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Bok Choy caesar salad with healthy tahini dressing

This Bok Choy Caesar salad is the perfect meal or side dish for any night of the week! With its protein loaded tahini caesar dressing, this is a plate full of flavor and nutrition that will load you up without weighing you down. Bok Choy Caesar salad consists of baby bok choy, a healthy, plant-based tahini caesar dressing, sunflower seeds, vegan parmesan, and fried onion crisps. The baby bok choy is air fried for a little extra flavor, but that is optional.
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Prep Time 6 minutes
Cook Time 4 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Baby Bok Choy Can substitute any bok choy
  • 2 tbsp sunflower seeds
  • 2 tbsp shredded parmesan cheese (vegan or non vegan) I used vegan Follow Your Heart shredded vegan Parmesan
  • 2 tbsp fried onion crisps I used the store bought ones
FOR TAHINI CAESAR DRESSING
  • 1/4 cup tahini
  • 1/2 cup canned white beans or chickpeas
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • zest from half a lemon
  • 1 tsp nori flakes
  • 2 tsp capers
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1/8 tsp black salt Can substitute regular salt, but black salt creates an eggy flavor
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 1 tbsp nutritional yeast

Equipment

  • air fryer optional
  • blender

Method
 

PREPARE YOUR BOK CHOY
  1. For this Bok Choy Caesar salad, I went with an air fried bok choy. Air frying your bok choy gives it a more complex flavor and a softer texture. However, if you don't want to take the extra step, just leave your bok choy raw...it will still be an absolutely delicious salad!
  2. To prepare your bok choy, begin by cutting off the ends and thoroughly washing the leaves.
    Discard the ends. 
    bok choy with stems cut off
  3. Dry the bok choy. I personally use a salad spinner AND pat the leaves dry with a towel to make sure my bok choy is dry.
    bok choy leaves in salad spinner
IF YOU ARE AIR FRYING YOU BOK CHOY
  1. Preheat your air fryer to 375ºF.
    If your air fryer does not have a preheat button, simply turn it on 5 minutes before using.
  2. place your bok choy in a bowl and add 1 tsp olive oil, 1/8 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp fresh ground pepper or to taste.
  3. Mix until bok choy is evenly coated.
  4. Spread bok choy out on an air fryer tray. 
    It's ok if it over laps, we are just slightly roasting it, so overlapping is fine.
    bok choy leaves on an air fryer tray
  5. Air fry the bok choy at 375ºF for 4 minutes. Mix at the 2 minute mark.
    You are welcome to extend the time if you want your bok choy more crisp, but I thought 4 minutes was perfect. 
    bok choy leaves in air fryer
  6. Remove from air fryer. Set aside.
    air fried bok choy leaves
MAKE THE TAHINI CAESAR DRESSING
  1. Simply combine 1/4 cup of tahini, 1/2 cup cooked white beans, 1/4 cup water, 2 tbsp lemon juice, zest from half a lemon, 1 tsp nori flakes, 2 tsp capers, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1/8 tsp black salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1 clove of fresh garlic, and 1 tbsp of Nutritional yeast in a blender. Mix on high for 30 seconds to one minute, or until the dressing is creamy and smooth. AND DONE!
    ingredients for tahini caesar dressing in blender
PUT IT ALL TOGETHER
  1. Place your air fryer (or raw) bok choy in a serving bowl or on a plate. Top with tahini dressing, 2 tbsp sunflower seeds, 2 tbsp shredded parmesan cheese, and 2 tbsp fried onions.
    bok choy Caesar salad
  2. Serve and enjoy!
    bok choy caesar salad