A simple yet bold vegan caesar dressing, packed with garlic and umami flavors.
Caesar salad is not complete without a creamy caesar dressing. This vegan variation is just as delicious and is made with only 7 ingredients + water. No oil, nutritional yeast, or capers.
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Frequently asked questions about vegan caesar dressing
Typically, no. Caesar dressing is traditionally made with oil, egg yolks, Worcestershire sauce or anchovies/anchovy paste, and parmesan cheese.
This vegan caesar dressing is made with 8 ingredients; soaked cashews, garlic, water, lemon juice, green olive juice, dijon mustard, salt, and tamarind. No nutritional yeast or capers!
Anchovies provide a bold umami flavor, however there are vegan alternatives that equally as flavorful. Capers, olives and/or olive juice, pickle juice, and dill sauerkraut are all great options to use instead.
Yes! Capers are a salty and bold flavor, but the same flavors can be achieved with olive juice or any of the other ingredients mentioned above.
Vegan caesar dressing ingredients
- Cashews - used for creaminess and adds a bit of protein and magnesium.
- Water - used to make the dressing pourable and blend well.
- Olive juice - used instead of capers to provide salty, tangy, and umami flavors.
- Lemon juice - citrus subtle sour notes tie the salty and umami flavors together.
- Dijon mustard - provides tang necessary in caesar dressing, along with a bit of spice.
- Garlic cloves - no dressing is complete without garlic, right?
- Salt - enhances the other flavors and provides salty flavors necessary for a good caesar dressing.
- Tamarind sauce - adds subtle tartness and umami flavors, alternatively coconut aminos or a vegan Worcestershire sauce also work well instead.
Substitutions
Cashews: for a nut-free dressing, substitute with tahini or cannellini beans.
Garlic cloves: use garlic granules instead. Start with a teaspoon and adjust to taste as needed.
Lemon juice: lime juice also works. For a spicy alternative use jalapeño or sliced pepperoncini juice (brine from the jar of canned peppers) instead.
Olive juice: substitue with pickle juice, capers, jalapeño juice, or sauerkraut brine.
Dijon mustard: stone-ground mustard is the best alternative, however yellow mustard also works as a replacement.
Tamarind sauce: swap with coconut aminos or a vegan Worcestershire sauce (important to note that most variations of Worcestershire sauce are NOT gluten-free, so double check the label if this applies to you!).
Variations
- Cheesy: The cashews provide a creamy flavor but for additional notes of cheesiness, add a tablespoon of grated vegan parmesan cheese.
- Spicy dressing: swap lemon juice for jalapeño juice (brine from a jar of sliced jalapeños) or add in a dash or two of cayenne pepper. Alternatively, use spicy mustard or add in a few pickled jalapeños.
- For a less bold dressing: use 1 teaspoon of dijon and only 1 garlic clove.
Ways to use caesar dressing
- Drizzle on top of any salad (this vegan caesar salad in particular)
- Enjoy with crispy tofu or baked tofu
- Add to tacos or wraps (a caesar salad wrap is calling my name as I write this)
- Serve on grain bowls for additional creaminess and flavor
- Use it as a dipping sauce with pan-fried Brussels sprouts or with buffalo cauliflower bites
Storing homemade vegan caesar dressing
The dressing will last for a few weeks in the fridge. It will thicken as it chills, add water as needed to thin. Do not freeze the dressing.
Soak cashews beforehand for limited prep time. Place soaked cashews in the fridge overnight (or the morning of). If you have a Vitamix or something similar, soaking may not be necessary (but it is encouraged for easier digestion).
📋 Recipe
Vegan Caesar Dressing without Capers
Ingredients
- ½ cup raw cashews, soaked in hot water for at least 30 minutes
- 3 crushed garlic cloves (if using large cloves, only use 2)
- ⅓ cup + 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon green olive juice (or sub pickle juice)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon organic dijon mustard*
- ½ teaspoon tamarind sauce (or sub with coconut aminos)
- ¼ scant teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prep cashews: soak cashews in hot water for at least 30 minutes before blending.
- Blend: add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Add an additional teaspoon of water at a time to thin the dressing if needed.
Notes
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