Make this Dairy Free Caesar Dressing recipe in only 5 minutes. It's creamy, smooth and made without dairy, eggs, or anchovies! It's the perfect vegan, gluten-free substitute for a caesar salad.
There's nothing like a nice homemade Caesar salad. It starts with a crisp bed of lettuce, some vegan parmesan cheese and a handful of crunchy chickpeas. Top all that off with some tangy dairy free Caesar salad dressing, and you'll have the perfect lunch or dinner salad. Pair it along side your main entrée like this vegan meatball and spaghetti recipe for the perfect meal. Made with wholesome and simple ingredients, this salad dressing will easily become a new favorite in your plant based meal prep recipes.
Why you'll love this Caesar Salad Dressing
Many people ask, "Does caesar dressing have dairy? " The answer may surprise you. Traditional Caesar dressing is rich and creamy and is made with heavy ingredients like egg yolks, cheese, and oils, which are high in fat and calories. This dairy free Caesar dressing is a lighter version that uses no eggs or dairy and has less calories and fat.
Ways to use the Dressing:
This dressing can be used in many ways other than as a salad dressing.
You can use this dressing for:
- Served as a dip for veggies, raw or grilled
- As a dressing in a caesar salad wrap
- Dressing for roasted veggies in a Buddha Bowl
- And of course, tossed into a Caesar salad
Ingredients for Caesar Dressing
This recipe is made with 11 main ingredients to make up the dairy free caesar dressing.
- Vegan mayo - for creaminess
- Dijon mustard - for some tang to bring all the savory flavors together
- Vegan parmesan cheese - I made my own vegan parmesan cheese that I included below, but feel free to use a store bought version
- Garlic cloves- a must in caesar dressing. You can add one if you prefer your dressing to be a bit less garlicky.
- Capers - to add that "fishy", salty taste that anchovies give to this dressing.
- Lemon juice - for a zing.
- Coconut Aminos - for flavor
- Maple syrup - just for a touch of sweetness
- Distilled white vinegar - to add some acidic flavor
- Avocado oil - I found using this oil taste better than using extra virgin olive oil, but both works well in this recipe
- Salt & pepper - for seasoning
How to Make the Dressing
This dairy-free caesar dressing is so easy to make. You simply blend all of the ingredients into a food processor, or blender, for about 1 - 2 minutes, until smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides of the food processor as necessary. That's it!
The full ingredient quantities and instructions are in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Recipe FAQ
This Caesar dressing tastes best fresh. If you have any leftovers, store it in an airtight container in your fridge for about 3 days.
If you want to use the dressing for a meal prep, I recommend storing the lettuce and the dressing in separate containers.
Typically, Caesar dressing is not vegan. It's made with anchovies, egg, and parmesan cheese.
This recipe is dairy-free and vegan since it uses vegan mayo and vegan parmesan cheese.
Caesar dressings are typically made with heavy ingredients like egg yolks, cheese, and oils and are high in fat and calories. This homemade caesar dressing is a lighter version that uses no eggs or dairy and has less calories and fat.
The amount of calories in caesar dressing is 138 calories per serving.
I like my dressings on the thicker side. If you prefer a thinner dressing, simply add a little water, about 1 tablespoon at a time, until it reaches the consistency you desire.
More Recipes You May Like:
Dairy Free Caesar Dressing
Equipment
- Food processor or blender
Ingredients
Homemade Vegan Parmesan Cheese
- 3/4 cup raw cashews
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Dairy Free Caesar Dressing
- ⅓ cup vegan mayo
- 1 tablespoon dijon Mustard
- ⅓ cup homemade Vegan parmesan cheese or store-bought
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons capers
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon coconut aminos
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon distilled white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Homemade Vegan Parmesan Cheese
- Add all the ingredients to a food processor and blend until consistency is a fine texture. Store in the refrigerator to keep fresh.
Dairy Free Caesar Dressing
- Add all the ingredients to a food processor and blend until smooth.
- Serve over a Caesar Salad or use as a dip or dressing for a wrap.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Although HalfPastHungry.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on which products you use, the brand that was purchased, or in other unforeseeable ways. HalfPastHungry.com will not be held liable for any reliance on given nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your physician first.
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