Looking for a creamy, versatile, and delicious addition to your meals? Try this cashew butter sauce recipe. Made with simple ingredients, it’s perfect as a dressing, dip, or sauce for your favorite dishes. And the best part? It’s oil-free, vegan, and takes 5 minutes to make.
Whether you’re a quickie recipe fan or want to level up your meal prep game, this cashew butter dressing will be your new favorite!
Why You'll Love This Cashew Butter Sauce
This cashew butter recipe checks all the boxes:
- Rich and Creamy: Thanks to cashew butter, it has a luscious texture without needing oil or dairy.
- Packed with Flavor: With a balance of savory, nutty, sweet, tangy, and spicy notes, it’s a flavor bomb.
- Versatile: Use it as a salad dressing, buddha bowl sauce, drizzle it over roasted veggies, or toss it with noodles for a quick meal.
- Healthy: Every ingredient serves a purpose, from nutrient-dense cashew butter to natural sweetness from homemade date syrup. Because this cashew butter sauce is so yummy, you'll want to eat more veggies!
Ingredients You'll Need
- Cashew butter
- Homemade date syrup
- Apple cider vinegar (or rice vinegar)
- Coconut aminos
- Fresh ginger root
- Garlic
- Lime (or lemon)
- Crushed red pepper flakes (for heat)
Instructions
Put all ingredients and water into a mini blender and blend until smooth and creamy. I like using my Magic Bullet mini blender for sauces and dressings. It makes clean-up a breeze!
Taste your sauce and adjust the flavors as needed. Add a little more lime juice for brightness, apple cider vinegar for twang (lol!), date syrup for sweetness, or a pinch of salt for saltiness.
Enjoy immediately, or store leftovers in an airtight container (e.g., mason jar) in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Pro Tips for the Best Cashew Butter Dressing
- Use High-Quality Cashew Butter
Opt for unsweetened, natural cashew butter for the best flavor and texture. - Fresh is Best
Fresh ginger and garlic elevate the sauce, so skip the powdered versions if possible. - Customize the Flavor
This recipe is super adaptable! Omit the red pepper flakes if you want to minimize the spice or add more for extra heat.
Creative Ways to Use Cashew Butter Sauce
This cashew butter recipe is as versatile as it is delicious. Here are some of the best ways to use it:
1. Salad Dressing
Drizzle it over a fresh salad with greens, shredded carrots, and cucumber for a creamy, tangy dressing. This dressing works great on our Asian salad in a jar, rainbow salad, and baked salad.
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2. Veggie Dip
Serve it as a dip with fresh veggies like bell peppers, celery, and snap peas. What comes to mind is using this for our healthy girl dinner recipe.
3. Noodle Sauce
Toss it with cooked soba or rice noodles, add some steamed broccoli and tofu, and you have an easy dinner. This cashew butter sauce works nicely on our Asian noodle salad and veggie stir fry with noodles.
4. Buddha Bowl Sauce
It's amazing on our nourish bowl. Also, drizzle it over a fast and easy buddha bowl of quinoa, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and kale for a flavorful finishing touch. Add this sauce to your favorite buddha bowl and love it even more!
Health Benefits of This Cashew Butter Dressing
This sauce doesn’t just taste good—it’s packed with nutrients, too:
- Cashew Butter: Provides healthy fats, protein, and essential minerals like magnesium and zinc.
- Ginger and Garlic: Known for their anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: May support digestion and add a probiotic benefit. Vinegar also helps to lower blood sugar spikes.
- Homemade Date Syrup: A natural sweetener with trace nutrients, unlike refined sugar.
- Lime Juice: Adds vitamin C and a burst of freshness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, definitely. This sauce is a spin-off from our vegan peanut sauce.
Yes, you can freeze it in small portions for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and stir well before using.
If you don’t have coconut aminos, you can use regular aminos, low-sodium soy sauce, or tamari as an alternative. Keep in mind this will change the flavor slightly.
This cashew butter dressing is the perfect combination of simplicity, health, and flavor. Whether you’re meal prepping for the week or throwing together a last-minute meal, this sauce will elevate your dishes in no time.
Did you try this cashew butter recipe? We’d love to hear how it turned out! Please leave a comment below and let us know your favorite way to use it. Don’t forget to share this post with your friends and family—they’ll thank you for it!
Cashew Butter Sauce
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup cashew butter
- 2 Tablespoons coconut aminos if using regular aminos or soy sauce, use half the amount
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger root grated or minced
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 2 Tablespoons homemade date syrup
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes for heat
- ⅓ cup water add a tablespoon more water for a thinner consistency
Instructions
- Put all ingredients and water into a mini blender and blend until smooth and creamy. I like using my Magic Bullet mini blender for sauces and dressings. It makes clean-up a breeze!
- Taste your sauce and adjust the flavors as needed. Add a little more lime juice for brightness, apple cider vinegar for twang (lol!), date syrup for sweetness, or a pinch of salt for saltiness.
- Enjoy immediately, or store leftovers in an airtight container (e.g., mason jar) in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
EQUIPMENT / SUPPLIES
- Measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Mini-blender (or regular blender)
Gigi & Sersie says
Lots of flavor and easy to make. This sauce is a nice change of pace from peanut butter.
Cambria says
Used peanut butter instead of cashew butter and did 1/4tsp of red pepper flakes. Super yummy!! My new favorite peanut sauce!
Gigi & Sersie says
Thanks, Cambria. Yes, adding the red pepper flakes is a great add. Super happy it's your new favorite peanut sauce.