Vegan Ranch Dressing Recipe
This Vegan Ranch Dressing recipe is so rich, creamy, and easy to prepare from simple ingredients, it’s way better than store-bought and keeps in the refrigerator for a week.
This vegan ranch dressing is an excellent option for those who can’t or don’t want to eat eggs or dairy. This quick ranch dressing recipe is creamy and tasty, with the ideal balance of flavors. It might make you stop buying packaged ranch dressing entirely. This dressing has the right tang and rich flavors you’d expect from the ranch, thanks to cashews, herbs, and seasonings.
This dressing is excellent as a salad dressing, and it may also be used for dipping chips and vegetables. However, it may also become your favorite addition to Vegan Potato and Cauliflower Salad and pasta salads.
Recipe’s Appealing Features!
- This vegan ranch dressing recipe is simple to prepare and absolutely soy- and gluten-free.
- It’s quite delicious, and the ingredients are much better. This dressing is made entirely of plant-based ingredients.
- It’s oil-free and naturally dairy-free.
- It’s creamy, garlicky, and full of flavor.
- Vegan Ranch Dressing is a healthier alternative to traditional ranch dressing.
- This recipe can be used as a vegan salad dressing or a dip.
- It’s full of flavor, but it’s also low in fat and cholesterol-free.
- This recipe tastes similar to the real thing.
- This recipe makes a large amount so you should be able to enjoy the goodness in a week or two.
- Many readers have said in the comments that this is the Tastiest vegan ranch dressing they’ve ever made.
- If you can manage to resist eating it all in one sitting, you may make it ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for use throughout the week.
Nutritional Values of Vegan Ranch Dressing
This vegan ranch dressing is loaded with healthy ingredients.
The main ingredient in this vegan salad dressing recipe is cashews, which makes it so healthy. Cashews are a good source of plant protein and fiber, they’re low in sugar and rich in heart-healthy fats. Additionally, they are high in copper, magnesium, and manganese, all of which are necessary for brain health, immunity, bone health, and energy production. Because of their high levels of carotenoids and polyphenolic antioxidants, cashews may help to reduce inflammation while also protecting against disease.
I have used a variety of herbs, which may aid in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. It may also have anti-clotting, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties.
Vitamin C is plentiful in lemon juice. It has been demonstrated in studies that vitamin C is an important nutrient for the prevention of many modern diseases. Vitamin C is necessary for the repair of connective tissue, the formation of bones, and gum health.
Garlic and onion are well-known for their immune-boosting properties. Onion and garlic phytochemicals have been shown in studies to enhance cardiovascular health in a variety of ways…not forget to mention the wonderful flavor they add to this savory dressing.
Ingredients In Vegan Ranch Dressing Recipe
- Cashews: Because of their creamy texture, cashews are a great basic ingredient for a variety of recipes. If cashews aren’t available, vegan mayo can be substituted.
- Water
- Lemon Juice: Adds a great zing and brightness to the dish.
- Onion Powder: The addition of onion powder will give this dressing a more savory flavor.
- Garlic Powder: Garlic powder gives it a rich garlicky flavor.
- Dried Parsley: The addition of parsley improves the flavors.
- Dried Dill: Dill is a powerful herb, start with a small amount of dill and gradually increase the amount to your taste.
- Fresh Chives of Green Onions: You’ll need to add fresh chopped chives to taste.
How To Make Vegan Ranch Dressing Recipe
Soak cashews for at least an hour, if you have a high-speed blender, you can skip this step.
Rinse cashews and place them in a high-speed blender with water, lemon juice, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt. Process until smooth and creamy.
Stir in parsley, dill, and chives.
Storage
Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
Here is a cute container to keep your vegan salad dressing in!
Using OptionsThis vegan ranch dressing is the perfect topping for your salads, sandwiches, and more!
This vegan ranch dressing can also be used as a dipping sauce for vegetables…or fries. Try making this dressing with my zucchini chips and they have a mind-blowing amount of flavor.
What are some of my favorite uses? Of course, it’s great on salads and on top of vegan burgers! My son enjoys dipping everything in it. I’d like to know how you use it!
Pro Tips
- You can enjoy it right away, but the flavors actually come out when it sits in the fridge for a couple of hours.
Variations
- Add any spice or fresh or dried herb you desire to your vegan ranch dressing.
- Depending on the desired consistency of your vegan ranch dressing, feel free to add additional liquid.
- If you like it very herby, feel free to up the number of dry herbs in this recipe.
- This dressing can be made nut-free and lower in fat by substituting the cashews for silken firm tofu.
- Add a pinch of chipotle chile pepper to your ranch dressing to make it chipotle. Take care not to overdo it with the chipotle pepper, as a little goes a long way.
