Lemon basil dressing is an oil-free and refreshing dressing. Perfect for salads, as a dip, or to drizzle on vegetables, this lemon basil dressing recipe is easy to make with very few ingredients.
My herb garden is busting with basil. When I decided to make my green bean salad recipe today, I decided to pair it with my lemon basil dressing recipe. Since the produce was so beautiful at the market this week, I planned an entire week of salads for dinner. Not only is lemon basil dressing refreshing, but it's also oil-free and perfect for any summer salad recipe. And, it's simple to make!
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I love lemon basil dressing so much that I often double the batch and put it on various dishes. I would eat it with a fox, in a box, in a house.....it's just that good!
Vegan Lemon Basil Dressing Ingredients
- Raw Blanched Almonds: Raw blanched slivered almonds are almonds where the skins have been removed.
- White Vinegar: White wine vinegar is best used with more delicate salads, and any situation, you want to add a hint of vinegar but do not want that flavor to overwhelm the dish. This vinegar also has a clear to light yellow tint that will not discolor food.
- Water: Water is used to thin the dressing and acts as an emulsifier in the absence of oil.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice gives the lemon basil dressing a fresh citrus flavor.
- Garlic: I prefer using fresh garlic cloves in dressing for the best flavor.
- Fresh Basil: Fresh basil is essential for this dressing, as it the base of the dressing.
- Maple Syrup: Maple Syrup is a natural sweetener instead of adding refined sugar.
Lemon Basil Dressing Ingredient Substitutions
- You can use cashews or macadamia nuts instead of almonds.
- Apple cider vinegar is an excellent substitute for white vinegar.
- Although fresh lemon juice is better, you can use bottled lemon juice in a pinch.
- Instead of fresh garlic, use ¼ teaspoon of granulated garlic in place of each clove. Garlic powder: Use ⅛ teaspoon of garlic powder in place of each clove. Garlic salt: Use ½ teaspoon of garlic salt in place of each clove. This will add an extra ⅜ teaspoon of salt, so decrease the salt in your recipe accordingly.
- Date syrup or agave nectar are substitutes for maple syrup.
How to Make Lemon Basil Dressing
- If you have a high quality blender, you don't need to soak the almonds overnight to soften them.
- However, if you don't have a high-speed blender, soak the almonds overnight, or a quick and easy way to soften them, boil the almonds for 10 minutes, drain, and then blend.
- Add all the ingredients to a blender, and blend until smooth.
- Refrigerate until ready to use the lemon basil dressing.
- The dressing will thicken in the refrigerator.
Serving Suggestions
This vegan lemon basil dressing is perfect for any salad or as a dip. I love it on everything!
- Green Bean Salad
- Asparagus Salad
- Roasted Vegetable Salad
- Zucchini Fries
- Portobello Mushroom Fries
- Baked Potatoes
- Sweet Potatoes
- Drizzled on Steamed Vegetables
- Add to Brown Rice or Quinoa
Recipe FAQs
Cashews, pecans, or walnuts often replace almonds in salad dressings. For a nut-free alternative, try hemp seeds or sunflower seeds.
The health benefits of almonds include lower blood pressure, reduced blood pressure, and lower cholesterol.
Yes, almonds are tree nuts.
Tips
- First, fresh basil is necessary to make this refreshing lemon basil dressing. In Arizona, basil thrives in my garden in 100-degree temperatures.
- All my herbs grow at an increasing rate all year round compared to my indoor and outdoor gardens when we lived in Michigan.
- Another suggestion is to use fresh lemon juice and garlic. Even though it would take a discerning palate to tell the difference between bottled and fresh lemon juice, most bottled juices contain preservatives.
- Another bonus to fresh lemon is the lemon zest. Since I used lemon zest for this lemon basil dressing, buy organic lemons or scrub them before zesting.
- Additionally, you will need a quality high-speed blender. For instance, I use a Nutri-bullet, which is inexpensive, I've owned it for years.
- Despite popular belief, you do not need a blender similar to a car payment. Quality, for example, doesn't always come with the highest price tag.
Try this vegan lemon basil dressing on a salad or as a dip. Drizzle it on a baked potato rice or quinoa!
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📖 Recipe
Quick and Easy Lemon Basil Dressing
Ingredients
- ½ cup packed fresh basil
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 1 ½ lemons juiced and zested
- ¼ cup raw blanched slivered almonds
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 Tablespoon Maple syrup
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender.
- Blend on high until smooth.
- Place the dressing in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Video
Notes
- First, fresh basil is necessary to make this refreshing lemon basil dressing. In Arizona, basil thrives in my garden in 100-degree temperatures.
- All my herbs grow at an increasing rate all year round compared to my indoor and outdoor gardens when we lived in Michigan.
- Another suggestion is to use fresh lemon juice and garlic. Even though it would take a discerning palate to tell the difference between bottled and fresh lemon juice, most bottled juices contain preservatives.
- Another bonus to fresh lemon is the lemon zest. Since I used lemon zest for this lemon basil dressing, buy organic lemons or scrub them before zesting.
- Additionally, you will need a quality high-speed blender. For instance, I use a Nutri-bullet, which is inexpensive, I've owned it for years.
- Despite popular belief, you do not need a blender similar to a car payment. Quality, for example, doesn't always come with the highest price tag.
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! 🙂
Susan Smeltzer
Hi Kathy,
I love this recipe, but I make it using lemons from my tree. They're bigger than the store lemons and way juicier, so I'm a little confused how much lemon juice I really need here. Can you provide a Tablespoon or Cup measurement rather than 1 and a half lemons' juice?
Thank you!
Kathy Carmichael
Hi Susan, I suggest about 6 Tablespoons of lemon juice. Then, please feel free to taste it and add more if you wish. We have a lemon tree also, and I LOVE fresh it!
Diane Barnett
Is there another vinegar I can sub for white vinegar? Like unsweetened rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar?
Kathy Carmichael
Hi Diane, if you need a different vinegar to substitute for white vinegar, use apple cider vinegar or malt vinegar.