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.
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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.
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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! 🙂
Jo
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.
Kathy Carmichael
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 🙂
Erin
Hi! How long will this keep?
Kathy Carmichael
Hi Erin, it will last 5 days in the refrigerator...if it lasts that long 🙂