If you've been looking for the ultimate creamy vegan Caesar dressing that's certain to deliver, your wait is over. This recipe is a mix of rich, tangy, and zesty flavors that come together in perfect harmony.
It's an absolute crowd pleaser.
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📖 About
Much like ranch, Caesar is at the pinnacle of dressings when it comes to crafting the perfect salad. It can elevate plain old greens into something glorious and restaurant worthy.
The only problem with traditional Caesar dressing the ingredients. They're pretty gnarly if we do say so ourselves. Anchovies and egg yolk are not the most appetizing foods to think about pouring over lettuce.
We're super excited to share our vegan Caesar dressing that will eliminate your risk of salmonella for good. It's plant-based with no animal products (obviously). We know once you see how quick and easy this recipe is (less than 5 minutes), you'll be making it on every possible occasion!
A perfect Caesar dressing consists of the right amount of creaminess, tang, and zest. It's a balancing act as it's very easy to overdo any component. But, trust us when we say we've nailed this recipe.
Caesar dressing is one of our go-to's when we're in the mood for salad. So, we thought we may as well share our favorite recipe with you! So, go ahead and take 5 minutes out of your day to give this a try. We know it won't disappoint.
Ladies and gentleman... start your blenders!
🍲 Key ingredients
- Cashews: if you've made other dressings from our website, you already know we really love cashews for creating a thick, creamy sauce. There's just no other ingredient quite like this nut! Cashews are soft enough to blend into a smooth texture, plus they have hints of sweetness that act as a perfect base in most dressings. We really love the healthy fats found in cashews, specifically mono and polyunsaturated. These are actually helpful in reducing bad cholesterol (known as LDL), which can lead to heart disease and stroke in the long term.
- Lemon: this ingredient adds a bright, fresh, and zesty taste to this already creamy and rich dressing. We love adding citrus to our meals because it's a really easy way to pack some nutrients in. We also use lemon zest since it contains fiber, and it's a way to ensure none of this fruit goes to waste.
- Capers: these are the immature, unripened green flower of a caper bush. This plant is found in many different places around the world, but is typically used in Mediterranean cuisine. These add a tangy element to this dish that is so unique (and often under-utilized).
- Garlic: if you've ever eaten a delicious Caesar salad before, you'll know you'd rather not get close and personal with anyone afterward. The key to a perfect Caesar dressing is having the right amount of punch that garlic offers. We love this ingredient for its vast uses in medicine and cooking, along with its many health benefits like reducing your chances of catching the common cold when eaten on a regular basis (hence why we eat so much).
🔪 Instructions
First things first, it's always best to soak your cashews overnight before making this recipe. But, if you forget, soak them for hour or so in hot water. This way, you will end up with the smoothest and creamiest dressing texture.
If you're in a rush, don't worry! You can still blend these nuts up. You'll just need a high-speed blender like a Vitamix or Blendtec.
Next, you'll put all the ingredients in the blender, mixing on high for a few minutes (remember to scrape down the sides as you go).
Taste and adjust the seasonings as you need. Add lemon and capers for more tang, garlic and Dijon for more punch, or more maple syrup to balance everything out. Serve this dressing immediately over our kale Caesar salad, or transfer it to a mason jar for storage.
🌡️ Storage
This dressing can be stored in a mason jar or airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. It does tend to thicken up when stored, so you may need to add a bit of water before serving it again.
💭 Budget tips
We think everyone should be able to eat better for less, so here are a few tricks to make this recipe even more affordable:
- Try making this with sunflower seeds instead of cashews, although the consistency and flavor will vary slightly
- Use a cheaper oil, like canola, in place of the olive oil
- Use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic cloves
🍴 Tasting notes
It's time to up your salad game by making this dressing. We are obsessed with this recipe, and we know you will be too. It's:
- Creamy
- Tangy
- Zesty
- Punchy
If you try this Caesar dressing, please rate it and leave us a comment below! Want to stay up-to-date with new recipes? Subscribe to our newsletter or connect with Broke Bank Vegan on social media. Happy eating!
📋 Recipe
Creamy Vegan Caesar Dressing
Equipment
- High-speed blender
- Spatula
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked ($1.72)
- 2 tsp Dijon ($0.02)
- 3 tbsp lemon juice ($0.27)
- ¼ tsp lemon zest ($0.00)
- 4-5 cloves garlic ($0.16)
- 1 tbsp capers ($0.15)
- 1 tsp maple syrup ($0.05)
- 2 tbsp olive oil ($0.24)
- ¾ cup water ($0.00)
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast ($0.25)
- Salt & pepper to taste ($0.02)
Instructions
- To begin, soak cashews overnight, or for at least 30-60 minutes in hot water. This way, you will end up with the smoothest dressing consistency.
- Next, drain the cashews and put them in your blender. Add the rest of the ingredients in, and blend on high for 2-3 minutes. You may have to stop and scrape down the sides a couple times.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings as you need. Add lemon and capers for more tang, garlic and Dijon for more punch, or more maple syrup to balance everything out.
- Serve this dressing immediately over a salad, or transfer it to a mason jar for storage.
Notes
- Each serving = 1 tbsp (15mL)
- Best results are achieved with a high-speed blender like the Vitamix or Blendtec.
Nutrition
♻️ Similar recipes
For more tasty sauce and dressing recipes, check out our:
- Lemon dill dressing, which is a zesty match made in heaven.
- Lemon tahini dressing for the perfect "put it on everything" salad dressing.
- Cilantro lime sauce to dress up Buddha bowls or enchiladas.
- Vegan ranch dressing for an ultra-creamy and herbaceous delight.
💬 FAQ
With our creamy sauces, we get asked what to substitute for cashews quite a lot. We don't recommend substituting them as it's challenging to emulate the same taste and texture. You can definitely try using something like sunflower seeds, but the flavor and consistency will vary.
You don't have to use capers in this recipe, but it does give a specific flavor that citrus alone can't achieve. If you don't have access to capers, the best option is to use more lemon.
You don't have to use nutritional yeast in this recipe, but it does add the the overall umami flavor. We have not tried this dressing without nutritional yeast, so we can't speak to the results.
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