we’re back again this week with a favorite dressing that i’ve been wanting to share here for a long while. i’ve been making different variations of vegan caesar dressings for years now. it first began in my book when i discovered that when you mixed chickpea flour with water over a low flame you could achieve a gooey/creamy cheese-like texture that when blended with a few other ingredients could come very close to the flavor of a traditional caesar salad dressing. a few years later, i developed another iteration of a caesar dressing, but this time with a coconut yogurt and tahini base. over the past couple of years though, plant-based yogurt has come a long way, and the flavors and textures that were once harder to achieve have become much easier. so here is yet another variation using a newer-to-me almond milk yogurt that i love.
this recipe uses a plant-based yogurt i rely on for many creamy sauces. it’s a greek-style almond milk yogurt that (because of its thick texture) holds up much like that of a traditional greek yogurt. from there, we simply add a few pantry staples to get that rich and tangy, caesar dressing flavor we all know and love. we replace the parmesan cheese with nutritional yeast giving it that distinct cheesy vibe. and add a splash of coconut aminos (or tamari) for a little hit of umami flavor that otherwise would have been provided by anchovies. there’s some dijon, garlic, and lemon juice, and a few other ingredients that result in the best vegan caesar dressing i’ve had (and made) to date!
while you can totally use this as a traditional caesar dressing, i’ve come to love using it as a dip as well. and because it lasts in your fridge for well over a week, it’s perfect as part of your meal prep rotation (and not just for caesar salads!). it’s a great for a snack with some cut veg, drizzled over roasted asparagus, mixed into a chicken, chickpea or egg salad. tossed into a lentil bowl. drizzled over a lunch or dinner bowl. or even a dip for homemade baked fries (last night we used it to drizzle over our veggie kabobs and it was everything!). like i’ve noted before, i love an all-purpose dressing/dip, and this one for sure hits the mark. i hope you get the chance to make it!
happy sunday, loves. xo!
everyday vegan caesar dressing
method
in a high-speed blender (preferably a Vitamix), combine the yogurt, nutritional yeast, vinegar, lemon juice, dijon, capers, garlic, coconut aminos, and season with salt and pepper. pulse; with the blender running on low, drizzle in the olive oil until everything is combined and dressing is smooth and creamy.
remove the lid, taste. adjust any seasonings if necessary.
store dressing in a lidded jar in your refrigerator for up to 10 days.
ingredients
1/2 cup unsweetened cultured plant-based yogurt (preferably this one)
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons dijon mustard
2 teaspoons drained capers
1 clove garlic, grated over a microplane
splash of coconut aminos, or gluten-free tamari
fine salt & freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil