front of the television. Didn't even bother transferring it to a plate! ;-)

    Another little note: Miss your posts and was so afraid something terrible had happened to you. Happy to know you're alright.

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  43. very glad to read that you're ok - i have been missing you and getting worried! i would hate it if you felt obliged to post anything, but just wanted you to know you are missed. is it still hot where you are? our summer has pretty much gone, and it is never around for very long anyway. time for autumnal clothes :)

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  44. Glad to know nothing is wrong! I should tell you how I enjoy your blog more often because I've really missed you! Eloise

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  45. Add my to the list of people missing your posts! Hope all is well.

    Lisa in Fort Worth

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  46. Hey Janet!

    How about another "Ask Janet" part 2 post?

    Jeanne

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  47. Count me in as missing your posts. Hope everything is ok and this is just a well-deserved break.

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kindness is never out of style.

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