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Home / Blog / Recipes

Healthy Caesar Dressing

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By:

Madeline

Updated: April 29, 2024

This site may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This is a Healthy Caesar Dressing recipe made with plant-based and Whole30 friendly ingredients that tastes just like the real thing! Use whole raw cashews to make a creamy, flavorful base for this homemade caesar dressing.

Quick

Minimal prep

You’ll Learn: A shortcut for soaking cashews when you’re short on time

Worth It: It’s got that perfect kick of zest and richness that makes every bite pop

Bonus: Plant-based and Whole30-friendly

The creamiest plant-based Caesar dressing

Last time I did the Whole30 I had a fairly constant craving for salads. BUT they are only satisfying if I keep them interesting. I do my best to keep them interesting by changing up the toppings and homemade dressings.

I make lots of homemade dressings, but this Healthy Caesar dressing is definitely a favorite. It is creamy and tangy and keeps you wanting more. It is made with simple ingredients yet the flavor is complex and interesting.

What kitchen tools will I need to make this homemade Caesar dressing?

  • Measuring spoons
  • Measuring cups
  • Liquid measuring cup
  • High speed blender

What ingredients will I need to make this Whole30 Caesar dressing?

You will be amazed at how easy it is to make this healthy caesar dressing with just a few simple ingredients.

  • Raw cashews
  • Water
  • Avocado oil
  • Lemon juice
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Coconut Aminos
  • Garlic powder
  • Salt
  • Black pepper

How do I make this Healthy Caesar Dressing recipe?

Step 1: Soak the cashews

First, soak raw cashews in water for at least 6 hours or preferably overnight. If you need to soak cashews quickly, add them to a saucepan with water, bring to a boil, cover pot and remove from heat, let sit for 15 minutes before draining.

Step 2: Add ingredients to the blender

Then, drain the water from the cashews and rinse. Next, add cashews, water, avocado oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, coconut aminos, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a high-speed blender.

Step 3: Blend!

Then, blend on high until a smooth dressing remains. Pour into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Step 4: Enjoy!

How long will this homemade caesar dressing keep in the fridge?

Once prepared, pour the ingredients into an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks. I like to use wide mouth mason jars to store my homemade dressings.

Use this delicious dairy free caesar dressing to make a Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad.

You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!

You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!

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Recipe

Healthy Caesar Dressing

5 from 8 votes
A healthy caesar dressing made with plant-based and Whole30 friendly ingredients that tastes just like the real thing!
Recipe By: Madeline
Prep: 10 minutes minutes
Cook: 10 minutes minutes
Total: 20 minutes minutes
Print Review Pin It SaveSaved!
Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup raw cashews
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup avocado oil
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp coconut aminos or soy sauce
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
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Instructions

  • Soak raw cashews in water for at least 6 hours or preferably overnight
  • Drain the water from the cashews and rinse – to soak cashews quickly add them to a saucepan with water, bring to a boil, cover pot and remove from heat, let sit for 15 minutes before draining
  • Add cashews, water, avocado oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, coconut aminos, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a high speed blender
  • Blend on high until a smooth dressing remains

Equipment

  • high speed blender

Nutrition Information

Serving: 12g, Calories: 73kcal (4%), Carbohydrates: 2g (1%), Protein: 1g (2%), Fat: 7g (11%), Saturated Fat: 1g (6%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Sodium: 311mg (14%), Potassium: 46mg (1%), Fiber: 0.3g (1%), Sugar: 0.4g, Vitamin A: 1IU, Vitamin C: 1mg (1%), Calcium: 4mg, Iron: 0.4mg (2%)

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

Did you make my Healthy Caesar Dressing?

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Madeline

Hi, I’m Madeline! I am so excited to share my healthy and approachable recipes with you. Here you will find simple, comforting recipes that the whole family will enjoy. Turn on your favorite playlist or podcast and let’s get cooking!
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Recipe Rating




24 responses

  1. GP
    May 12, 2020

    Hey! Do you think almonds might work instead?

