Summer Caesar Salad Recipe

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Caesar salad is popular for a reason— it’s delicious, satisfying, and has an amazing crunch, thanks to the crispy lettuce and crunchy croutons! I’ve always loved crunchy things, and that goes for a salad option too, so I am VERY excited to share this plant-based version with you that I enjoy often myself. 

However, just because it’s salad doesn’t automatically mean that it’s healthy. So many store-bought salads or those at your favorite restaurants (including a lot of Caesar salads) can be as unhealthy as a big, greasy entrée! [1]

On top of including dairy like parmesan cheese or even meat (typically grilled chicken), most Caesar salads contain sneaky ingredients that can leave you feeling sluggish and run-down. Caesar salad dressing often contains egg yolk, Worcestershire sauce and anchovy paste— these add a lot of saturated fat and sodium to what should be a healthy salad, along with unwanted chemicals and preservatives! And while croutons add a satisfying crunch to salads, they can also quickly turn a healthy salad into an unhealthy one.

But don’t worry Lovely One— you can still enjoy a delicious Caesar salad without all those sneaky unhealthy ingredients or animal products. That’s why I wanted to share this recipe with you, which is one of my personal favs. :) I enjoy it quite a bit, especially in the summer, because the dressing gives some grounded protein and fat, but it is still refreshing. 

This amazing Caesar salad recipe is 100 percent vegan, packed with nutrients, and delivers on all the flavor you expect out of a Caesar salad, but without all the ingredients that can turn a salad into a deceptively unhealthy trap.

Romaine Lettuce: A Delicious and Nutritious Leafy Green

We are not talking about Iceberg lettuce here. We are talking about glorious romaine lettuce! Romaine lettuce is certainly crisp and crunchy, but it’s also delicious, hearty, and nutrient-rich. There’s a reason I include it in my salads, as well as in my Glowing Green Smoothie® (GGS)!

Romaine lettuce is low-calorie and high in important minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium. It’s also an amazing source of vitamin C, vitamin K, beta-carotene, and folate. Your body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A, which supports a healthy heart, healthy lungs, and reproductive health. Folate is a B vitamin that is especially important during pregnancy, for both mother and baby.

Kalamata Olives: “Olive” These Benefits in a Tasty Package

Did you know that there are more than 1000 kinds of olives grown around the world? Kalamata olives are only one of the many varieties, but like most olives, they’re a great source of antioxidants and healthy fats. (Olive oil is fine too in smaller amounts, but it’s amazing in its unrefined form, straight from the olive!)

Kalamata olives are an excellent source of healthy fats like oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid and alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid. They’re also a great source of fiber, calcium, and vitamin A.

I absolutely love that pop of flavor that olives provide, and they are sort of a substitute to anchovies in the regular version. It mixes up the texture in this delicious salad, which is what I think makes a salad truly great. 

Lettuce Leaf Those Unhealthy Salads Behind

Summer is a great time for more hearty, protein and nutrient-dense salad meals! This classic Caesar salad ticks all those boxes, but with none of the animal products or sneaky ingredients that can turn a beautiful salad into an unhealthy mess.

Whether you’re enjoying it at home with the family or at a summer get-together with friends, I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do.

If you make this recipe, tag me on Instagram so I can see what you created! Remember to pin it to your Pinterest board for your family and friends to see too. :)

All my love,

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Print

Summer Caesar Salad

Ingredients

• 1 Head of romaine lettuce (chopped)
• ½ cup Grape tomatoes (halved)
• ¼ cup Kalamata olives (sliced)
• Crumbled seed crackers (Mary’s Gone Crackers and Seedz are 2 brands, there are many others), or ½ cup of sprouted sunflower or pumpkin seeds, or a combo of the two
• ¼ cup Hemp seeds

Salad Dressing

• ⅓ cup Tahini
• 1 tbsp Freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 tbsp Water (or more for a thinner consistency)
• Sea salt (to taste)

Instructions

• Add the chopped romaine, tomatoes and olives into a large bowl.
• Mix the tahini, lemon juice, water and sea salt together in a small bowl, stirring well until evenly mixed. You can add more water as needed for easier mixing and to make a thinner consistency.
• Crumble the seed crackers or add the sprouted seeds on top, along with the hemp seeds (which are a staple for me).
• Toss everything together and enjoy!

More Refreshing Summer Salads You’ll Love!

Summer is a great time to enjoy more salads (although there is never a wrong time for salad)! Here are 5 more summer salads that are healthy, refreshing, and amazing for you.

• Mixed Green Salad with Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing
• Summer Strawberry Beet Mesclun Salad
• Harvest Salad with a Tahini Citrus Vinaigrette
• Healthy Glow Kale Salad
• Creamy Cucumber Olive Salad

Citations

1. Csatari, Jeff. “The 22 Unhealthiest Restaurant Salads in America.” Eat This Not That, 13 Mar. 2023, www.eatthis.com/unhealthy-restaurant-salads/.