Caesar salad was probably the first type of salad I ever liked as a kid.
The creamy, garlicky dressing paired with crunchy Romaine lettuce is a combination I could still eat practically everyday. Of course, since many recipes call for mayonnaise or heaps of Parmesan cheese, it’s not always the healthiest choice.
This recipe, on the other hand, can be enjoyed everyday while still working towards your health goals. Avocado provides a creamy base to this dressing, without the need for added oils, and when blended with plenty of garlic and a touch of nutritional yeast for a “cheesy” flavor, it’s darn near as satisfying as the original.
This recipe is actually a favorite from my archives, but it was in desperate need of a new photo and a little updating. (My photos weren’t so great 3 years ago!) This time around, I served it with herb-roasted potato “croutons,” which are simply oven-roasted potatoes, to make this salad even more satisfying and still properly combined. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
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Avocado Caesar Salad Dressing (Vegan, Paleo)
Makes 1 1/2 cups
Ingredients:
1 ripe avocado, pitted (about 1/2 cup mashed)
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon raw apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup water
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
Directions:
Combine all of the dressing ingredients in a high-speed blender, and blend until completely smooth. Pour over chopped Romaine lettuce, and toss well to coat.
Serve with roasted potatoes as “croutons,” if desired. Leftover dressing can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Avocado Caesar Salad (Vegan, Paleo)
Ingredients
- 1 ripe avocado , pitted (about 1/2 cup mashed)
- 5 cloves garlic , minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon raw apple cider vinegar
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
Instructions
- Combine all of the dressing ingredients in a high-speed blender, and blend until completely smooth. Pour over chopped Romaine lettuce, and toss well to coat.
- Serve with roasted potatoes as "croutons," if desired. Leftover dressing can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Hope you enjoy!
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Reader Feedback: Are you a fan of Caesar salad? If not, what’s your favorite?
oh girl i have to make this for my mom and dad 😀 caesar salad is their fav and they are always interested in healthier versions of their favs 😀
loved this!
also boosted my milk supply thanks to the nutritional yeast 🙂
My husband and I just started making Caesar salads and now there is a vegan option! Thank-you!
Your salad looks so healthy and yummy! xx
I already had this one bookmarked to try–but hadn’t gotten to it, yet. Thanks for reviving my interest!! Looks like my kind of salad!!
I LOVE Caesar Salad – and I love how you managed to make this one totally healthy and delicious [I haven’t enjoyed a good Caesar, as in the salad, in so long due to all the unhealthy stuff that goes into it!] Beautiful recipe!
I make a vegan Caesar dressing but I might have to switch to this one, it looks SO amazing!!! Can’t wait to try it 🙂
-Cassidy
I love your recipes and the new pictures! When is the launching day of the book? I’m looking forward to it!!
Question: if you use sprouted bread croutons (Ezequiel Brand) instead of the roasted potatoes, is it still a properly combined meal? Thank you!
I saw this recipe yesterday and had to make it. So I went to the grocery store and bought all the ingredients. It was very good. I didn’t have the garlic cloves so I used the garlic powder. It was still good.
I will add this to all the other great recipes from this site. I cook the buckwheat pumpkin bread and chocolate chip cookies every week and if it starts to get low my husband is reminding me to make some more. Sometimes I switch the pumpkin out for banana(when my bananas are ripe). Thanks again for such a great collection of making healthy food taste great.
WOW! I don’t usually get excited about salad dressings…but…this was the best ever! It really DID takes like Caesar dressing! My (SAD diet) husband tasted it and he even loved it! Thank you sooo much! This was outstanding!!!!!
This was wonderful! I was getting so sick of my usual salads and having a “caesar” salad sounded wonderful, and this recipe didn’t even make me miss the real thing. I will be making it again and again. Thanks!
I love Caesar dressing, but usually avoid it since it’s not the healthiest, but this recipe looks amazing. I can’t wait to try it out!
YUM! I love your idea for croutons. 😉
Oh my, my husband and I had this for dinner yesterday night. Amazing!! We’re so happy to have a healthy option when craving Ceasar salad!! Thanks Megan!!
