Skip to main content

Eccentric Caesar Salad

4.6

(7)

Image may contain Plant Food Bowl Furniture Table and Dining Table
Eccentric Caesar SaladSara Remington

When I created this Caesar salad, I did a silly dance around the kitchen. Seriously—it is that good. And the name is perfect for it. I’m betting that this Caesar salad dressing is like nothing you’ve ever tasted. It is extremely eccentric and undeniably delicious. Who would have thought that curry powder would be the perfect addition to a Caesar dressing? Not me before I took the risk of adding it—but now I am a total convert. And the nutritional yeast gives this dressing a cheese-like flavor that could please even the most omnivorous Caesar salad connoisseur. This recipe makes extra dressing that you can store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Topped with our Quick Garlic Croutons, capers, avocado, and hemp seeds, this dynamic salad will delight your adventurous taste buds. —Marea

Note: Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional yeast has a delicious, savory, cheesy flavor that’s especially welcome in many dairy-free recipes. It’s also extremely nutrient dense, packed with amino acids, B-vitamins, folic acid, selenium, zinc, and many more important minerals. It gives our Caesar salad dressing a yummy, cheesy flavor, and we also love it sprinkled on popcorn, soups, beans, and pasta. Many people add it to vegetable juice to enhance the nutrition. It comes in both flake and powder form (we prefer the flakes for our recipes) and is available in natural food stores, both in bulk and in cans.

Note that nutritional yeast is different from baker’s yeast, and it’s also not the same as brewer’s yeast (which is a by-product from the beer industry). Nutritional yeast is made from a single-celled organism called Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is typically grown on molasses and then harvested, washed, and dried with heat to deactivate it. It should be stored in a cool and dry place in an airtight bag or container.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

Caesar dressing:

1/2 cup/70 g cup raw cashews
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
3 tbsp nutritional yeast (see Note)
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 large garlic clove
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp curry powder
Freshly ground black pepper

Salad:

2 large heads romaine lettuce, chopped or torn into bite-size pieces
1 ripe avocado, medium dice
1/2 cup/65 g hemp seeds
1/3 cup/55 g capers

Preparation

  1. To make the dressing:

    Step 1

    Combine the cashews, oil, lemon juice, yeast, mustard, garlic, salt, curry powder, and pepper in a food processor and add 1/4 cup plus 3 tbsp/75 ml warm water. Process until the mixture is very smooth, 2 to 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice.

  2. To make the salad:

    Step 2

    Toss the romaine with 1/2 cup/120 ml of the dressing. Add more to taste if desired. Divide the lettuce among six plates, and top each with some of the croutons, avocado, hemp seeds, and capers. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Per Serving

1 Serving (using ½ cup of dressing): Calories: 390
Fat : 26g
Carbs: 30g
Protein: 13g
Sodium: 830mg
Dietary Fiber: 32%
Vitamin A: 80%
Vitamin C: 40%
Thiamin: 15%
Riboflavin: 10%
Folate: 35%
#### Nutritional analysis provided by Chronicle Books
Reprinted with permission from Straight from the Earth: Irresistible Vegan Recipes for Everyone by Myra Goodman, Marea Goodman. Copyright © 2014 by Myra Goodman, Marea Goodman. Published by Chronicle Books. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.
With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.
With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.
This pasta starring summer corn achieves its savory, creamy sauce thanks to one special ingredient: buttermilk powder.
This fast stir-fry dish pairs minced pork and fragrant basil with hot Thai chiles and a crispy fried egg.
Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.
Juicy steak, crisp lettuce, and a blender dressing come together for a breezy summer dinner.
This frozen cocktail uses instant espresso for a strong flavor and unbeatable convenience.