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    Home / Recipes / Sauces, Dips & Dressings

    Vegan Creamy Italian Dressing

    Published: Oct 30, 2020 · Modified: Jun 10, 2022 by Kathy Carmichael · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Vegan creamy Italian dressing is oil-free and easy to make. This vegan creamy Italian dressing recipe is one of my favorites, perfect for any salad or dip.

    When I finally learned to make delicious oil-free salad dressing, I often missed creamy dressing recipes. My family, for instance, loves vegan ranch dressing. So I figured if I mastered vegan ranch, why not give creamy Italian dressing a try. This vegan creamy Italian dressing is easy to make, and it tastes much better than any Italian dressing with oil and other preservatives.

    Jump to:
    • Homemade vs. Bottled Dressing
    • Vegan Creamy Italian Dressing
    • How to Make Vegan Creamy Italian Dressing
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Tips
    • More Vegan Dressing and Dip Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    The more dressings I create, the more ideas I get for creating dips, sauces, and dressings. Even though I make a variety of Italian dressings, I had a specific salad in mind in my new Italian dressing recipe. 

    I fell in love once I tasted my new Italian dressing on my spaghetti salad recipe. 

    Vegan creamy Italian dressing in a bowl with a spoon.

    Homemade vs. Bottled Dressing

    Although making homemade dressing takes time, I can no longer buy store-bought dressing.

    Even store-bought, oil-free, creamy Italian dressing is loaded with preservatives and sugar.

    And, once I started eating homemade salad dressing, the bottled version didn’t come close to the real deal. 

    Vegan Creamy Italian Dressing

    • White Vinegar: White vinegar is the most common kind of vinegar that you can find in any grocery store. The vinegar fermentation process yields acetic acid, which gives vinegar its sour taste.
    • Red Wine Vinegar: Red Wine Vinegar is made from the fermentation of red wine. It has a sour, acidic taste and a fruity aroma.
    • Raw Cashews: Raw cashews are blended into the dressing and supply the creaminess.
    • Fresh Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice provides a clean citrus flavor.
    • Maple Syrup: Maple Syrup gives the dressing sweetness.
    • Garlic: I prefer using fresh garlic cloves for the best flavor.
    • Onion Powder: Onion powder gives the dressing a depth of flavor.
    • Garlic Powder: Garlic provides a savory flavor.
    • Stone Ground Mustard: Stone-ground Mustard, also known as whole grain mustard, is a popular condiment made from mustard seeds, vinegar, and various seasonings. Unlike regular mustard, the mustard seeds are coarsely ground or cracked, resulting in a slightly coarse texture and a more intense, earthy flavor.
    • Italian Seasoning: Basil and oregano are the base of this seasoning and provide great flavor, perfect for a wide range of dishes. Aromatic: Garlic powder, rosemary, and thyme add a fragrant depth, enhancing the overall flavor of this DIY Italian seasoning blend.
    • Water: Water acts as an emulsifier in the absence of oil.
    • Basil: I prefer adding fresh basil after the dressing is blended.
    • Parsley: I prefer using fresh parsley.
    • Salt and Pepper to Taste: Salt and pepper helps enhance the natural flavors in the dressing.

    How to Make Vegan Creamy Italian Dressing

    I am adding fresh basil and parsley to the creamy Italian dressing.

    Another significant aspect of this recipe is it all happens in one blender cup, except the fresh basil and parsley. 

    • If you don't have a high-speed, you should soak the cashews overnight.
    • You don't need to soak the cashews if you have a quality blender.
    • Drain the cashews and add all the ingredients other than the fresh basil and parsley if soaking.
    • Blend until smooth.
    • Chop the parsley and basil separately, and stir into the dressing
    • All dressing thickens in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it.
    • For a thicker dip, reduce the water to ¼ cup.

    Recipe FAQs

    Is Kraft creamy Italian dressing vegan?

