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  • Vegan caesar salad with roasted chickpeas and crispy cornflake-breaded cauliflower in a large bowl with creamy dressing
  • Caesar salad from above with side bowls of cauliflower and chickpeas
  • Caesar salad served, close-up with fork and knife in the background
  • Caesar salad with chickpeas and cauliflower, angled top view
  • Caesar salad in the bowl with a spoon, close-up of cucumber slices
  • Caesar salad with crispy cauliflower and chickpeas, freshly plated
  • Caesar salad with bowls of cashew dressing, cauliflower and grated cheese
  • Vegan Caesar Salad with Chickpeas & Cauliflower

25 JULY 2019

Caesar salad with chickpeas and crispy cauliflower

By Verena Frei

This post is also available in: deutsch

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Last updated 5 July 2026

Prep
15 min
Cook
30 min
Total
45 min
Servings
4 portions

Hello lovelies, the heat wave continues and we mainly eat salad. In order for it to make us full, I have a great recipe for you today: Caesar salad with chickpeas and crispy cauliflower. The caesar salad has a topping of roasted chickpeas and crispy baked cauliflower in a cornflakes breading. This isn’t only great with salad, but also pure and we eat it often.

Caesar salad from above with side bowls of cauliflower and chickpeas

Of course I didn’t make a classic caesar dressing, because this is anything but vegan and usually contains anchovies and eggs. But that isn‘t necessary for a spicy and creamy dressing. In my dressing capers and garlic provide the necessary spice and with mayonnaise and yoghurt it turns out really creamy.

The chickpeas replace crispy fried bread croutons and so the salad is a healthier and fuller alternative. You also don‘t have to do without parmesan, because there are some really great alternatives that taste really delicious.

Caesar salad served, close-up with fork and knife in the backgroundCaesar salad with chickpeas and cauliflower, angled top view
  • Instead of the garlic clove you can also use garlic powder for the dressing, in order to make it less intense

We really like romain lettuce very much, because it‘s very crispy. Therefore it fits best with the creamy dressing and the crispy chickpeas and cauliflower. You can often find mini-lettuce in stores now, you can also use them very well. Romain lettuce are in season in Switzerland from May to October and so you can enjoy the caesar salad with chickpeas and crispy cauliflower all summer long.

Caesar salad in the bowl with a spoon, close-up of cucumber slices

By the way, don’t let yourself be frightened by the long list of ingredients. The dressing is mixed in minutes, the cauliflower and the chickpeas can bake together in the oven and so everything is done in a heartbeat. Nobody wants to spend a lot of time in the kitchen at these temperatures, right?

Caesar salad with crispy cauliflower and chickpeas, freshly platedCaesar salad with bowls of cashew dressing, cauliflower and grated cheese

Have you already discovered my other summer salads on the blog? We love the fruity couscous salad with apricots, the refreshing vegan watermelon feta salad and – if you want even more chickpeas – the colourful salad with sesame potatoes, tomatoes and chickpeas.

You can also bring this caesar salad to a party or a barbecue, because the lettuce don‘t collapse quickly and you can prepare the dressing, the chickpeas and the cauliflower easily.

As usual, I'm really looking forward to your feedback and I hope you like the salad as much as we did!

If you have Pinterest, you can find me here. Feel free to pin this picture:

Vegan Caesar Salad with Chickpeas & Cauliflower

Yours, Verena

TIPS

Verena's notes

Tip from my kitchen: prep the components separately – the dressing, roasted chickpeas and breaded cauliflower all keep well and store covered for 1–2 days in the fridge. Only toss everything with the romaine right before serving so the chickpeas and cauliflower stay crisp. Instead of the garlic clove you can stir a little garlic powder into the dressing for a milder result, and a few tablespoons of nutritional yeast stand in nicely if you have no vegan parmesan.

Vegan caesar salad with roasted chickpeas and crispy cornflake-breaded cauliflower in a large bowl with creamy dressing

5.0 from 3 votes

Vegan Caesar salad with chickpeas and crispy cauliflower

Vegan caesar salad with chickpeas and crispy cauliflower – the satisfying summer twist on the classic, with no anchovies or egg. Ready in 45 minutes.

  • Course:Main Course, Salad, Starter
  • Prep:15 min
  • Cook:30 min
  • Servings:4 portions
Vegan

INGREDIENTS

Chickpeas:

Cauliflower:

Dressing:

Salad:

INSTRUCTIONS

Chickpeas

  1. Drain the chickpeas and mix them well with all other ingredients
  2. Spread them on a baking paper and bake for 15 minutes at 180-200°C (356-392°F)

Cauliflower

  1. Wash the cauliflower and divide it into florets
  2. Mix the ingredients for the breading (everything but cornflakes and sesame seeds)
  3. Smash the cornflakes and mix them with the sesame seeds
  4. Coat the cauliflower florets first in the breading and then in the cornflakes
  5. Place them on a baking paper and bake them crispy for 30-40 minutes at 180-200°C (356-392°F), turn them around after halftime

Dressing

  1. Add all ingredients into a mixer and mix them into a creamy dressing

Salad

  1. Wash the salad and cut it into pieces
  2. Grind or slice the parmesan
  3. Cut the cucumber into slices
  4. Place the salad and the cucumber into a large bowl, mix them with the dressing and cover them with the chickpeas, cauliflower and parmesan
Calories
590 kcal
GOOD TO KNOW

Frequently asked questions

  • No, a classic caesar salad is not vegan – the dressing normally contains anchovies, parmesan and raw egg. In my version capers and vegan worcestershire sauce provide the salty, umami depth, while vegan parmesan and creamy plant yogurt with mayonnaise replace the cheese and egg. It tastes just as savoury as the original but stays completely plant-based.

  • Instead of bread croutons I top the salad with roasted chickpeas. Tossed with garlic powder, paprika and turmeric and baked until crisp, they add the crunch along with plenty of protein and fibre – which makes the salad much more filling and wholesome.

  • The florets are first pulled through a batter of soy flour (or chickpea flour) and plant milk, then rolled in crushed cornflakes with sesame seeds. Bake at 180–200°C (356–392°F) for 30–40 minutes and turn them once – that way they crisp up all over, no deep fryer needed.

  • Yes, it is perfect for a party or barbecue. The dressing, chickpeas and cauliflower all keep well prepared separately, and romaine does not wilt quickly. Just toss everything together right before serving so the cauliflower and chickpeas stay crisp.

  • A few tablespoons of nutritional yeast with a pinch of salt work nicely in place of vegan parmesan. If you have no vegan worcestershire sauce, a splash of soy sauce with a little lemon gives the same salty-sour depth. And for a milder dressing, swap the garlic clove for a little garlic powder.

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