• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Fit Mitten Kitchen

balanced baking and real food recipes

Subscribe to receive my FREE Healthy Nut Butter eBook!
Free eBook!
  • Recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast
        • Egg Dishes
        • Oatmeal & Granola
        • Pancakes & Waffles
        • Scones
        • Smoothies
      • Desserts
        • Bars & Brownies
        • Cakes & Cupcakes
        • Candy
        • Cookies
        • Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts
        • PIes, Tarts & Crisps
        • Cinnamon Rolls
      • Healthy Drinks
      • Lunch & Dinner
        • Appetizers
        • Bowls
        • Salads
        • Sandwiches & Wraps
        • Sides
        • Soups & Chili
      • Snacks
        • Bars & Balls
        • Muffins & Breads
        • Nut & Seed Butters
    • Dietary
      • Dairy Free
      • Gluten-Free
      • No Added Sugar
      • Nut-Free
      • Oil-Free
      • Paleo
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
      • Whole30
    • Method
      • Food Processor & Blender
      • Freezer
      • Grill
      • Instant Pot
      • No-Bake
      • Oven
      • Slow Cooker
      • Stovetop
    • Protein
      • Chicken
      • Plant Based
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Turkey
    • Recipe Videos
  • About
    • Meet Ashley
    • Work with Me
      • Partnerships
    • Contact
  • Lifestyle
    • Real Talk
    • Travel
    • Workouts
  • Shop
Home Recipes Course Lunch & Dinner Salads Vegan Kale Caesar Salad
GF Gluten-Free DF Dairy Free V Vegan VG Vegetarian NF Nut-Free

Vegan Kale Caesar Salad

Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe
Posted:4/18/23
Updated:4/18/23
By:Ashley

You will love this Kale Caesar Salad made with a creamy vegan caesar dressing. The roasted chickpeas act as homemade croutons plus add amazing texture, flavor and extra fiber, too! Gluten-free and nut-free recipe.

vegan kale caesar salad with chickpeas and vegan caesar dressing

Why You Should Make This

  • This kale caesar salad is vegan, gluten-free and a great plant-based recipe for all to enjoy.
  • With a creamy (and super easy) hemp heart caesar dressing, this kale salad is packed with healthy fats and is also a great nut free recipe.
  • Roasted spiced chickpeas add flavor, texture and in a way replaces making homemade croutons.
  • It’s healthy! Replacing romaine with kale really adds an extra boost of nutrition.
  • This caesar salad is great as a side dish, appetizer or works well as a base to add on your choice of protein or even roasted veggies (sweet potatoes would be delicious here).

Kale in Caesar Salad

If you’re looking for a classic caesar salad that changes the way someone looks at kale, this might just be it!

  • Why You Should Make This
  • Kale in Caesar Salad
    • Types of Kale
    • How to Prepare Kale for Salad
  • Vegan Caesar Salad Dressing
  • How to Make
  • Roasting Chickpeas
  • Ways to Serve
  • Make this for Meal Prep
  • How to Store
  • More Kale Salads to Love
  • Vegan Kale Caesar Salad
      • Roasted Chickpeas
      • Kale Salad
      • Vegan Caesar Dressing

Kale is a great choice of greens to use in a caesar salad because it holds onto the creamy dressing well.

Kale is also so good for you! High in vitamins K and C, as well as beta-carotene, an antioxidant the body converts to vitamin A. 

olive oil massaged kale in bowl for kale caesar salad

Types of Kale

I used both curly kale and lacinato kale in this salad. I like mixing the two textures and flavors, but you can just pick your favorite. Purple kale also works.

How to Prepare Kale for Salad

Be sure to remove the thick stems off the kale leaves before chopping – they’re tough and most won’t enjoy them.

Once you chop, wash and dry your kale (love this salad spinner), add kale leaves to a large bowl and massage the kale with some olive oil using your finger tips. This takes away the bitterness and will give you better flavor. I swear by this – don’t skip it (especially if you’re sharing this salad with kale skeptics).

vegan caesar dressing drizzled on bowl of kale

Vegan Caesar Salad Dressing

If you like caesar dressing but want a more plant based approach (no raw eggs or anchovies here), you will love this easy recipe.

It’s made nut free and creamy, thanks to our secret ingredient: hemp hearts!

