Vegan Caesar Salad: Fridge Raid Fridays’ Butter Bean Special
Welcome to another edition of Fridge Raid Fridays! This week’s highlight is our Vegan Caesar Salad featuring butter beans. It’s a perfect recipe for transforming those leftover fridge ingredients into a delicious and nutritious dish. Using butter beans adds a creamy texture and a protein boost, making this salad a hearty vegan delight.
The Power of Butter Beans
Butter beans, a hearty and versatile legume, are at the heart of our recipe. Known for their creamy texture and substantial protein content, butter beans are an excellent base for a filling salad, making them a fantastic choice for vegans and vegetarians alike.
Nutritional Benefits of Key Ingredients
- Nutritional Yeast: A vegan favorite for adding a cheese-like flavor; rich in B-vitamins.
- Tahini: Offers a creamy consistency and is great for calcium and healthy fats.
- Miso Paste: Enhances depth of flavor with its umami richness.
Crafting the Perfect Vegan Caesar Dressing
Our Caesar dressing skips the anchovies and focuses on tahini, lemon juice, and miso, creating a rich and creamy dressing that drapes beautifully over the crispy elements of the salad.
Vegan Caesar Salad with Crispy Beans and Homemade Croutons
Indulge in this hearty and flavorful Vegan Caesar Salad, featuring a creamy tahini-based Caesar dressing, crunchy homemade sourdough croutons, and crispy butter beans. Fresh romaine lettuce provides the perfect base for this nutrient-rich and satisfying salad. Perfect for a wholesome lunch or dinner, this plant-based Caesar salad offers a delicious twist on a classic favorite.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 25
- Total Time: 40
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp tahini
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1/2 tsp white miso paste
- 1 tsp grainy mustard
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
For the Croutons:
- Stale sourdough bread, torn into pieces
- Paprika, salt, and olive oil for coating
For the Crispy Beans:
- 1 can butter beans, drained
- Nutritional yeast, paprika, salt, pepper, and olive oil for coating
For the Salad Assembly:
- Romaine lettuce, torn into pieces
Method:
1. Prepare the Caesar Dressing:
- In a bowl, combine 2 tbsp tahini, juice of 1/2 lemon, 1 tbsp nutritional yeast, 1/2 tsp white miso paste, 1 tsp grainy mustard, and 1 tsp maple syrup.
- Mix until smooth and creamy. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
2. Make the Croutons:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Toss the torn sourdough bread pieces with paprika, salt, and olive oil until well coated.
- Spread the bread pieces on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden and crispy.
3. Prepare the Crispy Beans:
- Preheat the grill or oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a bowl, coat the drained butter beans with nutritional yeast, paprika, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
- Spread the beans on a baking sheet and grill or bake for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crispy.
4. Assemble the Salad:
- In a large salad bowl, layer the torn romaine lettuce.
- Top with the crispy beans and homemade croutons.
- Drizzle the Caesar dressing over the salad.
- Toss to combine or serve with the dressing on the side.
Nutrition
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 12g
Why Choose This Salad?
This Butter Bean Caesar Salad is not only a healthy choice but also a waste-reducing hero. It’s ideal for using up leftover ingredients, turning what might have been thrown away into a delicious and satisfying meal.
Chef’s Tips
Enhance the salad with any fresh herbs or leftover veggies you have. This not only adds flavor but also aligns with the Fridge Raid Fridays’ spirit of using up all your produce.
Join the Culinary Adventure
Fridge Raid Fridays are all about making the most of your ingredients and discovering the joy in creating something new and delicious each week. If you’re inspired to explore more, join our community at Meet the Vegans! Gain access to countless vegan recipes, in-depth cooking classes, and tips from top chefs, all designed to elevate your culinary skills.
Sign up today to unlock a world of exclusive plant-based content and learn how to master dishes like today’s Butter Bean Caesar Salad. Join us and transform the way you cook and eat, one fridge raid at a time!
Responses