Use these 6 vegan salad dressing ideas to make a delicious and easy homemade dressing that will punch up any salad, from greens to grains. Oil-free, nut-free, spicy and mild options.
It's no secret that I love salad. Whether it's a light green salad like Vegan Nicoise Salad or a hearty grain-based number like 10-Minute Spicy Moroccan Quinoa Salad. You just can't go wrong with a big bowl of colorful, crunchy veggies tossed in dressing.
Speaking of dressing, one of my favorite ways to instantly upgrade a homemade salad is with a new salad dressing. Sometimes it's a simple vinaigrette with olive oil. Other times, it's a creamy and decadent tahini-based dressing. But no matter what, the salad dressing has to be packed with flavor and good-for-you ingredients. That's why I'm sharing my six favorite vegan salad dressing recipes. There's a dressing on this list for very appetite, vegan or not.
These are the salad dressing you'll want to make on repeat all summer long:
- Everyday Tahini
- Creamy Balsamic
- Spicy Lemon Olive Oil
- Vegan Caesar
- Vegan Green Goddess
- Spicy Thai Almond Butter
We've got oil-free options, nut-free options, mild ones, spicy ones, colorful ones, and lots in between! I also gave you specific recipes to try with each recipe so you have a solid jumping-off point!
1. Everyday Tahini Salad Dressing
Tahini is one of my go-to ingredients. I drizzle it on everything, use it in energy balls, make cookies with it and it's definitely the base of my go-to salad dressing. Our first staple vegan salad dressing is my fave: my everyday tahini! It's the one I make most often, the one I find goes with everything and you will always find it in my fridge!
Everyday Tahini Dressing goes well with:
2. Oil-Free Balsamic Vinaigrette
I think everyone loves a good balsamic vinaigrette! I've taken this classic and put my own spin on it that replaces oil with (you guessed it): tahini!
The sunflower seed paste makes the dressing super creamy, more flavorful and totally oil-free! I know a lot of you are looking for oil-free salad dressings, so I wanted to make sure to give you a few tasty options. You're going to love the flavor of this and trust me, this oil-free balsamic vinaigrette has the most amazing consistency!
Creamy Balsamic Dressing goes well with:
3. Spicy Lemon Olive Oil Salad Dressing
Like I said, Matt and I are always making salads for dinner. Trouble is, we don't agree on the texture of dressings. I like creamy salad dressing, he likes more of a classic oil-based vinaigrette.
However, this spicy lemon vinaigrette is one recipe we both agree on. It's Matt's specialty and I love it! It's spicy, tangy, bright and adds the perfect coating to a crunchy salad!
Spicy Lemon Olive Oil goes well with:
4. Easy Vegan Ranch Dressing
You can't go wrong with ranch dressing! Whether you like to use it as a dip, on top of pizza or on a classic salad, it's definitely a staple.
My vegan ranch recipe uses raw cashews for creaminess and it's one of my favorite vegan salad dressing recipes out there! The rest of the tangy, salty flavor comes from lemon, capers, and a touch of nutritional yeast. I also have a cashew-free version if you want to try that!
Simple Vegan Ranch goes well with:
5. Vegan Green Goddess Dressing
Before I went dairy-free, one of my all-time favorite dressings was Newman's Own Green Goddess. It was herby, it was creamy, it was tangy and it was SO yum! But…it has sour cream, expeller pressed canola oil, and sugar, all of which I don't like to eat anymore.
So I developed my own version of green goddess dressing using vegan coconut yogurt, fresh herbs, and maple syrup. I have to say it tastes even better than Newman's Own.
Vegan Green Goddess goes well with:
6. Spicy Thai Almond Butter Salad Dressing
While not a classic salad dressing, this is definitely a keeper! I've made a variation of this Thai almond butter salad dressing countless times before and I always adore it.
It's great with crunchy, fresh ingredients like cabbage, peppers, carrots, broccoli and does really well with grain. It can also be used as a yummy dipping sauce for spring rolls!
Spicy Thai Almond Butter goes well with:
More Vegan Salad Dressing Ideas
If you want even more vegan salad dressing recipes, we've got tons to choose from on the blog. Here are some other posts to get more inspiration!
- The Best Shallot Dressing
- Healthy Olive Oil Salad Dressing Recipes: 6 Ways
- How to Make Tahini Dressing: 4 Ways
Vegan Salad Dressing Ideas
Ingredients
for the simple tahini dressing
- 1/4 cup tahini (preferably toasted)
- Juice of 1/2 a lemon
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon miso paste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Pinch of pepper
- 1/4 cup (or more) water
for creamy oil-free balsamic vinaigrette:
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 3 tablespoons tahini
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- Juice of 1 whole lemon
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup (or honey)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Water if needed
for the Spicy Lemon Vinaigrette:
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (we do 1/2!)
- Salt & pepper to taste.
for the easy, creamy vegan ranch:
- 1/4 cup raw cashews , soaked at least 30 mins in hot water
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon capers
- 3/4 teaspoon caper juice
- 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove
- 1/3 - 1/2 cup water
- Salt + pepper to taste
for vegan green goddess dressing:
- 1/2 cup plain non-dairy yogurt (I like coconut for green goddess)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup*
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup fresh tarragon
- 1 garlic clove
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 2 - 3 tablespoons water
for spicy Thai almond butter dressing:
- 1/4 cup creamy almond butter
- Juice of 1 whole lime
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon tamari (or soy sauce)
- 1 teaspoon (or more) sriracha sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- Water as needed
Instructions
for the simple tahini:
- Simply whisk together all the ingredients (minus water). Then add as much water as you need, starting with 1/4 cup and adding more as needed. I like to add just enough water so the dressing is pourable, but not watery.
for the creamy balsamic:
- Whisk together all the ingredients until smooth and creamy. If dressing is too thick, you can add a splash or two of water.
for the spicy lemon vinaigrette:
- Whisk together all the ingredients until combined.
for the vegan ranch:
- To make the dressing, first drain and rinse the cashews. Then add them to a blender along with the remaining ingredients (starting with 1/3 cup water). Blend on high until smooth and creamy, adding additional water as needed!
for the vegan green goddess dressing:
- Add all ingredients to a blender (minus the water) and blend on high until smooth and creamy. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time until the dressing reaches your desired consistency.
for the Thai almond butter dressing:
- Whisk together all the ingredients until smooth and creamy. If dressing is too thick, you can add a splash or two of water.
Notes
Nutrition
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