Dressing Ingredients:

  • hemp hearts (hulled hemp seeds)
  • extra-virgin olive oil
  • freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • water, to thin
  • Dijon mustard
  • kosher salt and pepper
  • fresh garlic cloves
  • capers in brine
  • coconut aminos
  • Maple syrup, to taste

How to Make

Just add everything to a high-speed blender and it’s ready in 30 seconds!

If you’re not a fan of capers, don’t put off this recipe just yet. I actually don’t love capers on their own, but the flavor adds that salty tang you love from traditional caesar salad dressing. 

hemp hearts piled in blender cup with nut free vegan caesar dressing

Roasting Chickpeas

There are two main steps to ensure delicious crispy roasted chickpeas every time:

  • Make sure the chickpeas are very dry – that means rolling them around in a clean towel.
  • It’s best to rub the little skins off – this can take a bit of time but you’ll get the best texture this way once baked.

All you need to do then is toss the dry chickpeas in a bowl with olive oil, add spices, transfer to baking sheet and bake at 400ºF for about 30 minutes.

TIP: Let the pan cool completely for crispy chickpeas.

Roasted Chickpeas on baking sheet for Kale Caesar Salad

Ways to Serve

I love using this kale caesar salad as a base for a dinner salad, but it’s also the perfect side dish for cookouts and barbecues, because it makes a decent amount.

Here are some serving suggestions:

Dinner: Pair with your favorite protein for a filling meal. Crispy tofu or tempeh are delicious on top for a plant-based protein option. If you’re a meat eater, consider my Sweet & Spicy Salmon recipe.

Cookouts: Serve at your next BBQ gathering or family brunch.

Lunch: Prep this ahead for lunch and add your favorite toppings for a hearty salad. My choices would be roasted sweet potato, red onion, avocado and maybe some sunflower seeds for additional crunch.

Make this for Meal Prep

I love this salad for meal prepping too. Kale is a superb green to use for make ahead salads – the leaves don’t get soggy and the flavors of the dressing really settle in after a couple of days.

This lemon quinoa kale salad is another favorite for meal prep.

How to Store

Kale Salad: Once you toss the kale with the caesar dressing, you can store any leftovers in the fridge up to 5 days.

Chickpeas: Store roasted (cooled completely) chickpeas in an airtight container at room temperature (separate from the salad bowl) so they keep their crunch. Then just add to the salad before serving.

close up of roasted chickpeas on vegan kale caesar salad with vegan caesar dressing

More Kale Salads to Love

  • Rainbow Kale Quinoa Salad
  • Brussels Sprouts Kale Salad with Lemon Dijon Dressing
  • Kale Farro Salad

Let me know if you make this Vegan Kale Caesar Salad recipe by leaving a comment and star rating below! It helps others learn more about the recipe too! Xx Ashley

Print

Vegan Kale Caesar Salad

close up of roasted chickpeas on vegan kale caesar salad with vegan caesar dressing
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 5 reviews

You will love this easy Kale Caesar Salad – made with a vegan caesar salad dressing that is nut-free and ready in 30 seconds. Add seasoned roasted chickpeas for some extra fiber and protein. Perfect meal prep salad, side dish or appetizer.

  • Author: Ashley
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: salads
  • Method: oven
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale

Roasted Chickpeas

  • 2 (14 ounce) cans chickpeas
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 heaping teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Kale Salad

  • 1 medium-large bunch of kale, equal to about 8 cups chopped
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Vegan Caesar Dressing

  • 1/2 cup hulled hemp seeds
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice (about 1 1/2 medium lemons)
  • 3 tablespoons water, to thin
  • 1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 10 medium garlic cloves
  • 1 tablespoon capers in brine
  • 1 teaspoon brine juice
  • 1 teaspoon coconut aminos
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup, to taste*

Instructions

  1. Roast chickpeas: Preheat oven to 400ºF and line medium baking sheet with parchment paper. Make sure chickpeas are completely dry and loose skins removed. In medium bowl add oil, chickpeas, nutritional yeast and spices. Mix to combine and transfer to baking sheet. Bake for about 30-40 minutes, until crispy. Remove pan from oven and allow chickpeas to cool so they get crunchy. 
  2. Prepare the kale: While the chickpeas are roasting, prepare the kale by removing thick stems from kale, chop, wash and spin dry (I use this salad spinner). Add chopped kale to large bowl with a little bit of olive oil, then massage oil into kale leaves.
  3. Make the dressing: in a small blender, combine all dressing ingredients and blend until smooth. Note: add everything but maple syrup, then taste test before adding 1-2 tsp, to your liking.
  4. Assemble: Toss kale with about half of the caesar dressing, add roasted chickpeas and serve. Top with more dressing as desired, maybe some vegan parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

