• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Sourdough
      • Gluten-Free Sourdough
      • Sourdough Discard
    • Seasonal Recipes
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
      • Winter
    • Main Dish Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Bread Recipes
      • Sweet Breads
      • Savory Breads
    • Condiment Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
      • Cocktails
      • Non Alcoholic
Vanilla And Bean

Vanilla And Bean

Sweet and Savory Vegetarian

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
  • About
    • Subscribe
    • A little bit about me…
    • Contact
    • Let’s Work Together
    • Blogs I’m Reading
    • Blogger Resources
You are here: Home / Recipes / Sides / Salads / Vegan Caesar Dressing with Kale and Parmesan

Vegan Caesar Dressing with Kale and Parmesan

By Traci · Jump to Recipe ·
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my affiliate policy.

Ingredients for the Vegan Caesar Dressing with Massaged Kale.

One of our favorite restaurants, Adrift, just North of Whidbey Island, is full of character. From its eclectic decor, including a library (yes!), and attentive and personable wait staff, to its extensive menu and wine list. Adrift is a farm-to-table restaurant that includes seasonal options as well as standard fare.

Dining at their kitchen-side bar is pure entertainment. Watching chefs work their magic with flaming pans, broccoli rabe and kale flying through the air, garnishes tossed around, and finished plates whisked off to be enjoyed, it’s better than a Saturday night action movie!

A glass of dried ingredients with a spoon and another glass containing the dressing.

While I am a fan of many of their dishes, I’ve fallen head over heels with their Kale Brutus salad. The magic is the dressing. Well, and of course, the kale… but the dressing!! It is so spicy, creamy, and garlicky.

Their secret; tons of garlic… and, anchovies and egg yolks. I became determined obsessed with making a vegan version of this favorite dressing. And I knew, because of my dark chocolate coco nib ice cream, made with a base of neutral tasting cashew creme, and the fact that cashews are a culinary wonder, I could make them the base of this dressing.

Caesar Dressing poured into a bowl of kale surrounded by a small bowl of croutons, a small bowl of lemon wedges and a glass of Parmesan mixture.

When I finally got it, Rob had his first bite. Then, started chowing down; I mean, inhaling this salad, y’all. In between chews, he exclaimed, this tastes just like Adrift! My jaw dropped to the floor, because as many of you know, Rob likes regular (his word) food. Nothing fancy or gourmet for him. Spaghetti sauce? Give the man Ragu. A cheese plate? You guessed it: Cheddar is better.

He can be a tough customer when I’m making something new, vegan or vegetarian or not regular (even after all these years!). He usually detects my sneaky ways. Certainly he’d know I didn’t use anchovies or eggs… certainly.

Massaging a bowl of kale leaves with Caesar dressing and sprinkling with parmesan.

In this dressing, capers stand in for the salty, briny flavor of the anchovies, and I added copious amounts of spicy garlic. Olive oil and lemon finish and balance the dressing, making the most creamy, dreamy, vegan Caesar dressing. I adore it and can now have this favorite salad anytime.

Two bowls of Vegan Caesar Dressing with Massaged Kale and Parmesan and a small bowl of croutons.

This dressing is so satisfying and easy to make using pantry staples. Serve this delectable, tender salad with homemade croutons, lemon wedges and vegan parmesan. Simple, easy and delicious!

Caesar Dressing poured into a bowl of kale surrounded by a small bowl of croutons, a small bowl of lemon wedges and a glass of Parmesan mixture.
Print Recipe

Vegan Caesar Dressing with Massaged Kale and Parmesan

Prep Time:15 minutes
Total Time:15 minutes
Author:Traci York | Vanilla And Bean
Creamy, garlicky, spicy and full of lemony, briny flavor, this vegan Cesar dressing is delicious on any variety of greens, but especially romaine or kale, or as a dip. vegan + gluten free

Ingredients

For the Dressing (Yields 1 1/2 C or 352g) *See note:

