Vegan Cashew Caesar Salad Dressing

All you need to make this vegan salad dressing recipe are 9 simple, healthy ingredients:

• raw cashews
• olive oil
• lemon juice
• dijon mustard
• garlic
• capers
• nutritional yeast
• maple syrup
• miso paste

Full ingredient measurements and detailed instructions are located in the recipe card at the bottom of this post!

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:

1. Measure out the amount of cashews you need (1 cup for this recipe).
2. Place those cashews in a large jar or container.
3. Cover the cashews with tap water.
4. Cover the container with a lid and place in the fridge.
5. Drain the cashews and give them a rinse before using!

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 🙂

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), 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 (especially for smoothies) for the last 7 years and it still works perfectly. 

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Cashews are a source of:

• heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids
• plant-based protein, with a 1/4 cup serving containing about 5 grams
• 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 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