The shortcut to preparing Caesar dressing that is also vegan
With hummus, a creamy vegan Caesar dressing can be ready in less than five minutes, without the need to soak cashews.
The Caesar salad, considered by The Washington Post to be one of America's best dishes, has undeniable charm thanks to its crisp, fresh romaine lettuce, seasoned croutons, and flavorful dressing. However, the traditional dressing contains a generous amount of Parmesan cheese, as well as anchovies and egg whites, making it unsuitable for vegans.
With plant-based sausages, burgers, and even chicken wings readily available, you'd think a vegan dressing would be easy. But vegans have long sought ways to recreate the creamy flavor of traditional dressing, and the alternatives often involve soaking cashews and cleaning the blender afterward. There's one plant-based ingredient that can save you all that work: hummus, which is a staple in many vegan refrigerators.
Hummus, the chickpea dip served with warm pita bread and crispy falafel, is high in protein and works well as a mayonnaise substitute in homemade dressings. According to Bon Appétit, you can make a creamy vegan Caesar dressing with it in under five minutes. All you need is any plain hummus from the supermarket: take half a cup, mix it with the other basic ingredients, and season to taste.
Some ingredients need to be substituted. If the recipe calls for Worcestershire sauce, a vegan version can be used. Minimalist Baker recommends swapping anchovies for capers, which weren't even in the original Caesar salad, according to Food & Wine, to achieve that seafood flavor without the fish. Other options include lemon zest, pepperoncini, or a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes. For comparison, The Butcher's Daughter serves a spicy vegan kale Caesar salad for $16.
