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5-minute, 6-ingredient easy vegan Caesar dressing is ultra-creamy, tangy, briny, and umami-packed, with all the classic flavor profiles but 100% egg-free, dairy-free, & vegan!
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5-Minute Creamy Vegan Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe
We’ve got nothing against a high-quality vinaigrette, but sometimes you just can’t beat something richer and creamier like miso tahini dressing, chipotle taco salad dressing, and the creamiest of all – this vegan Caesar dressing!
Traditional Caesar dressing is made with ingredients like raw eggs, anchovies, and parmesan cheese, along with garlic, lemon, mustard, and black pepper. The result is rich, creamy, garlicky, zesty, peppery, and jam-packed with umami… but neither vegetarian nor vegan.
Luckily, with some experimentation, we’ve discovered an equally creamy and flavorful fish-free, egg-free, dairy-free Caesar dressing that hits the same bold notes but entirely with plant-based ingredients – so everyone can enjoy it. Plus, it’s thick enough for tossing into salads or spreading over wraps.
Best of all, it’s so simple to throw together in a blender in just a few minutes with a handful of simple ingredients. It’s perfect for pulling together the best vegan caesar salad, wraps, sandwiches, dipping, and more!
The Ingredients and Substitutions
- Tofu: We use firm tofu to create the thick, creamy consistency of a Caesar dressing with no mayo or eggs. Plus, it adds plant-based protein. Refer to FAQs for soy-free alternatives.
- Garlic: We prefer fresh garlic cloves, though powdered will work in a pinch.
- Capers: A combination of capers and caper brine will add a salty, tangy flavor.
- Seaweed: Combined with the capers, roasted sea salt seaweed snacks (or nori sheets) help to mimic the depth added by anchovies in the traditional dressing.
- Mustard: Dijon mustard is a signature ingredient in the classic version and adds tang with very subtle heat.
- Lemon: Use fresh lemon juice over bottled for the best flavor.
- Miso: (optional) It’s best to use white miso (Shiro miso, also called mellow or sweet miso) to add salty, tangy, umami depth to the vegetarian Caesar dressing.
- Black pepper: Added to taste.
- Olive oil: For a full, silky mouthfeel and to help it cling to salads.
If you want to make an oil-free vegan Caesar dressing recipe, add some warm water to thin the dressing to your liking. It won’t be as rich, though.
What to Add to Vegan Caesar Dressing?
- Maple syrup: Just a teaspoon or so can balance the flavors in this vegan Caesar dressing recipe and add a hint of sweetness.
- Nutritional yeast: Add, to taste, to add a nutty, ‘cheesy’ flavor to mimic parmesan.
- Vegan Worcestershire sauce: Just a splash for an umami, slightly tangy boost.
- Red pepper flakes: To add a hint of spice.
- Fresh herbs: E.g., finely chopped fresh parsley or chives for freshness and color.
- Celery seed: Just a pinch of celery seed can add wonderful flavor depth.
How to Make Vegan Caesar Dressing?
- Measure out all the ingredients.
- Transfer everything apart from the oil to a small food processor or blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
- Drizzle in oil to your desired consistency, then taste and adjust any of the ingredients.
At this point, the dressing is ready to use, but it will taste even better if given at least an hour (or even better, overnight) for the flavors to meld.
FAQs
There are several ways to replace the tofu. For example, use ½-¾ cup of soaked and blended cashews, sunflower seeds, or pine nuts (blended in a 1:1 ratio with water). Alternatively, you could use tahini or vegan mayonnaise.
Yes, if you’re using tofu, it’s important to achieve a smooth, creamy consistency. It also helps to thoroughly grind and combine the ingredients, like the capers and seaweed sheets, into the dressing.
Pro Recipe Tips
- To adjust the consistency: Adjust the amount of oil or water added to bring it to your desired consistency.
- Tweak to taste: Taste and adjust any element to your liking.
- Leave it to meld: While you can enjoy this eggless Caesar dressing immediately, it will taste even better if given a few hours for the flavors to marinate/meld.
Storage Instructions
Store the dairy-free Caesar salad dressing in an airtight container/jar in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If it overly thickens while sitting, optionally whisk in a small amount of warm water before serving.
How To Use Vegan Caesar Dressing?
This dairy-free Caesar dressing isn’t only good for salad. Here are just a few ways we love to use this creamy sauce.
- Over salads (like a Caesar salad, with kale or arugula)
- Over a grain bowl – like a healthy quinoa veggie bowl
- As an alternative dressing for pasta salad, potato salad, or ‘slaw‘
- Spread in a vegan sandwich, wrap, or burger
- Dip or drizzle roasted vegetables (like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, etc.)
- A dip for vegan pizza, cauliflower wings, potato wedges, and other appetizers
More Vegan Dressings and Sauces
- 2-minute oil-free salad dressing
- Avocado green goddess dressing
- Japanese carrot ginger dressing
- Simple basil ‘pesto’ dressing
- 5-minute blackberry vinaigrette
Photos by Alfonso Revilla
Vegan Caesar Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) block of firm tofu, drained
- 1 lemon
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon of capers
- 3 teaspoons of caper brine
- 1 (0.14 ounce) package of roasted sea salt seaweed snacks
- 1 teaspoon of dijon mustard
- 1 ½ teaspoons of white miso paste (optional)
- 1 teaspoon of black pepper
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil, more as needed
Instructions
- Put all of the ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth and the seaweed is well blended. Add oil until desired consistency is achieved.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to eat.
Notes
- To adjust the consistency: Adjust the amount of oil or water added to bring it to your desired consistency.
- Tweak to taste: Taste and adjust any element to your liking.
- Leave it to meld: While you can enjoy this eggless Caesar dressing immediately, it will taste even better if given a few hours for the flavors to marinate meld.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Although plantbasedonabudget.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Plantbasedonabudget.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
![completed Vegan Chipotle Sauce [Taco Salad Dressing] against a white surface](https://plantbasedonabudget.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Taco-Salad-Dressing-Plant-Based-on-a-Budget-6-378x378.jpg)
Great dressing recipe! I like how versatile it is. Added more lemon and dijon for my taste preference.
Yesss! It can be enjoyed in so many ways!
So easy to make!