This is a delicious dressing! I’m so glad I’ve found a creamy salad dressing that is healthy–and vegan, no less! The only thing I would say is if you’re planning to double it, don’t completely double the nutritional yeast. A great recipe!
I LOVE this dressing! I made it for a family dinner & everyone else loved it too! You would never know it wasn’t regular Cesar Salad dressing except for the fact that it’s a lot better, fresher, and healthier! Thanks for another great recipe 🙂
Gorgeous recipe, it will have you licking your plate.
Just wanted to let you know this was fantastic! I’ve been hooked on kale Caesar salads and this worked beautifully with the kale!
Thanks-will be making again!
I have tried this dressing before and loved it! Thank you. It looks like you spinkled something on the salad in the picture though. Is it nutritional yeast?
It’s my Cashew Parmesan, which is made with nutritional yeast! https://detoxinista.com/2013/10/cashew-parmesan-vegan-paleo/
Ever since giving up dairy, one thing I’ve really missed was Caesar salad…this dressing is amazing!!!!!! It tastes just like traditional Caesar dressing, only even better! I seriously love your recipes!!
Is there anything I could use in place of the lemon??? I’m allergic to citrus 🙁
How important is nutritional yeast to the recipe? Is there something I could substitute in its place? According to the Paleo legal food database I have to abide by (for a Paleo Challenge) nutritional yeast is on the list of foods not approved.
Family LOVES this!!! I make this recipe over and over again because it’s the best I have found! MOST important, my family LOVES this. We like it better than bottled that we have tried.
Well this is just about the greatest invention ever!! tastes just like a healthy version of my moms cesar dressing.. however i did find the garlic to be very intense, next time i will reduce the garlic a bit but other than that it was perfect for me 🙂
Yummy! I see what you mean about wanting to eat it by the spoonful!
I have been checking out homemade dressing recipes to try as a new vegan, I have not found any vegan dressings that caught my eye before this one. Had most of the ingredients on hand except for the garlic cloves and avocado which were an easy go get. I made this to serve with dinner tonight. DELICIOUS !!!!!! Best dressing I have ever tried or had. This will be my new go to dressing recipe for now on. Even my non vegan 12 year old son ate it and asked for seconds, I was blown away. I highly recommend trying it, its so simple easy and no hard to find or expensive ingredients. Thanks sooooo much !
So delicious! Thank you!
I have tried a variety of vegan Cesar recipes and this one surpasses all the rest! I also appreciate the simplicity and the super healthy ingredients. This is my new go-to Cesar salad recipe. I have also been sharing it with friends.
Sorry, this recipe was a swing and a miss for me. I’m confused about the comments – it tastes like Caesar dressing. Its made with avocado so it’s green and to me it tastes nothing like Caesar dressing. Unfortunately, I didn’t even care for it. I added some Tamari to give it more flavor. I’ve loved every recipe I’ve made so far of yours so to have one hit and miss is not a bad thing. Keep up the good work!
I make this all the time and eat it even with out salad. It’s so delicious! This is the perfect ceasear dressing!!!
Made this in the fridge- ready to make tempeh ‘bacon’ Caesar wraps tomorrow! Thank you for the recipe- I bet it will be incredible!
I love this Caesar dressing recipe.what an unexpected taste delight.I can hardly wait to share it with my friends 🙂
Excellent. I didn’t have Dijon so I used a teaspoon of veganaisse and a bit of powdered of powdered mustard. I may have overdone it with the garlic. Very spicy. TU So all organic and fresh!
I’m about to make this for a second time in one week. The first batch made 6 healthy servings as a side salad. I subbed in Parmesan for the yeast for dietary reasons, reduced the water a touch and added freshly cracked black pepper. I sought out this recipe for the sake of an egg allergy, and nobody would notice it’s not made with egg and oil. I’m going to serve it to visitors. NOM!
Hi Megan … I have made this recipe many times over the years … do you happen to know if it freezes well ? kindest regards … Claire
This turned out fantastic! Amazing recipe Megan; thank-you. 🩵☺️