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Healthy Vegan Caesar Dressing Recipe

13 April 2021 4 years ago168 Views

Plant-Based Recipes, Salads · April 13, 2021

Healthy Vegan Caesar Dressing Recipe 4.41 from 5 votesJump to Recipe Print Recipe

What could be yummier than a creamy, tangy, vegan Caesar salad dressing? Made with hemp hearts and no added oils, this healthy vegan Caesar dressing recipe takes just 5 minutes to make, with 6 simple ingredients (not including salt and pepper!).

I love salads (could eat one everyday!) but I’ve got to be honest: I never liked traditional Caesar salads. The anchovies that are in a classic Caesar dressing were a no go, obviously, because I went vegetarian in my teens. And I’ve always wanted more from my salads than just romaine and croutons.

If it’s a salad, give me VEG! Unless it’s a Panzanella salad (for which I will gladly overlook my bread-in-salad disdain because I am not a monster) I’ll take my bread in sandwich form, thanks!

But a vegan Caesar salad, with plenty of tang, hearty greens and maybe a bit of crunch? Well, I can’t get enough. I could eat a kale Caesar every day of my life and be a verrry happy human.

So I thought it was high time I make you my favourite creamy, tangy dairy free Caesar salad dressing.

How to make a dairy free Caesar dressing that’s actually creamy

The classic Caesar salad gets its creaminess thanks to an emulsion of egg yolk, as well as parmesan cheese. The parmesan (and the anchovies) give it plenty of umami too.

There are a lot of different plant-based ways to create a creamy base for a dairy free Caesar dressing. I’ve seen recipes made from cashews, hummus, tahini and even mayo. I love using hemp hearts because, well, I’ll take any excuse to use these nutrient-dense super seeds in my daily life.

Hemp hearts blend up surprisingly well, even if you don’t have a high speed blender, with zero soaking.

So, all you need to do is blend them up with the rest of the ingredients and in a few minutes, you’ve got dinner! Or a side dish, however you want to rock it.

What you’ll need for this vegan Caesar dressing recipe

This recipe comes together in just 5 minutes with six basic ingredients you probably already have in your pantry:

Lemons: fresh lemon juice adds a fresh tangy acidity to the dressing and brightens the flavours.
Hemp hearts: hemp creates plenty of creaminess with a slight green + grassy flavour note
Dijon mustard: rich and creamy, Dijon adds tang and helps emulsify the dressing
Nutritional yeast: adds plenty of umami ‘cheesiness’
Garlic powder: to keep the vampires away and create a rich flavour
Maple syrup (or sugar!): just a tiny bit to balance out the flavours and bring it all together

All you’re going to do is place the ingredients in a bullet or blending jar (no soaking!), add a bit of water, salt and pepper and blend until smooth. Easy peasy.

Ways to use this vegan Caesar salad dressing

I love using this dressing for a kale caesar. Just massage the dressing into washed and torn kale leaves.
Massaging the dressing into the kale leaves ensures it’s well-coated and helps soften the kale to make it more pleasant to chew. Add some roasted chickpeas for extra protein + crunch!
Try it on a potato salad or pasta salad!
Drizzle it over grilled or roasted vegetables
Add it to a wrap or sandwich
Use as a dip for veggies or crispy baked tofu

More Vegan Dressing Recipes

My potato salad has an amazing Avocado Ranch Dressing
The creamy Ginger Cashew Dressing on my snap pea salad is amazing
You’ll want to drink this Ginger Sesame Dressing from the spoon
Lemon tahini vinaigrette more your thing?

Print Recipe Pin Recipe 4.41 from 5 votes

Healthy Vegan Caesar Dressing

Made with hemp hearts and no added oils, this healthy vegan Caesar dressing recipe takes just 5 minutes to make, with 6 simple ingredients (not including salt and pepper!). Amazing with a classic romaine or kale Caesar salad or even a slaw! Prep Time5 minsTotal Time5 mins Course: SaucesCuisine: AmericanDiet: Gluten Free, Vegan, VegetarianKeyword: hemp hearts, Lemon, Salad, salad dressingDietary Preference: dairy free, egg free, Gluten-Free, paleo-friendly, vegan, vegetarian Servings: 4 people Author: Desiree Nielsen, RD

Ingredients

6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice about 2 lemons
⅓ cup hemp hearts
3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon maple syrup or pure cane sugar
freshly cracked pepper to taste

Imperial – Metric

Instructions

Place the lemon juice, hemp, nutritional yeast, water, Dijon, salt, garlic powder, maple syrup and pepper in a blending cup or bullet.
Blend 1-2 minutes until smooth. Taste, and adjust salt and pepper as you like.

