Caesar Dressing (Vegan)
Dressings
Ingredients:
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked in hot water 15 min and drained
- 1/4 cup water, plus more to thin
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp capers
- 1 tbsp caper brine
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Equipments:
Features:
20 minutes or less
Oil-Free
Soy-Free
Gluten-Free
Grain-Free
Meal Prep Friendly
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Instructions:
- Soak the cashews: If not using a high-speed blender, cover the cashews in hot water and let soak for 15 minutes, then drain.
- Blend: Combine the cashews, water, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, capers, caper brine, garlic, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a blender or food processor. Blend until completely smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Adjust consistency: Add more water 1 tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired thickness.
- Taste and adjust: Add more lemon juice, salt, or capers to taste.
- Store: Transfer to an airtight jar and refrigerate.
Common Mistakes: • Skipping the cashew soak (unless using a high-speed blender) — leads to a gritty, not creamy, texture.
• Adding too much water at once — makes it hard to dial in the right consistency without over-thinning.
Notes: • Nutritional yeast is what gives this its "cheesy" Caesar flavor — don't skip it.
Storage: • Keeps in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. It thickens when chilled, so thin with a splash of water before serving.
Swaps: • No raw cashews? Blanched slivered almonds or raw sunflower seeds, soaked the same way, work well.
• No capers? Use a small chopped pickle or an extra pinch of salt plus a bit more lemon juice, though you'll lose some of the briny depth.
Tips: • A high-speed blender gives the smoothest texture. With a regular blender, soak the cashews longer — up to 4 hours or overnight.
Raw cashews — blend into a rich, creamy base that mimics traditional Caesar's texture without any dairy.
Nutritional yeast — adds a savory, cheesy flavor that stands in for parmesan.
Capers and caper brine — bring the salty, briny, umami punch that a traditional Caesar gets from anchovies.
Dijon mustard — adds tang and helps emulsify the dressing into a smooth, cohesive sauce.
Caesar Dressing (Vegan)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked in hot water 15 min and drained
- 1/4 cup water, plus more to thin
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp capers
- 1 tbsp caper brine
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Equipments:
Features:
Why These Ingredients:
Raw cashews — blend into a rich, creamy base that mimics traditional Caesar's texture without any dairy.
Nutritional yeast — adds a savory, cheesy flavor that stands in for parmesan.
Capers and caper brine — bring the salty, briny, umami punch that a traditional Caesar gets from anchovies.
Dijon mustard — adds tang and helps emulsify the dressing into a smooth, cohesive sauce.
Instructions:
- Soak the cashews: If not using a high-speed blender, cover the cashews in hot water and let soak for 15 minutes, then drain.
- Blend: Combine the cashews, water, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, capers, caper brine, garlic, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a blender or food processor. Blend until completely smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Adjust consistency: Add more water 1 tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired thickness.
- Taste and adjust: Add more lemon juice, salt, or capers to taste.
- Store: Transfer to an airtight jar and refrigerate.
