Vegan Caesar Salad with Crispy Chickpea Croutons

Ingredients
  

Crispy Chickpea Croutons

  • 1 (15-ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 tsp teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/8-1/4 tsp teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (optional)

Dressing

  • 1 cup raw cashews, soaked overnight or soaked in boiling water for 10 minutes
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper (optional)

Salad

  • 2 hearts of romaine lettuce, cut into 1-inch ribbons
  • 1 tbsp nutritional yeast

Instructions
 

  • For the crispy chickpeas, preheat oven to 400°F. Spread the rinsed garbanzo beans onto a paper towel-lined rimmed baking sheet and gently pat with paper towels to dry. Transfer dried garbanzo beans to a medium bowl and add remaining ingredients, tossing to coat. Transfer the beans onto a rimmed baking sheet and bake in the oven until golden brown, about 30 minutes.
  • To make the dressing, drain and rinse soaked cashews and add to a blender with the remaining dressing ingredients; puree until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the blender with a silicone spatula, as needed. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
  • For the salad, add romaine and chickpea croutons to a large serving bowl and toss with just enough dressing to coat. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Sprinkle nutritional yeast over salad, divide salad among 4 chilled salad plates, and serve immediately.

Notes

Per ¼ recipe: 360 calories, 20.5g fat, 43mg sodium, 37.9g carbohydrates, 10.1g fiber, 4.7g sugar, 16.9g protein
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