Notes

Nutrition approximate, calculated without dressing. Dressing as 8 servings calculated, per serving is: 133 calories, 12g fat, 4g carbs, 1g fiber, 1g sugar, 4g protein.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 salad
  • Calories: 299
  • Sugar: 3g
  • Sodium: 460mg
  • Fat: 11g
  • Saturated Fat: 1g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 6g
  • Carbohydrates: 40g
  • Fiber: 13g
  • Protein: 13g

Keywords: vegan caesar salad, vegan caesar salad dressing, kale caesar salad

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @fitmittenkitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #fitmittenkitchen

About Ashley

"Ashley Walterhouse is the founder of Fit Mitten Kitchen, based in the Greater Lansing Area of Michigan, AKA “the Mitten.” Ashley grew up as a picky eater but later discovered that eating healthy was actually easy and fun. She started FMK in 2015 as a way to share her newfound love of developing healthier recipes for all to enjoy."

stacked cottage cheese pancakes with butter and fruit
Previous Post
Cottage Cheese Pancakes
strawberry scones recipe on black wire rack
Next Post
Strawberry Scones

Reader Interactions

Rate this Recipe Cancel reply

Recipe rating ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆

  1. Krista says

    5/18/2021 at 6:52 am

    So good! My regular Caesar salad-loving husband commented that he liked this and went back for seconds! 🙌🏻 We will definitely make this again. Thanks for another great recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  2. Shelley says

    5/21/2021 at 9:16 pm

    We’ve made this several times. So much flavor! We did cut back on the garlic, but that’s the only change we made. My daughter usually eats the leftovers before I get any!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  3. Morgan says

    8/29/2021 at 7:41 pm

    This is my favorite salad recipe!! The creamy and zingy dressing with the crunchy kale is so good. Plus it can sit in the fridge if you have leftovers which is a big win for a salad. Make this!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  4. Morgan says

    3/25/2022 at 2:14 pm

    This is my favorite salad recipe! Between the crispy chickpeas and the tangy dressing it just is sooo good. It’s also great for meal prep since massaged kale can stay in the fridge for a few days without wilting. This is a must make!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  5. Jessica Moreau says

    4/17/2022 at 2:51 pm

    Oh my gosh!!! Amazing simple and yummy everyone raved about it and wanted recipe

    ★★★★★

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Ashley smiling at the camera

Hey there!

I’m Ashley – I started in 2015 to share healthier recipes. Here we balance real food with desserts and healthy snacks making life easy, nutritious and delicious.

Learn more

More for you...

Cheesy Potato Casserole Recipe with spoon lifting out of casserole dish

Cheesy Potato Casserole

31 Healthy Pumpkin Recipes

overhead view of sliced cranberry crumble bars on small plate

Cranberry Crumble Bars

Healthy Cranberry Orange Sauce-6

Healthy Cranberry Orange Sauce

24 Amazing Brussels Sprouts Recipes

24 Amazing Brussels Sprouts Recipes

green bean casserole in white dish, next to cheese, small plate of herbs and forks on small plate in bottom left frame

Healthy Green Bean Casserole

plant based thanksgiving recipes square graphic with recipe images

Plant Based Thanksgiving Recipes

squares of pumpkin pie bars with whipped topping and pecans

Healthy Pumpkin Pie Bars

Free recipe ebook!

Subscribe and get a FREE healthy nut butter ebook!

Thank you for subscribing!
Trending Now
green bean casserole in white dish, next to cheese, small plate of herbs and forks on small plate in bottom left frame Thanksgiving Recipes
Healthy Pumpkin Pie Bars Recipe-9 Pumpkin Recipes
chai spiced cinnamon rolls on small plate Cinnamon Rolls
As Featured On
  • Browse by Diet
  • Gluten-Free
  • Dairy Free
  • Vegan
  • Paleo
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
Exclusive Member of Mediavine· © 2023 · All Rights Reserved · Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled Back to Top

Subscribe & receive a free nut butter ebook!

Thank you for subscribing!
two vegan kale caesar salad images with text in middle