A good caesar dressing needs some ZING! This vegan caesar dressing is so much tastier than your store-bought options and it’s mustard free.
The secret zingy ingredient?
Wasabi!
That great bit of bite that you love on your sushi works perfectly for the bite you want in you caesar. This version is perfect for those of us with mustard allergies. Plus it has:
Saltiness from Capers
More Bite from Lemon Juice
And The Unmatched Creaminess of Cashews
This dressing just needs some lettuce, croutons, and to be in your BELLY!
Now, total honesty, the inspiration for this recipe came from my allergy to mustard. Weird one right? And surprisingly difficult to avoid in practically any store-bought salad dressing. So… wasabi to the rescue!
But not to fear…
Wasabi Substitute
Your trusty dijon mustard will sub in nicely.
This dressing is:
So Thick
So Creamy
Full Of Flavour
Quick to Make
And Tastier Than Store-Bought
Why Use Soaked Cashews
Cashews are a wonder nut! If you want a thick and creamy sauce cashews are your friend. There’s no need to run to the store for cream when you have cashews in your pantry!
And to get that creaminess? You soak them. Here’s a great guide to soaking cashews. But in short, you can soak cashews in cold water overnight or for a minimum of 4 hours but ideally 8 hours. BUT I like the quick method:
Boil water in your kettle,
Place your cashews in a bowl or glass measuring cup,
Pour the boiling water over the cashews,
And let sit for 15-20 minutes.
Now your cashews are nice and soft and will break down wonderfully creamy.
*If you don’t soak your cashews you will have a lumpy dressing. Believe me… been there. Won’t try it again.
Recipe Cost
This recipe makes 236ml and costs roughly CAD $3.06. That’s:
$1.19/100ml vs.
$0.59 – $1.71/100 ml for store-bought brands. And,
$2.53 – $4.00/100ml for dairy-free, egg-free store-bought brands.
Not too shabby right?
Well, now you’re ready! Pull out your blender, get soakin’, get blendin’ and make this super tasty zingy vegan caesar dressing!
No blender? Not to worry, try our No Blender Quick Caesar Dressing. Make sure to bake up some easy homemade crunchy croutons and top with our Sun-Dried Tomato Bits too!
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Zingy Vegan Caesar Dressing Better Than Store-Bought
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 236ml 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Vegan caesar salad dressing with a zing! It’s creamy, ready in minutes, made in your blender and so much tastier than store-bought!
Ingredients
- ½ cup raw cashews (soaked overnight or in boiling water for 15-20 minutes)
- ½ cup non-dairy milk
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp wasabi (or 1 tsp dijon mustard)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tbsp vegan worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp capers (with their brine)
- ¼ tsp salt and pepper
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
*All of the ingredients for this recipe are from our pantry and freezer tips!
Instructions
- Soak cashews overnight or boil water and using a glass measuring cup or bowl, pour the boiling water over the cashews and allow to soak uncovered for 15-20 minutes.
- Drain your cashews and add them to your blender with the remaining ingredients. Pulse a few times to break down the cashews. Then blend until creamy and smooth.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings to your liking. Add more garlic if desired, salt to bring out the flavours even more, wasabi or dijon for zing, or more nutritional yeast for a deeper flavour and cheesiness.
- Serve immediately over a salad or in a wrap. Or refrigerate for 3-4 days. The sauce will thicken as it sits in the fridge. If desired, simply add a dash more milk and stir to thin slightly before serving.
Notes
*Approximate Cost: CAD $3.04.
*Cost Comparison: our version costs CAD $1.16/100ml vs. Store-bought = CAD $0.59 – $1.71/100ml. Dairy/Egg Free Store-bought = CAD $2.53 – $4.00/100ml
*If you don’t have a blender, try our No Blender Caesar Dressing as part of our Caesar Salad From Scratch recipe.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Sauces & Dips
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: Italian
Gabe
Better than store bought is ABSOLUTELY right. I will never buy Caesar dressing again. I had every ingredient at home and this recipe was very easy and very quick to make!
Kathryn Alexandre
haha fantastic! I’m so glad to hear you found it to be quick and convenient! Thank you so much for letting me know you loved it!