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      May 12, 2020

      I don’t think it would be very good. Almonds are gritty when blended while cashews are very smooth.

      Reply
  2. VWM
    May 16, 2020

    Madeline! You are amazing! I so admire your cooking skills, creative skills, tech talent and your honesty. All of your posts are so visually appealing as well as informative.
    Thank you. I’ll be honest 😉 I’m old and stuck in old cooking ways! So many of the
    ingredients are totally foreign to me which presents a roadblock especially now when
    getting out to forage for them is difficult. Lots of issues around food in this house. LOL
    Also want to know which ‘diet’ you follow…..is it Whole30 or Keto or ????

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      May 18, 2020

      Thank you!! I don’t follow a particular diet right now.

      Reply
  3. Allison
    May 18, 2020

    I don’t have Avocado oil, would olive oil work?

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      May 22, 2020

      I think it would alter the flavor. Better with a light tasting oil like light olive oil

      Reply
  4. Leah
    August 15, 2020

    What if you don’t have the coconut aminos? Is there a substitute?🤔

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      August 15, 2020

      Yes you can use soy sauce or tamari!

      Reply
  5. Jess Mitchell
    September 2, 2020

    5 stars
    Just made this Wow Wow Wow. Really tasty like Caesar dressing without dairy. So creamy.

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      September 3, 2020

      I am so glad you enjoy it as much as I do!

      Reply
  6. Jess Mitchell
    October 23, 2020

    5 stars
    Made this for the third time. Still so good.

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      October 24, 2020

      Thank you!!!

      Reply
  7. Morgan
    January 8, 2021

    5 stars
    I do not know why I was so intimidated to make this recipe. It couldn’t be any easier and it is freaking delicious! Perfect amount of tartness to it and it’s incredible!!!

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      January 8, 2021

      ah yay!! so glad you finally made it 🙂

      Reply
  8. Rayney
    August 27, 2021

    5 stars
    This recipe should have hundreds of five star reviews. It is that good. SO DELICIOUS. I’ve been making it every week for six months now. It has us eating more salad and I like that it’s got some good nutrition to it. PS I’ve made slaw with it as well as it’s amazing.

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      September 8, 2021

      ooo I gotta try it with slaw! thank you!

      Reply
  9. Betty Parks
    September 5, 2021

    5 stars
    I am glad I saw this. I love potatoe salad, I will be making this soon. You have the kind of meals I love. Are these meals good for anyone who have high blood pressure and who could be a dieabetic. Thank you.

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      September 8, 2021

      yay!

      Reply
  10. Katie
    September 21, 2021

    5 stars
    Yayyy this was amazing! I made it for my family (some of whom don’t do dairy and all of whom can be finicky about the alternative options 😬) and everyone loved it so much that my mom immediately pulled out her old school recipe box and had me read it to her so she could write down the recipe :’)
    I typically struggle with salad dressings too, this one was just too good for me to mess up I guess?
    I went a little off on the seasoning based on what was available at my parents house; used a little bit of a salt-pepper-garlic combo and a little bit of that Trader Joe’s Lemon pepper, trying to get roughly the same amounts of pepper/garlic and maybe easy on the salt cuz then I added the teeniest spoon of capers. *chefs kiss*.
    Ps love the videos of you and Amy on Insta lately y’all are the best <3

    Reply
    1. Katie
      September 21, 2021

      5 stars
      Oh and I made sure my mom got the name of your blog down for future recipe references by the way… I’m thinkin curry poached salmon next

      Reply
    2. Madeline
      September 21, 2021

      Aw thanks Katie this made my day! Glad the little substitutions worked, and love that it was mom approved!

      Reply
  11. Rebecca McKay
    November 23, 2022

    5 stars
    This my GO TO salad dressing. Delicious massaged onto kale. My husband asks for it all the time.

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      November 23, 2022

      YAY! I am so glad to hear that, Rebecca!

      Reply

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