SCRUMPTIOUS VEGAN CAESAR SALAD

© Jane Quincannon Stanchich

This delicious vegetarian version of a Caesar Salad that provides a delicious flavor minus the traditional egg and cheese. Serves 4.

CROUTONS:
(Or buy prepared herbed whole grain croutons)

• 6 thick slices of organic, sourdough, or non-gluten bread
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• Sea salt and pepper to taste - lightly added

Preheat oven to 350º

Cut bread into one-inch cubes. Spread on a cookie sheet with rimmed sides. Mix oil, garlic, parsley and sea salt-pepper lightly to your taste. Pour over the bread cubes. Toss and mix well. Bake for 5 minutes, open stove, stir well. Replace bread in stove. Bake another 5 minutes or until the bread is lightly browned and nicely crisp. (Useful to use a timer.)

DRESSING:

• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 
• 1 clove garlic, minced 
• 1-2 tablespoon shoyu, to taste
• 1 tablespoon natural prepared mustard
• 3 tablespoons water or vegetable stock
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• LETTUCE: 6 cups Romaine lettuce, (or other lettuce as you wish,)

Wash lettuce well, submerging each leaf in water; tear gently into bite-sized pieces, then spin dry.

ACCOMPANIMENTS:

• 1/4 cup green organic pitted olives, drained, left whole
• 2 sheets nori, toasted; cut into thin strips
• 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast or 100% vegan soy “Parmesan”

Place the oil, garlic, shoyu, and mustard in a small saucepan and gently heat, stirring/whisking well to combine ingredients; add water or stock, simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat, let cool; stir in the lemon juice and nutritional yeast (optional).

Rub a clove of garlic around the inside of a salad bowl. Add the lettuce and croutons. Drizzle on enough dressing to coat well; gently toss. Add olives and nori. Sprinkle on Soy Parmesan or nutritional yeast. Toss again and serve immediately.

FAB FACT: The Caesar Salad was invented in 1924 by a restaurateur named Caesar Cardini, in Tijuana, Mexico in the 1924.. One busy evening, Caesar ran out of most food ingredients! A hungry, rousing crowd from California entered his establishment. Caesar and the chef looked around. They spied Romaine lettuce, garlic, bread, mustard, lemon, fragrant cheese, and of course olive oil. (Anchovies were not in the original, but were added later by another family member.) Thus, the famous and beloved Caesar Salad was created. You can also add little slices of marinated tofu or tempeh “bacon” resembling the anchovies. A fun touch.Viva Caesar!