    Yes. Even Kraft has “accidentally vegan” creamy salad dressings, including Classic or Zesty Catalina and Fat-Free Creamy French. The Creamy Italian is also milk- and egg-free, but the variety made with olive oil isn't, so be sure to check the ingredients.

    How much dry herbs equals fresh?

    A general rule of thumb for the dried-to-fresh herb ratio: Use one-third the amount of dried herb for the fresh herb called for in the recipe. For example, converting fresh sage to dried sage in a recipe that calls for 1 Tbsp. of fresh sage, use 1 teaspoon of dried sage instead.

    What herbs should not be dried?

    Some herbs lose flavor when dried: basil, borage, chives, cilantro, and parsley. Basil can be used only fresh.

    Tips

    • When using cashews as a base in the dressing, to soften them, soak them overnight or boil them for 10 minutes, drain, and before blending.
    • If you have a high-quality blender, like a Vitamix, you can skip the soaking process.
    • For a nut-freed dressing, substitute the cashews with white beans, sunflower seeds, or hemps seeds.
    • Use half the amount of dry herbs to substitute fresh herbs.
    • Do not add the herbs until after blending.
    • Other creamy vegan oil-free dressings you may enjoy are Vegan Green Goddess Dressing, Creamy Balsamic Dressing, Vegan Thousand Island Dressing, and Vegan Caesar Dressing!

    Try this delicious vegan creamy Italian dressing recipe; you will love this flavors!

    More Vegan Dressing and Dip Recipes

    • vegan nacho cheese sauce
      The Best Vegan Nacho Cheese
    • vegan ranch dressing recipe
      The Best Vegan Ranch Dressing
    • Greek Layered Dip Recipe
      Vegan Layered Dip
    • oil-free Italian dressing recipe
      The Best Oil Free Italian Dressing

    If you love this vegan creamy Italian dressing recipe, give us a 5-star review and comment below. We would love to hear from you!

    📖 Recipe

    vegan creamy italian dressing recipe

    Vegan Creamy Italian Dressing

    Kathy Carmichael
    Creamy Italian Dressing is oil-free and easy to make. Perfect for any salad, or even as a dip, creamy Italian Dressing is one of my favorites.
    4.29 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Sauces, Dips & Dressings
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 49 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ cup white vinegar
    • ½ cup red wine vinegar
    • ½ cup raw cashews or white beans for a nut-free option
    • 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
    • 1 lemon juiced
    • 2 Tablespoons stone-ground mustard
    • ½ cup water
    • 2 Tablespoons Italian seasoning
    • 2 teaspoons onion powder
    • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
    • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • If you don't have a high-speed, you should soak the cashews overnight.
    • You don't need to soak the cashews if you have a quality blender.
    • Drain the cashews and add all the ingredients other than the fresh basil and parsley if soaking.
    • Blend until smooth.
    • Chop the parsley and basil separately, and stir into the dressing
    • All dressing thickens in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it.
    • For a thicker dip, reduce the water to ¼ cup.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 49kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 1gFat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 32mgPotassium: 91mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 150IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 1mg
    Tried our recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Kathy Carmichael

    Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂

    www.kathysvegankitchen.com/about-me/

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      4.29 from 7 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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    1. Jo

      September 26, 2021 at 8:14 am

      Sounds like a great dressing for potato salad. I am wondering though if you meant to have so much garlic included in it? It is so similar to the nut-free Italian Dressing, maybe the 3 cloves of minced garlic got left in by mistake.

      Reply
      • Kathy Carmichael

        September 26, 2021 at 8:46 am

        Hi Jo, the three garlic cloves are included in the recipe card at the bottom. If you don't like that much garlic, I suggest you add a clove at a time, taste it, and then add more. Similar to spices, always add slowly to meet your individual taste preference. I hope you enjoy the recipe 🙂

        Reply
    2. Erin

      November 14, 2020 at 6:09 am

      Hi! How long will this keep?

      Reply
      • Kathy Carmichael

        November 15, 2020 at 6:18 am

        Hi Erin, it will last 5 days in the refrigerator...if it lasts that long 🙂

        Reply

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