Vegan Caesar Dressing With Cashews & Capers
Looking for a creamy vegan caesar dressing that closely mirrors the taste and texture of traditional caesar salad dressing? It’s possible with the right blend of plant-based ingredients! This DIY caesar dressing uses soaked cashews, miso paste, and jarred capers (plus capers brine!) for salty, tangy, umami flavor. Using pre-soaked cashews, it’s ready within 15 minutes.
Looking for a nutritious, dairy-free caesar dressing made without anchovies? You’ve come to the right place.
Traditional caesar dressing is often made with anchovies, mayonnaise, and parmesan – three ingredients which are not vegan. While I personally eat all of these ingredients, as a dietitian, I wanted to share an option for someone on a vegan or dairy-free diet to enjoy!
All you need are 9 simple ingredients to make it, many of which pack in a ton of nutrition benefits. This can be a healthier option to many store-bought options! Serve this over a classic caesar salad, or try it with some of these serving ideas.
Want more healthy salad dressings? You may also enjoy my go-to classic balsamic vinaigrette, this balsamic tahini dressing (for a creamy option), or my miso sesame salad dressing for Asian-inspired salads!
About The Ingredients
All you need to make this vegan salad dressing recipe are 9 simple, healthy ingredients. Here’s why we’re using them!
- Raw cashews: blended raw cashews create a super thick and creamy texture, similar to what you would expect from the mayonnaise in traditional caesar dressing.
- Capers: jarred capers replace the anchovies that are typically found in caesar salads and dressings. They have a similar briny, salty, and strong flavour that mimics that of anchovies.
- Miso paste: a Japanese seasoning that is used to add more umami flavour to this recipe. Miso will usually be stored in the refrigerated section of your grocery store.
- Nutritional yeast: used to replace the parmesan found in traditional caesar dressings. Nutritional yeast is dairy-free and has a distinct cheesy flavour!
- Maple syrup: a touch of sweetness helps to balance out all the salty, umami flavours of the other ingredients.
- Olive oil: helps to thin out the dressing recipe, adding more creaminess and healthy fats.
- Lemon juice: the acidity of freshly squeezed lemon juice helps to balance out the other flavours.
- Dijon mustard: an ingredient in traditional caesar dressing. I used a smooth/creamy dijon that is mild in taste and not grainy.
- Garlic: fresh garlic cloves are also a typical ingredient found in traditional caesar dressing!
Full ingredient measurements and detailed instructions are located in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Do You Need To Soak Cashews For This Recipe?
Yes! You will need to soak the cashews for at least 4 hours or overnight.
I find it easiest to do this THE NIGHT BEFORE I plan on making a recipe (otherwise, I’m likely to forget to do this)!! To do so, simply:
- Measure out the amount of cashews you need (1 cup for this recipe).
- Place those cashews in a large jar or container.
- Cover the cashews with tap water.
- Cover the container with a lid and place in the fridge.
- Drain the cashews and give them a rinse before using!
How Long Does This Dressing Keep In The Fridge?
You can make a large batch of this dressing to keep in the fridge for 1 week. Simply store it in an airtight jar or container!
You may notice that it become thicker over time – just add a bit more liquid (water works) and stir until it reaches your desired consistency again 🙂
What To Serve This Vegan Caesar Salad Dressing With?
While a traditional caesar salad may be the obvious choice, here are some other ideas for what to serve this dressing with:
- vegan kale & brussels sprout caesar salad (where this dressing recipe originates from!)
- grilled romaine lettuce (my favourite – I make this ALL the time in the summer)
- a simple green salad made with raw romaine or iceberg lettuce (or a similar lettuce), crunchy veggies (like cucumbers, peppers, and radishes), grilled chicken, and perhaps these delicious homemade sourdough croutons
- use it as a dip for raw veggies
My Go-To Blender
Vitamix Blender
If you’re in need of a high-powered blender, I use this Vitamix to get the job done. It blends the cashews up in seconds! I use it almost daily for the last 7 years and it still works perfectly.
Cashew Nutrition Benefits
Cashews are a source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids and plant-based protein, with a 1/4 cup serving containing about 5 grams
They’re also a source of essential minerals like magnesium (which helps to promote proper nerve + muscle function) and iron (which helps to synthesize hemoglobin + transport oxygen through the body).
