Healthy Caesar Dressing (no mayo)

This Healthy Caesar dressing is delicious and creamy, yet it’s dairy-free, sugar-free, gluten-free, anchovies-free, eggless, and mayo free.

Let me explain to you why it’s so amazing!

Not long ago I was the chef at an Ayurvedic wellness retreat, and I served this Caesar salad dressing to rave reviews.

People loved the mild bitter taste, zingy fresh lemon, and rich healthy fats from the pumpkin seeds, tahini, and olive oil.

A few people commented that they wanted to slather this sauce on everything! That’s high praise.

Of course they asked for the recipe, so here it is!

Jump to:

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• Caesar salad nutrition
• What does a Caesar consist of?
• Caesar with no mayo
• Top tip
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• Pairings
• How do you make Caesar salad?
• Storage
• Variations & substitutions
• Equipment
• Recipe for Caesar Salad Dressing
• Other recipes you may enjoy
• Tried this recipe? We’d love your review!

Caesar salad nutrition

Earlier I mentioned that there’s a slight bitter taste in this recipe. Don’t let this scare you.

I am referring to the pumpkin seeds, tahini, and olive oil. Each of these foods is a little bitter, and this is a good thing!

That’s because the bitter taste is cleansing and clarifying, so it tones and strengthens metabolism.

At the same time, healthy fats are also building in quality, which means there’s a balancing effect there.

In this way you get both cleansing and building in the same dish, which is really ideal, especially in the cold season.

What does a Caesar consist of?

Typically, Caesar salad dressing is made with mayonnaise, anchovies, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, refined oil, and parmesan cheese, but this healthy Caesar dressing has none of these ingredients, so it’s really unique.

Caesar with no mayo

Mayonnaise is typically used to make Caesar since it has egg yolks, oil, and a tangy taste. The mayo gives a thicker texture to the sauce.

However, most mayonnaise is made with highly refined oils, which are toxic to the body due to the high temperatures and solvents used to make them.

Refined oils are cheap. That’s why they’re used. But they aren’t really digestible, so it’s just empty calories that damage bodily tissues.

Making a Caesar dressing with no mayo is a little trickier, but this particular dressing comes together like a breeze, and still yields a thick, creamy texture.

It’s incredible that we can create such rich flavor without resorting to any harmful ingredients.

Pairings

1. dip carrot and celery sticks
2. dip pizza or flatbread in it ….
3. a sauce with steamed yellow beets
4. add a scoop to a grain bowl along with roasted vegetables and chickpeas
5. as a tangy topping with simple French lentils or khichadi
6. use it to make cabbage cold slaw
7. use it as a sandwich spread
8. slather it inside pita with falafel or meatless chicken fingers

How do you make Caesar salad?

A Caesar salad is typically made with romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, and crunchy croutons.

Lettuce greens are light, cleansing, and astringent. Eaten alone, they can be unbalancing for some people.

Pair with this healthy Caesar dressing, and you have the heavier and hydrating qualities of the fats to balance out the lettuce.

Consider mixing in some baby kale to get energy from the vibrant green chlorophyll.

Toss the salad together with the parmesan, croutons, and extra toasted pumpkin seeds for a crunchy topping.  

Storage

Store the dressing in a glass jar with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

Variations & substitutions

This recipe is made with fresh lemon juice and apple cider vinegar. You can substitute with lime juice, and/or any vinegar you prefer, such as white wine, white, rice, etc.

Equipment

You will need a high speed blender to make this. You want to get the olive oil emulsified together with the other ingredients, and this takes proper blending.

Other recipes you may enjoy

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