How to Make Vegan Ranch Dressing
How to Make Vegan Ranch Dressing
Take your meals to the next level with this How to Make Vegan Ranch Dressing recipe! You can easily whip up this delicious vegan dressing with just a handful of simple ingredients in no time. The combination of 'buttermilk' richness and savory garlic creates a perfectly balanced flavor that's both herby and satisfying with a creamy, silky-smooth texture. Completely Vegan & Gluten-free!
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If you're anything like me, then this vegan dressing recipe is a staple that you'll be keeping in your house on a recurring basis. The best part about this dressing is that you can create large batches and store it in the refrigerator for several weeks, which allows you to grab and go whenever you need it. Without the perfect dairy-free dressing, your salad or power bowl just ain't gonna cut it. That's why I created this How to Make Vegan Ranch Dressing - the ultimate dairy-free and vegan dressing to step up your food game.
Sometimes, you just need that extra oomph to take your salad or sandwich to the next level. A little creaminess, richness, and herby feel can go a long way, and this simple ingredient ranch dressing has got it all. You'll thoroughly enjoy this vegan dressing on this Best Buffalo Chickpea Kale Salad, Vegan Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich, Summer Vegan Tacos, Meatless Buffalo Ranch Kettle Chip Nachos, or as a dip for these Baked Buffalo Chicken Tacos, BBQ Cauliflower Wings, or Classic Oven Baked Buffalo Wings.
Why You'll Love This Vegan Ranch Dressing
- Rich 'Buttermilk' flavor!
- Creamy texture without dairy products.
- A perfect flavor melody that works as the perfect addition to so many foods.
- Simple, easy-to-find ingredients.
- Versatile - use it on salads, sandwiches, and beyond!
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Vegan Ranch Dressing
- What is Vegan Ranch Dressing Made of?
- Ingredients for Vegan Ranch
- Substituting Vegan Mayo in Dressing
- Cutting Down on Soak Time of Cashews
- Options to Pair This Vegan Ranch Dressing With?
- Common Q + A's for How to Make Vegan Ranch Dressing!
- More Delicious Recipes to Try this Dressing With!
- MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
- How to Make Vegan Ranch Dressing
What is Vegan Ranch Dressing Made of?
Basically, in a bowl, you'll be mixing together vegan mayonnaise, plant-based milk, cilantro, dill, minced garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
Ingredients for Vegan Ranch
With just a handful of basic ingredients and a breeze to whip up, this plant-based dairy-free ranch dressing is going to become your go-to. Trust me, once you try it, you'll wonder how you ever survived without it.
- VEGENAISE. Aka, my favorite vegan mayo. It is super creamy and smooth but feel free to add your fave if you prefer.
- Garlic. A strong and pungent flavor that adds depth and richness to this dressing.
- Dried Herbs. For a similar flavor profile to traditional ranch, cilantro, dill, garlic powder, and onion powder, are great herbs to add to dressings for their herbaceous flavors.
- Sea Salt + Pepper. To round out the flavors.
- Almond milk. You'll need it to be unsweetened. Adds a slightly nutty flavor, but you can sub out for another plant milk if you want a nut-free version.
Voila! The perfect simple ingredient dressing for those who love quick, easy, and delicious recipes - How to Make Vegan Ranch Dressing! With just a handful of simple ingredients and a quick whisk or blend in a good high-powered blender, you can create a rich and luscious dressing that's perfect for salads, sandwiches, and much more.
Substituting Vegan Mayo in Dressing
OK, so if you don't have vegan mayo on hand or just don't want to use it, no worries! You can totally still make this vegan ranch dressing without it by using raw cashews. If you decide to use cashews, you'll need to soak them overnight or do a "quick soak" if you're short on time before adding it in a high-powered blender with the remaining ingredients and blending until smooth! Plus, you'll probably need an extra ¼ or so cup of milk to get the right consistency.
Cutting Down on Soak Time of Cashews
It is required that you soak your cashews for quite some time before blending. By soaking the cashews, you are softening them to prepare the nuts for blending. Without soaking your nuts, the nut milk would contain grit and a less pleasant texture. Soaking the nuts also creates a creamy texture that does not require straining the solids.
