Crafting vegan Caesar dressing with this simple recipe
Caesar dressing, traditionally celebrated for its creamy texture, has been a salad staple in diverse cuisines. Its story began in Italian-American cuisine during the early 20th century. Now, we're reinventing this beloved classic for the vegan palate, maintaining its delightful taste without animal products. Join us as we prepare to craft a delicious batch of vegan Caesar dressing.
Gather the following ingredients
To make this vegan Caesar dressing, you will need one-half cup raw cashews (soaked for at least four hours), one-quarter cup water, two tablespoons lemon juice, one tablespoon olive oil, one teaspoon Dijon mustard, two teaspoons capers (with brine), one garlic clove, minced, and salt to taste. These ingredients blend together to create a creamy and tangy dressing that's completely plant-based.
Blend the base
Start by draining your soaked cashews and placing them into a blender. Add the water to help facilitate blending. This mixture will form the creamy base of your dressing. The soaking of cashews is crucial as it softens them enough to blend into a smooth consistency, which is essential for achieving the right texture for your dressing.
Add flavor components
Into the blender with your cashew base, incorporate lemon juice for a bright zest, olive oil for a rich undertone, Dijon mustard for complex flavor layers, capers and their brine for a salty tang, and minced garlic for the signature Caesar zing. These components are pivotal in emulating the classic Caesar dressing taste while adhering to a vegan recipe.
Finalize and season
Combine all the ingredients in the blender and process on high until you reach a smooth and creamy texture. Give your dressing a taste test and add salt as needed to suit your taste buds. The outcome should be a rich, velvety dressing with a well-rounded flavor that mirrors the essence of traditional Caesar dressings, while being completely derived from plant-based sources.