Ah – Caesar salads. Who does not like the rich creaminess of this dressing that is so punchy and flavorful? Remember back in the day, when it was considered “healthy” to have a Caesar Salad 🥰️? What I truly never liked though, was biting down on Anchovies in my Caesar Salad. I do not know why, but they are simply not for me. But, with the colder months and kale making a re-appearance in our stores I was craving this kind of dressing and so I developed this Five Minute Caesar Dressing.

This salad dressing ticks all the boxes from my How to Transition Your Salads from Summer to Winter post. It is delicious, super easy to make, warming, hearty, and super-duper satisfying 😍. You would also not think that it is vegan by any stretch. The rich, creamy feel is definitely there all the way!!

I paired the sauce with a super simple kale salad. You absolutely do not have to do that, any salad will do. You could even add some bacon if that is what you fancy, or you could make my vegan bacon from my Vegetarian Spaghetti Carbonara dish. Of course, this also makes an awesome side salad. The world is your oyster (as always) on this recipe 😉.

Why is this Five Minute Vegan Caesar Dressing good for you?
Nutritional Yeast
If you have never heard about nutritional yeast before, allow me to dive in a bit. Nutritional yeast technically comes from the same yeast that is made for baking bread or brewing beer. However, nutritional yeast is specially grown to be used as a food product. The yeast cells are killed during the manufacturing process and not alive in the final product. Nutritional yeast has a nutty, cheesy flavor and is oftentimes used as a substitute, for e.g. parmesan on pasta in vegan dishes.

There are usually two types of nutritional yeast that you can purchase: Unfortified and fortified nutritional yeast. Most nutritional yeast comes in a fortified version, which means that some vitamins and minerals have synthetically been added to boost the nutrient content. Irrespective of the fortification, nutritional yeast is a complete source of protein, as well as a great source of B-Vitamins, trace minerals, and antioxidants. Nutritional yeast also contains vitamin B12, which usually comes from animal sources and may prevent vitamin B12 deficiencies in vegans. Whereas nutritional yeast is amazing for you in terms of its health benefits, please bear in mind that usually, it is only consumed in small quantities and hence the overall benefit is, likely, limited.

How can I adjust this Five Minute Vegan Caesar to my Dietary Requirements?
This recipe is gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and paleo (be sure to use capers that are paleo-approved). Due to the cashews used, it is sadly, not nut-free.

Other Salad Recipes on the Blog
There is a whole range of other salad recipes on the blog!! Salads do not have to be boring or simply consist of lettuce. Try any of the below 🥰️:
- Roasted Veggie Salad with Almond Butter Dressing
- Fig and Arugula Salad with Buffalo Mozzarella
- Tuscan-Style Tomato and Bread Salad (Panzanella)
- Wild Rice Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash
- Creamy Kale Salad
And that is it for this week 🤗. I hope you enjoy this delicious, creamy, cheesy, and vegan dressing. As always, please let me know how you like the recipe by either leaving a comment below and/or by rating the recipe. I love hearing from you!! Happy salad dressing making 🥳️.