Notes

Dressing will keep well for 2-3 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

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Posted By: Desiree Nielsen · In: Plant-Based Recipes, Salads

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Comments

Marla Gottlieb says

April 14, 2021 at 7:15 am

Oh wow! Try this and you will LOVE it!
Reply
- Desiree Nielsen says
  
  April 14, 2021 at 7:26 am
  
  Thank you so much Marla, I’m so glad you enjoyed it ?
ANNETTE ZAMMIT says

April 14, 2021 at 7:46 am

Hi Desiree.

I’m slowly changing my diet to plant food. Originally I’ve been eating keto to lose a few pounds.
But I’ve been worry about all the fat I’ve been eating, that can’t be good for you. So, I decided to convert to low carb but plant based. I try to eat more greens and not soo much starchy vegetable.

Any advise?
Reply
- Desiree Nielsen says
  
  April 14, 2021 at 11:55 am
  
  Hi Annette,
  
  That’s a biggie! You might find that some one-on-one time with a dietitian would really help get you settled on a path that feels doable and healthy on your terms.
  In terms of general advice to get you started, I would do exactly that: bring in all the non-starchy vegetables first, to aim for 50% of your plate as vegetables for some plant power! Then, transfer your fats over to plant fats like avocado, olives and nuts and nut butters. Then start exploring swapping in your plant proteins like tempeh, tofu, and legumes in place of meats. Best of luck!!
Brandi Cowie says

April 14, 2021 at 10:25 am

I am wondering about adding anchovy paste into the dressing.
I know the paste makes it not vegan, but I am curious if you or anyone thinks it may work. Some of my favourite recipes have it and it adds a wonderful flavour. Thanks for any suggestions.
Reply
- Desiree Nielsen says
  
  April 14, 2021 at 11:53 am
  
  Hi Brandi,
  
  Good Q! I have to admit that I’m probably the worst person to ask as I have never cooked with anchovy ?
  However, what I can offer is try making it as is, then if you wish, try adding 1/2 the normal amount of anchovy that other recipes usually call for to account for the other salty/umami elements already in the dressing. Let me know how it goes!
ANNETTE ZAMMIT says

April 14, 2021 at 12:03 pm

Thank you so much for your quick reply Desiree.
Reply
Aimeeleih says

April 14, 2021 at 1:27 pm

Wow! That’s the first recipe that I found actually tasted identical to caesar dressing (from what I remember!). Thank you!
Reply
- Desiree Nielsen says
  
  April 14, 2021 at 1:57 pm
  
  YAAAAAAAY!
  That is high praise, Aimeeleih. I am so glad you like it (I’m addicted!!)
Susan Ferguson says

April 20, 2021 at 5:49 pm

Love this dressing!! Easy to make and so delicious. The first night we had it on a typical Caesar-type salad but have used the leftovers all week on different creations.
It added a nice ‘zing’ to both salads and on grilled veggies. This will be on a regular rotation in our household. Thanks Desiree!
Reply
- Desiree Nielsen says
  
  April 23, 2021 at 7:15 am
  
  Amazing! I am so glad you like it Susan.
  It’s always feels like such as win when you can make something in five minutes that really tastes great.
Desiree Shapitka says

April 26, 2021 at 2:35 pm

This is delicious! I forgot I had it though, and now its a week in the fridge. is the 2-days a hard rule? I hate to waste it but am weird about things going off. LOL. thanks!
Reply
- Desiree Nielsen says
  
  April 28, 2021 at 7:26 am
  
  Hi Desiree,
  
  Not a hard and fast rule…it’s a ‘best buy’ suggestion for sure.
  Because there are no animal ingredients, it will go off less readily than a traditional dressing so use your best judgement ?