  • 3/4 C Raw Cashews soaked in water overnight, rinsed and drained, 106g
  • 3/4 C Water 170g
  • 2 Tbs Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 2 Cloves Large of Garlic to taste **see note 18g, Increase to 3 cloves (27g)
  • 2 Tbs Capers 24g
  • 1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
  • 1/4 tsp + 1/8 Sea Salt
  • 1/4 C Extra Virgin Olive Oil 46g

For the Parmesan (Yields about 3/4 C or 82g) See note***:

  • 1/2 C Raw Cashews 66g
  • 2 Tbs Nutritional Yeast 8g
  • 1/2 tsp Sea Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder

For the Salad (Yields 2 Salads):

  • 5 oz Russian Red or Baby Kale washed and torn into bite size pieces, 142g
  • Homemade Croutons
  • Lemon Wedges

Instructions

For the Dressing:

  • In a VitaMix, add the soaked and drained cashews, water, lemon juice, garlic, capers, pepper and salt. Start to puree on low, then increase speed to high for 30 seconds. Scrape down the pitcher. Repeat until all ingredients are pureed and smooth, about 45 seconds.
  • With the lid plug removed, turn the VitaMix on to low speed. Slowly pour in the olive oil until all ingredients are smooth. Taste for salt and pepper seasoning adjustment.
  • Store in the refrigerator for at least a few hours before serving so it can chill, develop and thicken. If the dressing is too thick, add about 1 tsp of water at a time, by whisking in until desired consistency is reached.
  • This dressing freezes beautifully. When ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator and whisk or puree until smooth again (add water as needed as the dressing tends to thicken).

For the Parmesan:

  • To a bowl of a food processor, add the cashews, nutritional yeast, salt and garlic powder. Pulse ingredients until the desired consistency is reached. It should look like a fine meal.

To Assemble:

  • In a large bowl, add kale and about two Tbs of Caesar dressing. Set a timer and massage for two minutes, Don't be concerned about tearing the leaves, this is a sturdy kale. Taste a leaf or two, to see if more dressing is needed; add to taste.
  • Place in serving bowls, sprinkle with parmesan and top with croutons.
  • Serve with a few wedges of lemon.

Notes

*The dressing will not all be used for two salads. Store in the refrigerator for up to three days or freeze the leftovers. Give it a whirl in the blender or a good shake before using again. 
**The garlic. I've made this many times and have included up to four cloves of garlic. The level of spiciness/garlic flavor will depend largely on the type of garlic used. I recommend starting with two cloves and adjusting the recipe to taste.
***Store parmesan in a lidded container and store for up to two weeks. Vegan Parmesan slightly adapted from Minimalist Baker.
Nutrition is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate. If this information is important to you, please have it verified independently.
Potassium: 2060mg
Made It? Leave a comment below! The most helpful comment may include recipe rating, feedback, any modifications and/or helping other commenters. On Instagram? Take a snap of your make and share, tagging @VanillaAndBean #VanillaAndBean!

You might also like:

Closeup of Broccolini Salad in a bowl garnished with lemons.

Broccolini Slaw Recipe with Raisins and Walnuts

Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad with Chickpeas in a big bowl ready to be shared.

Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad with Chickpeas

Tossing the salad

Carrot Raisin Salad with Pineapple and Creamy Honey Lemon Dressing

Delicata squash salad with kale in a bowl ready to eat.

Maple Roasted Delicata Squash Salad with Kale and Wild Rice

Shares441PinShareYummly

Join the Vanilla And Bean community to receive free sweet and savory vegetarian recipes, and get my Five Secrets to Vegetarian Cooking email series delivered to your inbox!

You will receive recipes and kitchen tips, along with information about our partners and offerings. For more details, review the Vanilla And Bean privacy policy.
Previous Post: « Herbed Coconut Oil Croutons
Next Post: Banana Oat Crunch Muffins »

Primary Sidebar

well hello!

I’m Traci and this is my blog. So Glad You Stopped By!

