Vegan Caesar Salad With Homemade Air Fried Croutons

The dressing in this vegan Caesar salad seriously blows me away! No fat, no oil, everything healthy inside and absolutely delicious! Go ahead, drench those leaves!

A Healthier Salad

Have you ever gone to one of those restaurants that lists the calories on all the items in their menu? I have been shocked on numerous occasions, to see the calorie count on some of the salads listed. Often times, they are as much, if not more than a burger and fries meal! Here I am, thinking I am being “healthy” and ordering a salad, when in fact, it is no better for me than many of the other “bad” choices on the menu.

The reason is because most salads are served with some sort of “crispy” chicken (notice how they don’t use the word “deep fried”) and they are drenched in an oil based dressing and topped with cheese made from animal fat. So in a sense, you are taking lettuce which is good for you, and topping it with fat, more fat, and ummm yes…even more fat.

This salad gives you all the flavor of a classic Caesar salad with none of the fat! The dressing is so peppery and delicious that I can literally eat it by the spoonful. Haha, maybe a slight exaggeration there, but that is how I taste for seasonings! It uses good for you herbs, spices and other ingredients that aid in your nourishment not take away from it.

The croutons in this salad are so crispy and full of flavor. I use ZERO oil and they turn out perfectly every time. Just toss in a little vegetable oil to allow the seasonings to stick, and let you air fryer do the rest.

I do like to add some vegan cheese because it gives the salad that classic tang it needs to make it truly Caesar worthy. I like to choose a brand that uses minimal ingredients and no seed oils. Look for brands that use coconut oil rather than sunflower, canola, or vegetable oil. This cheese is by no means a health food, but it’s not terrible in smaller amounts and I consider it a “spoonful of sugar” that helps the medicine go down in the most delightful way!

How I Eat This Salad

So the recipe says that this salad serves 4. That may be so, but realistically (the way I eat salad) it really serves 2. I like to take my designated salad bowl from the cabinet and load it up! My salad bowl is huge! I also like to top this salad with my delicious air fried tofu to add even more nutrition and a healthy dose of plant protein.

Folks, I eat this salad as a MEAL and it fills me up every time! I usually make it for lunch and then save the rest to eat before a healthy plant based dinner like my protein mashed potatoes served with my irresistible mushroom brown gravy. Something about all the flavors make this meal incredibly comforting and satisfying. FYI…my protein mashed potatoes use the Caesar dressing from the salad for flavor in place of milk, cream, and butter. It is so good!

I really hope you try this salad too. It will quickly become one of your favorites! Let me know how you liked it!