Nutritional Yeast Nutrition Benefits
Nutritional yeast is another pantry staple of mine, thanks to it’s deliciously cheesy flavour and impressive nutrient profile. While I do personally eat cheese, sometimes I like making dairy-free sauces and I always turn to nutritional yeast to give me that “cheesy” kick.
From a nutrition perspective, fortified nutritional yeast is an excellent source of many B-vitamins, like:
- thiamine
- riboflavin
- niacin
- vitamin B6
- vitamin B12
These B-vitamins play a critical role in producing energy from the foods that we eat.
Nutritional yeast also contains trace minerals like:
- zinc
- selenium
- manganese
More Healthy Salad Dressing Recipes
- Maple Dijon Vinaigrette
- Vegan Curry Tahini Dressing
- Vegan Avocado Green Goddess Dressing
- Herbed Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing
- Creamy Pesto Salad Dressing
Did you give this Vegan Cashew Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe a try? Let me know by leaving a comment and recipe rating below!
If you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or Pinterest – seeing your creations always makes my day. You can also subscribe to my email list to never miss a new recipe or nutrition education post!
No More Boring Salads Ebook
Enjoy this recipe? You will love my 134-page eCookbook of 60 easy, delicious, and nutritious salad recipes. You’ll get instant access from your phone, tablet, or computer – ad-free!
Get the Recipe: Vegan Caesar Dressing With Cashews & Capers
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked + drained
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
- 2 tsps dijon mustard
- 1 tsp miso paste
- 4 cloves garlic
- 5 tsp capers (with brine)
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 2 tsp maple syrup
- 4-6 Tbsp water
- Salt + pepper, to taste
Instructions
- *NOTE: you'll need to soak the cashews for at least 4 hours or overnight. I find it easiest to just throw them into a jar, cover with water, and place in the fridge the night before I plan on making a recipe.
- After cashews have soaked, drain and rinse them in a sieve.
- Add drained cashews and all other dressing ingredients into a high-speed blender. Blend on high until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasonings to taste.
- If you like a thinner dressing, simply add a tablespoon or 2 more water and blend until it reaches your desired consistency. Similarly, if you want more acidity – feel free to add a few more capers, caper brine, or lemon juice.
- Serve as desired or store in the fridge!
Notes
- vegan kale & brussels sprout caesar salad (where this dressing recipe originates from!)
- grilled romaine lettuce (my favourite – I make this ALL the time in the summer)
- a simple green salad made with raw romaine or iceberg lettuce (or a similar lettuce), and crunchy veggies (like cucumbers, peppers, and radishes)
- use it as a dip for raw veggies
Nutrition
As a dietitian, I create recipes with whole food ingredients that provide the nutrients needed for optimal health. My nutrition philosophy does not focus on numbers; however, I understand that this information can be helpful.
Do note that the nutrition info provided is an estimate and I cannot guarantee correctness of the displayed values. These numbers will differ depending on brands used, recipe modifications, and amount eaten. If you require specific nutrition information due to medical reasons, please consult with your dietitian or physician.
Did you make this recipe?
Let me know by leaving a recipe rating below, or by tagging @walderwellness on Instagram. I love seeing your beautiful creations!
Pin it for later:
9 Comments on “Vegan Caesar Dressing With Cashews & Capers”
What is purpose of nutritional yeast? Can it be omitted or replaced with something?
Hi Alka! Nutritional yeast has a cheesy flavour and is often used in vegan recipes to add a cheesy taste! I would not omit it in this recipe – it will lose a lot of its flavour. As for replacements, the only thing I can think of would be parmesan cheese (or a vegan parm). I hope that helps clarify!
Does it matter if the maple syrup is sugar free? Very excited to try this one!
Hi Callie! No that should be fine – it’s just to add a little sweetness and build the flavour here..doesn’t affect the texture or anything! I’m assuming that sugar-free maple syrup still contains a non-caloric sweetener in there? In which case it’ll do the job 🙂
Made this for me and my mom and we both loved it! Will definitely be making again! You’ve made me a believer in homemade dressings.
Made this for me and my mom and we both loved it! Will definitely be making again. You’ve made me a believer in homemade dressings!
Woohoo! Thank you, Rae! So happy to hear that you and your mom enjoyed this one. Homemade dressings are so delish 🙂
WOW, this really exceeded my expectations. Creamy, garlicky, lemony, delicious! Will absolutely make again 🙂 thank you!
Hi Natalie!! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! It’s so appreciated. I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed this homemade caesar dressing 🙂