Here you’ll find full of flavor vegetarian comfort food with vegan and gluten free recipes too. I also share sourdough, sweets and naturally sweetened baked goods and desserts recipes because we all gotta have a little balance!

Learn More About Traci  or  The Blog.

Get on the List!

Join the Vanilla And Bean community to receive Sweet and Savory Vegetarian Recipes, and get my Five Secrets to Vegetarian Cooking email series delivered to your inbox!

Right this Way to Subscribe

Start Here!

Why vegetarian, what you’ll find on Vanilla And Bean and fan favorites all right here!

Right this Way to Start

Footer

Affiliate Info

Vanilla And Bean is monetized in part through the use of affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on a link and/or purchase an item after clicking on a link, Vanilla And Bean may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use through my affiliate links. To learn more please see my Affiliate Policy. Thank you for your support!

© Vanilla And Bean, LLC  – 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any content or images without express and written permission from this blog’s owner is prohibited. Licensing inquiries for publication, general distribution, and/or commercial use, please contact me on my contact page.

Copyright © 2023 · Vanilla and Bean · Website by Meyne

Menu

Home · Recipes · Contact · Privacy Policy
Terms of Use · Accessibility · California Privacy Notice

Copyright © 2023 · Vanilla and Bean On Genesis Framework · Log in

Get On The List!
Get On The List!
_____________________

Join the Vanilla And Bean community to receive sweet and savory vegetarian recipes, as well as my Five Secrets to Vegetarian Cooking email series delivered to your inbox.

You will receive recipes and kitchen tips, along with information about our partners and offerings. For more details, review our Privacy Policy.
  • Recipes
    ▼
    • Recipe Index
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Main Dish Recipes
    • Bread Recipes
      ▼
      • Sweet Breads
      • Savory Breads
    • Seasonal Recipes
      ▼
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Spring
      • Summer
    • Sourdough
      ▼
      • Sourdough Discard Recipes
      • Gluten Free Sourdough
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Vegetarian
    • Condiment Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
      ▼
      • Cocktails
      • Non Alcoholic
    • Dessert Recipes
  • Sign Up For Weekly Newsletter!
  • Start Here
  • Home
  • Shop
  • About
    ▼
    • Contact
    • A little bit about me…
    • Let’s Work Together
    • Blogs I’m Reading
    • Blogger Resources
Vanilla And Bean and our partners use cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. By using the Site, you consent to the use of cookies. Learn More

COOKIE SETTINGS   ACCEPT
Cookie Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.

Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

CookieTypeDurationDescription
__cfduid14 weeksThe cookie is set by CloudFare. The cookie is used to identify individual clients behind a shared IP address d apply security settings on a per-client basis. It doesnot correspond to any user ID in the web application and does not store any personally identifiable information.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary011 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-non-necessary011 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Non Necessary".
OptanonConsent01 yearTracks users cookie consent preferences
viewed_cookie_policy011 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Advertisement
CookieTypeDurationDescription
IDE12 yearsUsed by Google DoubleClick and stores information about how the user uses the website and any other advertisement before visiting the website. This is used to present users with ads that are relevant to them according to the user profile.
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE15 monthsThis cookie is set by Youtube. Used to track the information of the embedded YouTube videos on a website.
Analytics

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

CookieTypeDurationDescription
_ga02 yearsThis cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session, camapign data and keep track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookies store information anonymously and assigns a randoly generated number to identify unique visitors.
_gid01 dayThis cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the wbsite is doing. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages viisted in an anonymous form.
ad-id16 monthsProvided by amazon-adsystem.com for tracking user actions on other websites to provide targeted content
GPS030 minutesThis cookie is set by Youtube and registers a unique ID for tracking users based on their geographical location
Performance

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

CookieTypeDurationDescription
_gat01 minuteThis cookies is installed by Google Universal Analytics to throttle the request rate to limit the colllection of data on high traffic sites.
YSC1This cookies is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos.
YTCpersistent10 minutesThis cookie is set by Youtube to manage the embed and viewing of videos