Dairy Free Caesar Dressing
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This dairy free caesar dressing will make all of your salad dreams come true! It’s a wholesome, budget-friendly condiment, and this homemade dressing tastes much better than anything store-bought.
If you’re making a Caesar salad, you’ll want the best dressing to go with it. This homemade caesar dressing is dairy free, tangy, flavorful, and absolutely delicious.
So what’s the secret to creating an authentic Caesar dressing? Anchovies! I know, I know…a lot of people are turned off by anchovies. But it’s actually an ingredient in most Caesar salad dressing recipes.
Trust me, it doesn’t taste fishy or briny at all. There is a subtle anchovy flavor that adds a classic and distinct flavor that any good caesar dressing should have.
Scroll down to the ingredients section for anchovy substitutes that will work with this dairy free Caesar dressing recipe.
Happy Kitchen Secrets
Here are my helpful tips for making this recipe! I’ve made it countless times to save you from a failed attempt.
- Store the dressing in a reusable dispenser to both dispense in a steady stream and maintain fresh flavor.
- Make sure to give leftover dressing a good shake before using it on your next salad!
- Double or triple this recipe if you need to feed a crowd. They’ll appreciate the classic flavor of homemade caesar dressing.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Ready to make an incredible homemade, dairy free Caesar dressing? You’ll need:
Mayonnaise: If you want to avoid store-bought mayo, it’s very easy to make homemade mayonnaise!
Anchovies: If you don’t want to open a whole can of anchovies, you can buy anchovy paste. It’s a little more palatable since you don’t have to see the actual anchovies. Alternatively, you can use fish sauce in place of anchovies. Another option is Worcestershire sauce.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar will have the best flavor, but you can swap it out with a different vinegar option that you have on hand.
Coconut Aminos: Low sodium soy sauce is a good 1:1 substitute for coconut aminos. If you use regular soy sauce, you may need to reduce the amount used.
Nutritional Yeast: We use nutritional yeast to keep the Caesar dressing dairy free, but feel free to substitute with sour cream or Greek yogurt. You can also add a cheesy touch with some freshly grated parmesan cheese!
How to Make Dairy Free Caesar Dressing
This is just a summary of the steps. See the recipe card for full instructions! ⬇️
Jump to RecipeThere are two ways to make your homemade caesar dressing: with an immersion blender or by hand with a whisk. These are the best ways, so either will work perfectly. It’s just a matter of your preference and what kitchen equipment you have available.
Here are instructions on how to turn classic ingredients into the best homemade caesar salad dressing:
Immersion Blender Instructions
- Prep and measure ingredients. Peel the garlic, juice the lemon, then measure and add the remaining ingredients to a medium bowl or large measuring cup.
- Blend on low power until your dressing is creamy and smooth.
Whisk Instructions
- Prep and measure ingredients. Peel the garlic, then mince it finely into a paste. Mince the whole anchovies and juice the lemon. Add those ingredients to a medium bowl, then measure the remaining ingredients into the bowl.
- Whisk well to combine. If there are chunks left that you don’t like, feel free to pour the mixture into a food processor and pulse until smooth.
Storing Instructions
Refrigerate the dressing in a mason jar with a lid or other airtight container. Use your homemade caesar salad dressing within 5 days.
Uses
Dressing: The Caesar salad dressing is fantastic on chicken caesar salad and other salads.
Toss the dressing with crisp romaine lettuce, boiled eggs, crunchy croutons, grated Parmesan cheese, and roasted tomatoes to make a fantastic Caesar salad.
Condiment: You can also use it as a sandwich spread to add flavor to wraps and sandwiches. It’s even delicious drizzled onto grilled chicken or air fryer fish tacos.
Homemade Caesar Dressing FAQs
Most store-bought Caesar salad dressings include highly processed ingredients, so they are not very healthy. However, this recipe is sugar-free and uses real food ingredients, making it low in carbs and dairy free. There are approximately 141 calories in a 2-tablespoon serving of this homemade dressing.
After you make this recipe, please give it a star rating below and comment to let me know how it went!
Dairy Free Caesar Dressing
Equipment
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup mayonnaise
- 4 whole anchovies packed in oil, or see Notes for substitutions
- 2 small garlic cloves peeled
- 2½ tablespoons lemon juice from 1 large lemon
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon coconut aminos
- ¼ teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Using an Immersion Blender: Add all the ingredients to a tall cup or bowl. Using an immersion blender set to low power, blend the ingredients until smooth.Whisking by Hand: Smash the garlic clove, and mince it finely. Finely chop the anchovies, then whisk all ingredients together in a bowl.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper, and transfer to a small jar with a lid or other airtight container. Keep refrigerated until you are ready to use it.
Notes
- 3/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
- If it isn’t important for the Caesar dressing to be dairy free, you can substitute the nutritional yeast with 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese. To increase the protein, use 2/3 cup plain Greek yogurt instead of mayo.
