cashew Caesar salad dressing
Time
85 min
Serves
6
Published May 21, 2024 by Dr. Stephanie Gray, DC
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You should try this delicious, Cashew Caesar Salad Dressing. Fresh, rich and creamy with a roasted garlic aroma . It’s perfect for Caesar salad of course, but it can also be used as a veggie dip, as a sauce for casseroles (think broccoli or cauliflower casserole) or drizzled on a chicken stir-fry or wrap.
This recipe is easy to make but there are a couple steps required in preparation. The cashews should be soaked in boiling water for at least 10 minutes before using (this will ensure that they completely break down in the blender) and the recipe calls for a roasted head of garlic. If you don’t have time to roast the garlic before-hand, you can use 1-2 garlic cloves as a substitute.
If you want to eat healthy, you must always make your own salad dressings. A factory made salad dressing will ruin the health benefits of any salad you eat. Most store-bought Caesar salad dressings are made with pro-inflammatory seed oil (soybean and canola oils), sugar and food additives. Generally, home made salad dressings are inexpensive, easy to make and the ingredients are always healthier.
Made without eggs, gluten or dairy.
This dressing will quickly become on of your favourites!
Try my other healthy salad dressing recipes:
Creamy Lemon Tahini Maple Salad Dressing
Why you will LOVE this Cashew Caesar Salad Dressing!
- Freshness: Homemade dressing is made with fresh ingredients, giving it a vibrant flavor and aroma that can’t be replicated by store-bought varieties.
- Healthier Ingredients: By using soaked cashews as a base instead of traditional oils, your dressing is lower in unhealthy fats and higher in beneficial nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Creamy Texture: The combination of cashews and a touch of avocado mayonnaise creates a creamy texture that’s perfect for dipping veggies or drizzling over salads.
- Dietary Preferences: This dressing caters to the gluten free, egg free and dairy-free crowd. But everyone will love it. I’ve served it to the fussiest of eaters with no issue. Be sure to use vegan mayo if you observe an egg free diet.
- Rich and Creamy Texture: Cashews provide a creamy texture to the dressing, giving it a luscious mouthfeel that’s similar to traditional Caesar dressing but without the need for dairy or eggs.
- Roasted GARLIC -this dressing uses a whole head of roasted garlic which adds so much flavour and a wonderful aroma. It takes time to roast garlic, but it’s so worth it for the added flavour.
How to Store this Cashew Caesar Salad Dressing?
Store leftover dressing in a mason jar or glass container. Must be refrigerated. Use within 1 week.
Cashew Caesar Salad Dressing
Equipment
-
1 blender
-
1 small bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup cashews *requires minimum 10 minutes of pre-soaking
- 1 head garlic *roasted- see method below
- 1 tbsp capers
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 anchovy *see substitutions
- 2 tbsp avocado mayonaise
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp lime or lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast *see substitutions
- 1/4 cup water *more if needed to thin dressing out
Instructions
-
Soak the Cashews: Put cashews in a small bowl. Cover with water and let soak for at least 4 hours or overnight. A quicker method is to soak the cashews in boiled water for at least 10 minutes. Drain and rinse the soaked cashews.
-
Roast Garlic using Air Fryer or Oven:
Use a sharp knife to trim about ¼ to ½ inch off the top of the bulb to expose the tops of the cloves.
Drizzle with Oil: Place the garlic bulb on a piece of aluminum foil and drizzle it with a teaspoon or so of olive oil.
Air fry the garlic for about 20-25 minutes, or until the cloves are soft and caramelized.
No air fryer? Roast garlic in a 400 F oven for 40-45 minutes.
Once cooled, you can gently squeeze the cloves out of their skins.
-
Blend: In a blender or food processor, combine all the ingredients. Blend until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the blender as needed. Add more water, a little bit at a time if you want to thin out your dressing.
-
Storage: Pour dressing into a mason jar and secure with a lid. Refrigerate.
Notes
Substitutions:
Anchovy: Substitute 2 tsp gluten free Worcestershire sauce or gluten free soy sauce/tamari sauce for anchovy.
Nutritional yeast: Nutritional yeast adds a nice dairy free “cheesy” flavour. Substitute with Parmesan cheese if you’re not worried about dairy. It’s ok to omit this ingredient altogether.
Nutrition
I’m a doctor of chiropractic, with a special interest in nutrition. I am passionate about healthy eating and using food to heal thyself. Food should be made in a kitchen not a factory. I believe in eating whole foods, keeping processed foods to a minimum. It is my goal to show you that eating healthy and cooking at home can be simple and very rewarding! All of my recipes are gluten-free. Some are ketogenic or paleo friendly.
Tried this recipe? Mention @drstephanieskitchen or #drstephanieskitchen on social media