Southwest Caesar Salad with Grilled Tempeh
Ingredients
  • 10 Kalamara Olivespits removed & finely chopped
  • 1lb Tempeh(get it in any well-stocked grocery store in the health food/refrigerated section)
  • 2Tbsp Chili Powder
  • Tsp Cumin
  • 1/2Cup Canola Oilmay need slightly more
  • 5Cloves Fresh Garlicone cut in hand, the others minced
  • 1/2Loaf Whole-Wheat Breadcu into cubes
  • pinch Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1 Avocado
  • 2 Lime
  • 1Tbsp Dijon Mustard
  • 2Tsp Soy Sauce
  • Splash Red Wine Vinegar
  • Handul Fresh Cilantrochopped
  • 2 Romaine Lettuce Heartschopped
  • 3/4Cup Dairy-Free Parmesan Cheese
  • Salt and Pepperto taste
Instructions
  1. First make the croutons: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Rub the inside of a large salad bowl with the halved garlic, then put the bowl aside. Throw the halved garlic clove, along with the cubed bread, into another large bowl and drizzle a little less than half of the canola oil over it. Add 1 Tbsp chili powder and half the parmesan cheese, and toss the bread to coat in the mixture. Bake on a cookie sheet for about 10 minutes or until they’re as crisp as you like them (I like to leave the croutons just slightly soft in the center).
  3. While the croutons bake, prepare the dressing: Add about 5 Tbsp of canola oil to a pan over low heat. Add the chopped olives, the red pepper flakes, a pinch of salt, and the minced garlic. After a few minutes, mash the olives into the pan with a wooden spoon to help them dissolve somewhat. Let the dressing cook for about 5 minutes, then remove from heat. Keep an eye on the garlic to make sure it doesn’t burn!
  4. Preheat a grill on medium-high. Add the rest of the chili powder, the cumin, 2 Tbsp canola oil, and a half teaspoon or so of salt to a shallow dish. Mix together, cut the tempeh into three or four blocks, and coat in the mixture. Place each block on the grill until heated through and slightly marked, about three minutes per side on my grill. Cut into slices once it’s done.
  5. Cut open and dice the avocado.
  6. Get the salad bowl you set aside earlier and add to it the zest and juice of the limes (you may want to use slightly less juice and add more if needed at the end). Add the mustard, soy sauce, cilantro, and salt and pepper to taste. Add the oil-olive mixture from the pan and whisk everything together. Add the chopped romaine lettuce, then the croutons, avocado, grilled tempeh, and the rest of the parmesan cheese. Toss everything together and serve.
Recipe Notes

Read the blog post where this recipe originally appeared: Grilled Tempeh Caesar Salad Recipe