This is the easiest way to make homemade vegan Caesar salad dressing! Get that classic tangy taste without the dairy, eggs, or anchovies. Cashew butter forms a creamy base, and capers and mustard give it that great Caesar flavor.
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Caesar salad is a simple classic that's easy to make at home. If you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, you might be missing out on this favorite salad since it usually contains dairy, egg, and anchovy.
My simple homemade vegan Caesar salad dressing is dairy free, gluten free, and contains no mayo. It does contain cashews, so if you're allergic to nuts you'll want to steer clear. I love the creamy cashew base, with no soaking required!
Whether you're tossing together a salad or meal prepping for the week, this plant-based dressing is a delicious staple to keep on hand.
Ingredients
- Cashew butter
- Lemon juice
- Garlic
- Capers
- Caper brine
- Vegan worcestershire sauce
- Dijon mustard
- Coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Water
How to make vegan caesar dressing
- To a small bowl add cashew butter, lemon juice, garlic, capers, caper brine, worcestershire sauce, and dijon mustard. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Whisk everything together until incorporated.
- Taste and adjust any flavors such as lemon juice, garlic, or salt and pepper.
- Add water a little bit at a time, whisking until smooth, until it reaches your desired consistency.
Top tips
Mince the capers
Big chunks of capers in your dressing will be overpowering, so make sure you mince them before adding.
Taste and adjust
This recipe offers a lot of room for adjusting to your personal taste. You may want a stronger lemon flavor, or more mustard. If you don't love garlic you can leave it out entirely, or add more if you prefer. This recipe should give you a good jumping off point for changing things up, just remember you can always add more of something but you can't take it out.
How to use vegan Caesar dressing
- Caesar salad
- Sandwiches and wraps
- Grain bowls
- Pasta salads
- Veggie dip
- Drizzle over roasted vegetables
How to store this vegan Caesar dressing recipe
Keep this dressing in an airtight container (I use a small mason jar) in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If it thickens, whisk in a little more water before using.
Tips for customizing homemade Caesar dressing
- Add more or less water to reach your desired consistency
- Make it spicy by adding a little crushed red pepper flake, aleppo chili powder, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce
- Add an extra ½ teaspoon of dijon mustard if you like a strong mustard flavor
- Try using a whole grain mustard instead of dijon
FAQ
No, traditional worcestershire sauce is not vegan because it contains anchovies. However, I can usually find a vegan worcestershire sauce in the organic section of my local grocery store, which keeps this recipe vegan.
I haven't tested it, but you could try swapping the cashew butter for an equal amount of vegan mayonnaise. You will end up with a slightly different flavor and texture, but I think it would work just fine.
Cashew butter is a creamy spread made from blended cashews. Make sure cashews are the only ingredient (maybe a little salt). There shouldn't be any added sugars or oils. I find my cashew butter in the natural and organic section of the grocery store.
Capers are edible flower buds from the caper bush. They're dried, then pickled in brine, which is how you'll usually find them in the grocery store. They have a salty flavor, similar to green olives, and can be found near the olives at the store.
More dressing recipes
- Ginger Tahini Dressing
- Creamy Cashew Dressing
- Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
- Peanut Dressing
- Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Lemon Tahini Dressing
If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!
Recipe
Vegan Caesar Dressing
Ingredients
- ¼ cup cashew butter
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic, pressed or grated
- 1 ½ teaspoons chopped capers
- 1 teaspoon caper brine
- 1 teaspoon vegan worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
- Coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Water, as needed
Instructions
- To a small bowl add cashew butter, lemon juice, garlic, capers, caper brine, worcestershire sauce, and dijon mustard. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Whisk everything together until incorporated.
- Taste and adjust any flavors such as lemon juice, garlic, or salt and pepper.
- Add water a little bit at a time, whisking until smooth, until it reaches your desired consistency. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator in an airtight container until ready to use.
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