Tried our Vegan Caesar Salad and fell in love with the dressing? We heard you. This stand-alone Vegan Caesar Dressing is everything you adored: rich, savory, garlicky, and full of bold umami flavor.
Quick Look at This Recipe
- ⏰ Total Time: 10 minutes
- 🍽️ Servings: 4
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy – soften cashews, blend, and serve
- 🧀 Diet: 100% whole food, plant-based vegan, oil-free, soy-free, gluten-free
- 🙏 Daniel Fast-approved
Summarize and save this recipe with AI:
Whether you’re tossing it with crisp greens, drizzling it over a hearty bowl like our High Protein Chickpea Tempeh Bowl, or using it as a creamy dip for Healthy Girl Dinner, this dressing brings all the Caesar magic without the dairy, oil, or anchovies. It's the flavor-forward staple your plant-based kitchen didn’t know it needed.
Jump to:
- Quick Look at This Recipe
- Why You’ll Love This Vegan Caesar Dressing
- Health Benefits
- What You'll Need to Make This Recipe
- Substitutions and Variations
- How to Make This Vegan Caesar Dressing
- Expert Tips
- Ways to Use This Vegan Caesar Dressing
- Recipe FAQs
- More Oil-Free Dressings to Check Out
- Vegan Caesar Dressing
Why You’ll Love This Vegan Caesar Dressing
- Creamy, flavorful, and 100% plant-based
- Free from oil, dairy, and refined sugars
- Uses simple whole-food ingredients
- Ready in under 10 minutes
- Great for salads, grain bowls, wraps, and more
- Daniel Fast approved
Already loving clean, creamy dressings? Be sure to check out the Vegan Ranch Dressing for another healthy twist on a classic.
Health Benefits
- Raw cashews are heart-healthy, and help reduce oxidative stress
- Nori seaweed are rich in iodine and trace minerals
- Garlic brings antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
- Nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavor plus B vitamins
- Lemon juice adds vitamin C and helps with the absorption of iron-rich foods.
- Coconut aminos offer umami with lower sodium than regular soy sauce
- Black pepper enhances the absorption of nutrients and adds gentle heat
Pair this dressing with something hearty like the Kale Lentil Salad or use it to dress warm grain bowls for a nourishing, satisfying meal.
What You'll Need to Make This Recipe
- Raw cashews – create the creamy, luscious base without using oil or dairy
- Nori seaweed – brings a subtle ocean-like brininess, mimicking anchovy flavor, the plant-based way
- Garlic – adds a sharp, savory bite and aromatic depth
- Nutritional yeast – gives the dressing a cheesy, umami-rich flavor profile
- Coconut aminos – adds saltiness and a hint of sweetness with less sodium than soy sauce
- Dijon mustard – sharpens and balances the creamy richness with tang
- Fresh lemon juice – brightens and lifts the overall flavor
A complete list of ingredients with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Substitutions and Variations
- Nut-free option: Use sunflower seeds or silken tofu instead of cashews
- No nori? Try a splash of caper brine or a few chopped capers
- Extra tangy: Add more lemon juice or a splash of apple cider vinegar
- Lower sodium: Reduce the coconut aminos and skip additional salt
Love flavor-forward dressings? Try the Jalapeño Lime Aioli for a spicy alternative that’s just as versatile.
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How to Make This Vegan Caesar Dressing
Step 1: Boil the Cashews
Boil the raw cashews in water for 5 minutes to soften them. This helps create an ultra-creamy texture, especially if you're not using a high-speed blender.
Step 2: Add to Blender
Add all ingredients (cashews, nori, garlic, nutritional yeast, coconut aminos, mustard, lemon juice, pepper, salt, and water) into a blender.
Step 3: Blend Until Smooth
Blend on high for 30 to 60 seconds, or until creamy and fully combined. Scrape down the sides if needed.
Step 4: Taste and Adjust
Add more lemon, salt, or water depending on your taste and desired consistency.
Expert Tips
- For best results, use a high-speed blender to get the smoothest texture.
- This dressing thickens as it chills, so you may want to stir in a tablespoon of water before using leftovers.
- Double the batch and use it throughout the week for quick meals.
- Perfect over hearty greens like kale, or tossed with roasted vegetables and quinoa.
Try it drizzled over the Baked Salad for a warm, satisfying meal.
Ways to Use This Vegan Caesar Dressing
- This dressing is the saucy goodness in our Kale Caesar Pasta Salad recipe. Give it a try!
- Swap out the Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing on our Arugula Quinoa Salad for this creamy dressing.
- Mix things up with our Tofu Banh Mi Salad by using this vegan Caesar instead. The bold, umami flavors elevate the fresh flavors in this salad.
- For a creamier version of our Vegan Greek Salad, use this dressing for a fun remix.
- Replace the original Vegan Honey Mustard dressing in our Chickpea Sweet Potato Salad for a delicious savory twist.
Recipe FAQs
Up to 5 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
No, traditional Caesar dressing contains anchovies, egg, and dairy. This version skips all of that while keeping the flavor bold and satisfying.
Salads, grain bowls, roasted vegetables, sandwiches, wraps, or as a dip for raw veggies.
This Vegan Caesar Dressing is a must-have in your plant-based kitchen. Creamy, tangy, and full of umami, it’s a clean, nourishing alternative to traditional dressings with every bit of the flavor you love. Try it on a variety of dishes throughout the week, and for more oil-free, plant-based sauces and salads, don’t miss the Arugula Basil Pesto or Oil-Free Greek Dressing.
More Oil-Free Dressings to Check Out
If you tried this or any other recipe on our website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below! We love to get your feedback for improvement.
Vegan Caesar Dressing
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup raw cashews
- ¼ sheet nori seaweed or 1 tsp seaweed flakes
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
- 2 tsp coconut aminos
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ cup water
- ¼ tsp Salt start with ¼ tsp and adjust
Instructions
- Boil the raw cashews in water for 5 minutes to soften them. This helps create an ultra-creamy texture, especially if you're not using a high-speed blender.
- Add all ingredients: cashews, nori, garlic, nutritional yeast, coconut aminos, mustard, lemon juice, pepper, salt, and water into a blender.
- Blend on high for 30–60 seconds, or until creamy and fully combined. Scrape down the sides if needed.
- Add more lemon, salt, or water depending on your taste and desired consistency.
- Store in a sealed glass jar in the fridge for up to 5 days. Stir before each use.
Notes
- Boiling the cashews for 5 minutes softens them quickly and makes the dressing extra creamy. There's no need to soak overnight or for long periods.
- This dressing thickens as it chills. If it becomes too thick after refrigeration, simply stir in a splash of water to loosen it to your liking.
- Nori seaweed gives the dressing that classic Caesar briny flavor without using anchovies. Either a small sheet or flakes will work.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Stir well before each use.
- Versatile and flavorful: use it on salads, as a dip, in wraps, or drizzled over roasted veggies and grain bowls.
Sersie says
One of favorite dressings a true play on traditional Caesar dressing.
Gigi & Sersie says
It's better than traditional Caesar dressing, IMO. The nori seaweed is a game changer. The consistency sticks to the lettuce beautifully. Love this dressing!