If you are craving a big Caesar salad for dinner but don't want the eggs or anchovies in the classic dressing, you need to try this Vegan Caesar Dressing. Not only does it taste amazing, but it is also egg-free, anchovy-free, and good for you.
If you haven't tried a vegan version of this classic dressing you are in for a real treat. It's one of those crave-able flavors you may remember fondly from pre-Vegan days so give in to the craving and make our vegan caesar dressing recipe for your next salad.
Ingredients for Vegan Caesar Dressing
- Raw Cashews: they are soaked in boiling water to soften them. They only need to be soaked for thirty minutes. Do not leave them soaking for too long since it is counterproductive and will ruin the flavor of your dressing.
- Lemon Juice. A classic ingredient for caesar dressing, this provides the acidic contrast needed for the richness of the cashews.
- Nutritional Yeast. This has a strong nutty or cheesy flavor and is often used in vegan cooking to impart a cheese flavor into dishes.
- Fresh Garlic: Used in traditional caesar this is pureed by the blender so need to do anything but peel the clove.
- Rice Vinegar: Not a traditional caesar dressing ingredient, but it helps get us to the right flavor profile.
- Tamari, Soy sauce or Coconut Liquid Aminos: Adds both saltiness and umami flavor.
- Dijon Mustard:Part of the traditional recipe, mustard adds just the right amount of tanginess to the dressing's flavor.
- Maple Syrup: Adds just a touch of sweetness.
- Black Pepper. Just like in a traditional version, our vegan casesar dressing is flavored with black pepper. Use freshly cracked or coarsely ground black pepper for a more intense peppery flavor. You may add more directly to your plate of salad.
How to Make Vegan Caesar Dressing
The key to a good copycat vegan version of any dressing is to use the right ingredients so that you get the flavor profile right. Our Vegan Caesar Dressing Recipe is on point and super easy to make. Soak the cashews first, then just throw all the rest of the ingredients in a high-powered blender or smoothie maker and blend it up until it is smooth and creamy.
To make your salad, you will need romaine lettuce or kale, vegan croutons, vegan parmesan, and the dressing. Check out our Vegan Caesar Salad.
FAQ
Is Traditional Caesar Dressing Vegan?
No. The original dressing that you get at a restaurant or purchase in a store is not vegan because traditional Caesar has eggs, and anchovies. However, our caesar dressing recipe is most definitely vegan and you are going to love it!
What is Caesar Dressing?
A traditional vegan caesar salad dressing uses a blend of raw eggs, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, mustard, and anchovies or Worcestershire sauce to achieve that classic flavor. It wasn't named after a Roman emperor as you might have supposed but instead was named after a famous chef named Caesar Cardini who first served the salad at his restaurant by the same name (Caesar's).
Our vegan caesar dressing recipe uses cashews, nutritional yeast, rice vinegar, maple syrup, and tamari sauce to achieve a similar flavor profile without any animal-based ingredients.
Storage Tips
You can keep this vegan caesar salad dressing in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve the salad and it will keep for up to 10 days. Keep it in a Mason jar or high-quality plastic jar sealed with a lid.
Before using the dressing give it a good shake in the jar or stir it up really well with a spoon.
You can also freeze the vegan caesar dressing in individual portions if you get small plastic containers, which makes it perfect to take to work, and dress your salad when you are ready to eat so it doesn't get soggy.
More Vegan Salad Dressings
Vegan Caesar Dressing
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 cup boiling water
- ½ cup raw cashews
- ¼ cup lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- 1 garlic clove
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp tamari sauce or liquid aminos
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- ¼ tsp black pepper (or to taste)
Instructions
- Soak the cashews in 1 cup of boiling water for 30 minutes. After the 30 minutes have passed, drain and rinse the cashews.
- To prepare the dressing, we recommend you use a high-speed blender or smoothie maker. Combine the soaked cashews, ⅓ cup of water, and the rest of the dressing ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: salad dressing
- Method: raw
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tbsp
Keywords: kosher, gluten-free,
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