This delicious vegan caesar salad dressing is made using naturally low-calorie silken tofu for a super creamy texture and a touch of miso paste for extra depth and richness of flavour. Ready in 5 minutes!
Making vegan caesar salad dressing involves combining all the ingredients and pureeing until smooth and creamy. Nothing could be simpler! It has a rich, delicious flavour (very similar to its traditional counterpart) that will lift any salad.
This dairy free caesar dressing is:
- Incredibly creamy,
- Full of flavour - savoury, tangy and sweet,
- Low in fat and calories,
- Easy to make,
- Ready in 5 minutes!
Vegan caesar dressing vs traditional caesar dressing
Which is better?
This is of course a matter of personal preference, but if you are looking for a healthy caesar dressing the vegan variant is definitely that!
This dairy free caesar dressing has a lot less fat (and calories) than the traditional version, which often contains mayonnaise, sour cream and almost always, super calorific parmesan cheese.
I used silken tofu which is naturally low in fat (only 3 grams per 100 grams of product!). It not only makes this dressing light and creamy but does it with a very small amount of calories (only 22 per serving!).
Ingredients and substitutions
- Silken tofu: makes the dressing super creamy and contributes very few calories (this ingredient also works well in creamy desserts, such as chocolate banana mousse).
- Miso: I recommend using white miso.
- Vinegar: either cider or rice vinegar will work.
- Lemon juice.
- Maple syrup: use agave or rice syrup instead if desired.
- Capers: this is a good replacement for traditional anchovies, but you can use gherkins/pickles instead. You can also use nutritional yeast (1-2 tablespoons or to taste) which has a tangy 'cheesy' flavour.
- Garlic.
- Mustard.
- Soy sauce.
- Oil: use any neutral tasting oil, such as vegetable (rapeseed or sunflower) or a very mild olive oil.
- Water: adjust the amount to get the consistency you want.
How to make vegan caesar salad dressing: step-by-step
1.In a bowl or blender combine all the ingredients. Add a bit less water to start with and top up later if needed.
2. Puree until silky smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed (top up with more water if you would like a runnier consistency). Add freshly ground pepper to taste.
3. Transfer your mayo free caesar salad dressing to a jar and refrigerate for up to 5 days. Chill before serving.
Serving suggestions
This homemade vegan caesar salad dressing is extremely versatile and can be enjoyed with vegan caesar salad or any other salad recipe that calls for a creamy dressing. It's delicious with a simple coleslaw!
It's also delicious poured over fried tofu steaks or roasted vegetables. If you add less water you could use it in place of mayonnaise in sandwiches, burgers (try sweet potato burger or beet quinoa burger) or salads. My Polish potato salad and potato and dill salad would taste delicious with this dressing!
Top tips
- Add the water gradually to get the consistency you want.
- Use white miso paste.
- You probably won't need to add any additional salt to this recipe as some of the ingredients are quite salty.
- Puree the ingredients in a small blender or use a stick blender if you prefer.
- Chill for 30 minutes before serving if possible.
- Store in a jar in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Not suitable for freezing.
More creamy dressings to try next
- Homemade Avocado Mayo Recipe
- Healthy Ranch Dressing
- Creamy Orange Salad Dressing
- Creamy Dill Mustard Sauce Recipe (Low Fat)
You might also like these easy, delicious salad recipe ideas!
Keep in touch!
If you make this vegan caesar salad dressing recipe I'd love to know how it turned out for you. Did you make any substitutions? Let me know in the comments below, thanks!
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Recipe
How to Make Vegan Caesar Salad Dressing
Equipment
- Hand blender
Ingredients
- 3.53 ounces (100 g) silken tofu a little less than ยฝ cup
- ยฝ teaspoon white miso paste
- 1 garlic clove chopped
- 1ยฝ teaspoons capers
- 1ยฝ tablespoons lemon juice or to taste
- 2 teaspoons cider vinegar
- 1ยฝ teaspoons maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
- ยฝ teaspoon dijon mustard
- 4 tablespoons water or according to preference
- Black pepper freshly ground, to taste
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients and puree until smooth. Use a little less water to start with and top up later if needed to get the consistency you want.
- Add pepper to taste. Either serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving, if you are not in a hurry. Keep covered, refrigerated.
Notes
- Add the water gradually to get the consistency you want.
- Use white miso paste.
- You don't need to add any additional seasoning to this dressing.
- Puree the ingredients in a small blender or use a stick blender if you prefer.
- Chill for 30 minutes before serving if possible.
- Store in a jar in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Not suitable for freezing.
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is automatically generated and should be considered as an estimate.
**A note about baking: If using a fan-assisted oven refer to your appliance's instructions and adjust the temperature accordingly.
Kathryn
This looks great!
But what type of silken tofu? Soft, firm?
Monika
Thanks! I used soft, not sure how it would work with firm so best use soft.
sidilbradipo1
Delicious! I must try this light recipe ๐
Ciao
Sid
Monika
Thanks Sid, let me know how it turns out!
Nico @ yumsome
Silken tofu is great, isn't it? I love using it in sauces and puddings - it's so versatile. And I love the look and sound of your caesar dressing, definitely one to make when it's warm enough to have salad! Have pinned, tweeted, and shared on my FB so everyone can share the love! xx
Monika
Thank you! Glad you like my recipe, and I am not surprised you also love silken tofu!
Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie
What a great idea! I had no idea silken tofu was so low in fat. Definitely sounds like an ingredient I should be using more. Thanks for linking this up to #CookBlogShare. Eb x
Monika
Thanks! It's so low it fat and yet so creamy, I just love it!
Jhuls
I love the sound of this dressing and very nice for our vegan friends. Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday party, Monika. x
Monika
Thanks Jhuls!