My preferred method of soaking my cashews is overnight at room temperature. I also cover the soaking container with plastic wrap so that everything stays really fresh. If you do not have all night or many hours to soak your cashews, you can instead use boiling water.
By using boiling water instead of room temperature, the nuts will soak much faster due to the presence of heat. Soak the nuts in the hot water for only 30 minutes before blending. While this is a great way of quickly soaking cashews, the overnight method produces the optimal texture and creaminess, in my opinion.
Options to Pair This Vegan Ranch Dressing With?
- Salads: Of course, the most obvious pairing for Vegan Ranch Dressing is with salads! I love pairing it with this Ultimate Summer BBQ Chopped Kale Salad for a nice switch up from it's original dressing!
- Roasted Vegetables: This dairy-free dressing is also a great sauce to drizzle over roasted vegetables, making them even more delicious.
- Grain/Buddha Bowls: If you're a fan of Buddha bowls, then this easy vegan dressing is a must-try! It pairs well with grains like quinoa, rice, farro, or bulgur. Definitely try this Savory Chickpea Quinoa Buddha Bowl.
- Sandwiches and Wraps: Vegan Ranch Dressing is a great alternative to mayonnaise or other spreads on sandwiches and wraps. Pair it with this BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwich or Everything Chicken Tomato Grilled Cheese. SO YUMMY.
- Burgers: A dollop of Vegan Ranch Dressing on top of a veggie burger takes it to the next level! It adds a creamy and rich flavor that complements any type of patty well, whether veggie or meat. Try this BBQ Jerk Salmon Burgers!
- Veggie Dipping Sauce: This dairy-free dressing can also be used as a dipping sauce for veggies. It makes for a tasty and healthy snack or appetizer.
- Tacos: It can also be used as a sauce for tacos. It pairs well with vegetarian options like my Vegan Jamaican Jerk Walnut Tacos and meat-based options like chicken or shrimp.
Common Q + A's for How to Make Vegan Ranch Dressing!
Add dressing to your favorite mason jar or tightly sealed container and refrigerate for 7-10 days for optimal freshness.
Yes, this recipe is gluten-free as long as you use Gluten-free mayo.
Yup! In fact, vegan ranch dressing can benefit from some time in the fridge to allow the flavors to fuse together. You can make it up to a day ahead of time and store it in the fridge until you're ready to use it. Just give it a good stir before serving.
Absolutely! You can easily adjust the amount of garlic to your personal taste preferences. Just add more or less until you achieve your desired flavor.
No! If you don't have vegan mayo or just don't want to use it for this dressing, you can substitute with raw cashews. You'll just need to soak your cashews overnight or for a 'quick soak' before adding it to a blender with the remaining ingredients. NOTE: You'll just need an extra ¼ or so cup of milk.
Traditional ranch dressing is not vegan because it is made with buttermilk, mayonnaise, and/or sour cream.
More Delicious Recipes to Try this Dressing With!
Now that you've fallen in love with this vegan ranch dressing recipe, put it to good use with these other delicious family-friendly recipes:
- Sticky Orange Chicken Popcorn Chicken
- Baked Vegan Black Bean Tacos
- Sticky Gochujang Chicken Wings
- Orange Chicken Wings
- Spicy Sofritas Quinoa Tacos
- Spicy Gochujang Chicken Tenders
- Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders
- Sticky Peach Chicken Wings
- Crispy Seasoned French Fries
- Jerk Salmon Avocado Toast
MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
If you tried this How to Make Vegan Ranch Dressing recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you.
How to Make Vegan Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 cup vegan mayonnaise
- ½ cup Almond milk, unsweetened (You can use your fave plant-based milk)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh or dried cilantro
- ½ teaspoon dill
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Pinch of sea salt
- Pinch of black pepper
Instructions
TO MAKE THE DRESSING:
- Add the vegan mayo, milk, garlic cloves, cilantro, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt + black pepper into bowl and whisk until everything becomes smooth and creamy. NOTE: If you don't want garlic bits in your dressing, you can add everything to a high-powered blender and blend until smooth.
- Add dressing to your favorite mason jar or tightly sealed container and refrigerate for 7-10 days for optimal freshness.
- Bon Appetit!
Nutrition
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