Creamy Cashew Salad Dressing

I was looking for a way to make a casual vinaigrette more creamy without using any dairy or mayonnaise. I like a creamy salad dressing as it pairs really well with chunkier robust salads like chopped salads, rice salads or grain bowls.

Cashew butter is absolutely perfect for occasions like these as it adds a rich creaminess whilst keeping the flavour neutral. It’s ideal if you are working with a dairy-free or vegan diet. It tones down the punchiness of a traditional vinaigrette so I do find it more versatile.

This is a recipe I’ve kept on rotation since flinging it together at a last minute BBQ a few weeks ago. We had friends round and everyone commented on how good the salad was. It was a standard chopped salad but this dressing makes it feel a bit different - and it’s super quick and simple to make.

What Does Cashew Dressing Taste Like?

Cashews have a mild flavour so they don’t add too much nuttiness. I recommend you use homemade cashew butter rather than shop bought for the most neutral flavour.

Adding cashew butter is a great trick in getting creaminess into any dressing (I’ve tried it in lieu of mayonnaise in ranch dressing and things like kimchi mayo or katsu mayo). It’s not like tahini or peanut butter where those flavours dominate and become the purpose of the dressing. The cashews simply add texture. Although if you wanted a stronger cashew flavour then you could add more cashew butter or use roasted cashew butter.

Ingredients Needed

Cashew butter. It’s easy to buy cashew butter in health food shops and can be available in larger supermarkets. However, I like to make my own cashew butter as it gives a smoother and more neutral flavour as you don’t add in salt or roast the cashews.

Extra virgin olive oil. You can use any oil but extra virgin gives the best flavour. However, if you are making this ahead then you might like to use avocado oil as it doesn’t solidify as much in the fridge.

Maple syrup. This keeps the dressing vegan if that’s a concern for you but you can substitute for honey.

Dijon mustard. A rich mustard flavour works well with this creamy dressing.

Apple cider vinegar. You can swap for white wine vinegar if you prefer.

Kosher salt. I use kosher salt as my everyday go-to cooking and baking salt as it’s gentle in flavour. If you are using sea salt you may need to use slightly less.

Black pepper. A good grinding of freshly black pepper adds a warmth to the dressing.

How To Make Creamy Cashew Dressing

For full recipe instructions go to the recipe card at the end of this post.

This is an easy method where you just need to blend everything together using a handheld immersion blender.

Make Ahead

You can make this cashew butter dressing ahead and it will keep in the fridge for up to one week in an airtight container.

It does thicken slightly in the fridge so you can whisk it again with the immersion blender to loosen if you like.

You can add an extra tablespoon of cashew butter if you wanted a thicker dressing for roasted vegetables.

Uses For Cashew Dressing

• Excellent to dress a chopped salad.
• Drizzled over roasted cauliflower or hispi cabbage (sweetheart cabbage).
• Tossed with freshly steamed green beans or asparagus.
• Grain bowls made up with rice / quinoa or buckwheat.
• Chop chicken breast up with cucumber, red pepper and romaine and toss with this dressing for a lovely filling for wraps, flatbreads or sandwiches.

If you want to pair this dressing with a leafy salad then that works too but you might like to thin it out with a splash of water depending on the kind of leaves you are choosing so it doesn't weigh them down.

Variations to Try

Lemon Cashew Dressing. Swap the apple cider vinegar for the same amount of lemon juice and the zest of ½ lemon for a vibrant flavour.

Garlic Cashew Dressing. This recipe as it stands doesn’t contain garlic but you can include 1-2 crushed garlic cloves if you like.

Herb Cashew Dressing. Add in a handful of parsley, coriander, mint or dill (any of the above or a mixture of any of the above) for a deliciously herby dressing.

Spicy Cashew Dressing. Add in a red chilli before blending for a freshy spiciness. You could also add in a pinch of ground cumin or coriander for a rich warmth. This goes nicely with roasted vegetables.

More Cashew Butter Recipes You’ll Love

These easy gluten-free and flourless Cashew Butter Cookies are the perfect cookie texture, crisp at the edges with a delicious inner chew.

These deliciously moreish Banana Flapjacks made with cashew butter and dates are the perfect choice if you are looking for a dairy-free, vegan and refined sugar-free snack.

Happiness Bread is a soft savoury gluten-free and grain-free bread, packed with sweet potato, nuts and seeds with the golden scent of turmeric which is perfect for kick-starting your day.