Vegetarian Caesar Salad with Crunchy Air Fryer Tofu

Ingredients:

Salad:

• 1 Romaine Lettuce
• 1 can Sweetcorn (drained)
• ¼ White Cabbage (thinly sliced)
• 2 Carrots (coarsely grated)
• 2 cups Grapes (halved)
• 2 Onions (thinly sliced)
• 1 Lemon (juiced)
• ¼ tsp Salt

Vegan Cashew Caesar Dressing:

• ½ cup Raw Cashews (soaked for 30 minutes in just boiled water)
• ½ cup Water
• ¼ cup Lemon Juice
• 2 tbsp Nutritional Yeast
• 2 tsp Dijon Mustard
• 2 tsp Capers
• 2 Cloves Garlic (minced)

Homemade Croutons:

• 4 slices Sourdough Bread (cubed into bite-sized pieces)
• 1 tsp Fresh Thyme (chopped)
• ½ tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Kosher Salt
• 3 tbsp Olive Oil

Crunchy Air Fryer Tofu:

• 1 Block Tofu (pressed)
• 1 cup Plant Milk (with lemon juice)
• 1.5 tsp Kosher Salt
• 1 tsp Ground White Pepper
• 2 tsp Smoked Paprika
• 2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1.5 cups Crushed Cornflakes

11 Herbs and Spices Dredge:

• 1.5 cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 1.5 tbsp Kosher Salt
• 2 tsp Ground White Pepper
• 1 tsp Ginger Powder
• 1 tsp Celery Powder (or celery salt)
• 2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
• 1 tsp Dried Oregano (crushed)
• 1 tsp Dried Thyme (crushed)
• 2 tsp Mustard Powder

---

Instructions:

Salad:

1. Prepare the Ingredients:
   • Slice the onions thinly and marinate in salt and lemon juice for a few minutes to soften their flavor.
   • Grate the carrots, slice the cabbage, and halve the grapes.
   • Keep all ingredients separate until assembling.

Vegan Cashew Caesar Dressing:

1. Blend the Dressing:
   • Drain the soaked cashews and place them in a blender.
   • Add the water, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, Dijon mustard, capers, and garlic.
   • Blend until creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, mustard, or lemon juice as needed.

Homemade Croutons:

1. Prepare the Croutons:
   • Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
   • In a small bowl, mix olive oil, chopped thyme, garlic powder, and kosher salt.
   • Toss the cubed sourdough bread in the oil mixture until evenly coated.
   • Air fry for 4 minutes, toss, and then fry for an additional 2 minutes, until golden and crispy.
   • Set the croutons aside on a paper towel-lined plate.

Crunchy Air Fryer Tofu:

1. Prepare the Tofu:
   • Press the tofu to remove excess liquid. Cut it into slices about ½ inch thick, then cut each slice diagonally.
   • Mix the plant milk with lemon juice to create a "buttermilk" effect, then add salt, white pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Marinate the tofu in this mixture for at least 1 hour (overnight is best).
2. Prepare the Dredge:
   • In a shallow bowl, mix the flour with all the spices (black pepper, white pepper, ginger powder, celery powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, oregano, thyme, and mustard powder).
3. Bread the Tofu:
   • Set up a breading station with the flour mixture, marinated tofu, and crushed cornflakes.
   • Coat each tofu piece in the flour, then dip in the marinade, and finally coat with the crushed cornflakes.
4. Air Fry the Tofu:
   • Lightly spray the air fryer basket and tofu pieces with oil.
   • Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 15 minutes, flipping after 10 minutes until golden and crispy.

To Serve:

1. Assemble the Salad:

   • Arrange the romaine lettuce on plates.
   • Top with grated carrots, sliced cabbage, sweetcorn, marinated onions, grapes, and homemade croutons.

2. Add Dressing:

   • Drizzle with the Vegan Cashew Caesar Dressing and add the crispy air-fried tofu on top.

3. Serve:

   • Serve immediately with additional dressing on the side for dipping or drizzling.

---

Notes:

• Meal Prep:

  • This salad is great for meal prep! Keep the tofu, dressing, and croutons stored separately in airtight containers. When you're ready to serve, simply reheat the tofu in the air fryer for a crispy texture and assemble the salad fresh.

• Serving Size:

  • The recipe makes enough for 4 large servings, which can be enjoyed as a main meal.

• Customization:

  • Feel free to swap ingredients based on your preferences. For example, try adding roasted vegetables or nuts for extra crunch.

Enjoy this Vegetarian Caesar Salad with crispy, crunchy tofu, creamy dressing, and all the fresh, vibrant ingredients!