- If you’re looking for a BBQ ranch dressing, you’ve come to the right place. Add a dash of your favorite BBQ sauce to the mix.
- To prepare a salsa ranch dressing, mix in some of your favorite salsa.
Other Salad Dressings
- Coconut Chia Salad Dressing
- Vegan Caesar Dressing
- Basil Salad Dressing
- Vegan Blue Cheese Dressing
- Tarragon Salad Dressing
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why Is It Called “Ranch Dressing?”
It gets its name from the town where it was created. This dressing was created in the 1950s on a genuine Hidden Valley ranch. Mr. Steve Gayle, the inventor, gave it his ranch’s name.
Is This Ranch Dressing Vegan?
The original recipe contains dairy and regular butter, therefore it is not vegan. In this recipe, however, I substituted cashews, resulting in a healthier, cholesterol-free, and lower-fat vegan version. But it’s just as wonderful and creamy!
Is Ranch Dressing Contains Milk?
Typical ranch dressing recipes call for a blend of mayo, buttermilk, and sour cream; therefore, milk is typically used. You may substitute store-bought vegan alternatives for those ingredients, but I like this recipe!
Can You Make It Without Nuts?
Yes! You can replace cashews with sunflower seeds for the same amount as cashews recommended in the recipe.
Can You Substitute Vegan Mayonnaise For The Cashews?
You can but you will need less water and you will have to adjust the seasonings to taste, so basically I wouldn’t have the exact measurements until I experiment, but you can. Vegenaise and Hellman’s vegan mayo are some excellent choices. These contain entirely plant-based ingredients, as opposed to regular mayonnaise, which contains eggs.
Fresh Vs. Dried Herbs?
The shorter the shelf life of this vegan ranch dressing, if you use more fresh herbs.
How Do I Make And Store It Ahead Of Time?
Make ahead: I recommend making this vegan ranch dressing in advance because it tastes much better after a few hours or even the next day!
Store: I suggest storing the plant-based ranch dressing for 5-7 days in an airtight jar. It can last up to 2 weeks if you use store-bought mayo (or slightly longer).
In the fridge, it may thicken slightly. So, if necessary, add a bit of water or milk to achieve the desired consistency.
Can Vegan Ranch Dressing Be Frozen?
I haven’t tried it yet because I expect there will be some separation when it thaws.
However, if you wish to attempt. I suggest freezing for as long as three months. Then, when the mixture has thawed, either whisk it thoroughly or blend it.
More Ideas for Using Ranch Dressing?
This ranch dressing is extremely versatile and may be used in numerous ways. Listed here are a handful of my personal favorites:
- As a healthful snack or appetizer, serve with a plate of colorful, fresh vegetables.
- It’s delicious as a chip dip, especially with these baked potato chips.
- Serve with Whole Roasted Cauliflower or Roasted Brussels Sprouts And Carrots as a dip.
- Dress salads with it, such as this Vegan Greek Salad or this roasted chickpea Salad.
Is Ranch Dressing Unhealthy?
This is dependent on your definition of ‘healthy.’ Preservatives and a variety of processed components, as well as dairy, are commonly found in store-bought versions (and fats). This homemade ranch dressing, on the other hand, is prepared with cashew so it is absolutely healthy. It may be made with store-bought vegan mayonnaise or homemade vegan mayo. That is to say, it can be completely plant-based!
Is Ranch Good For Weight Loss?
Store-bought ranch dressing has a lot of sodium and saturated fats. Saturated fats are harder to digest, resulting in weight gain. So, if you’re trying to lose weight, try using this homemade vegan ranch salad dressing.
Can The Recipe Be Doubled?
Yes, you can (and should) double this recipe since you’ll want to use it on everything!
More Vegan Salad Dressing Recipes
- Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Creamy Asian Salad Dressing
- Thousand Island Dressing
- Lemon Salad Dressing
- Oil-Free Chipotle Ranch Dressing
Give this Vegan Ranch Dressing a try. It’s incredibly delicious and super easy. I hope you like it. As always, I would love to hear from you. So if you tried this recipe or any other from my website, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
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Vegan Ranch Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups raw cashews soaked for an hour
- 1 cup water
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives or green onions, finely chopped
- 1/2- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Place washed cashews, water, lemon juice, onion powder, garlic powder and salt in a high-speed blender and process until creamy.
- Stir in parsley, dill and chives. Store in. an airtight container for a week. It will thicken as it sits in the refrigerator so stir before serving.
Unfortunately, so many friends and family have nut allergies, so I avoid all recipes with nuts and seeds, like sesame and flax.
Shirley, you can substitute with silken tofu.
I like that it is so easy to make. I will have to give your recipe a try sometime.