Vegan Caesar Pesto Dressing

A good salad dressing is like the icing on top of a cake…it completes it and makes it even more delicious.  This Vegan Caesar Pesto Dressing may be just what you’re missing in your salad.

After two months of testing (and eating) holiday recipes I think I am over it.  As much as I love creating wholesome versions of classic holiday treats, it still involves me eating more sweets then I usually do.  Sugar is sugar, after all.  So today I have salad on the brain.  Salad dressing that is.  I have said it before and I will say it again, salads do not have to be boring!  Add an unprocessed, delicious salad dressing and I find I’m much more excited about eating salad.

Salads are a great way to help anyone reach the recommended daily intake of vegetables (which can be upwards of 10 servings per day).  Include a healthy-sized salad for just one meal a day and you can easily meet half your veggie needs.  “Eat the rainbow” by adding a lot of color to your salads. You’ll benefit from the wide variety of nutrients.  Unfortunately a healthy salad can be jeopardized by a low-quality dressing full of sugar and refined oils.  Nothing can ruin a beautiful plate full of vegetables more.

Sometimes the hardest part of creating a healthy salad is finding a good dressing.  I decided to combine two of my favorite sauces into one flavorful, nutrient-packed dressing.  Pesto meets Caesar for my Vegan Caesar Pesto Dressing that is seriously to die for!  It may just have you craving salad.  Use this sauce with other meals, not just as a dressing.  Use it as an aioli for dipping sweet potato fries, part of a crudités platter at a party, a sandwich spread, or as a flavorful sauce for grass fed steak or pasture chicken.

Enjoy this dressing!  Let me know what you decide to try it on – salad, sandwich, or something else!

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Vegan Caesar Pesto Dressing

Healthy vegan caesar pesto dressing with so many delicious uses and made with 100% real ingredients.

Prep Time 8 hours

Total Time 8 hours

Servings 1 cup

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup pine nuts
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 Tablespoon stone ground mustard
• 2 gloves garlic peeled and diced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 Tablespoon miso
• 1 Tablespoon capers
• 1 Tablespoon nutritional yeast or Parmesan cheese for non vegan
• 1/2 cup packed basil leaves
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup +2 Tablespoons water

Instructions

1. Cover the pine nuts in filtered water and soak overnight to soften.
2. Drain and rinse the pine nuts.
3. Add the nuts and the rest of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
4. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Recipe Notes

Choose organic ingredients when possible.