Oil-Free Vegan Ranch Dressing (No Mayo)

Recipe features

• Vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, oil-free, and no mayo!
• Easy to make using simple ingredients!
• Use it as a salad dressing or as a dip!

Ingredient notes and substitutions

The cashew ranch recipe uses simple ingredients, but please see the recipe card below for a full list and the exact measurements.

Cashews -Use raw cashews for this easy, oil-free dressing. Using roasted cashews instead of raw ones will give the dressing a roasted cashew flavor.  For more recipes with cashews, try vegan honey mustard dressing, vegan lime crema, or dijon cashew dressing.

Unsweetened dairy-free milk - Not all dairy-free milk tastes the same, so use the dairy-free milk you prefer.  While testing, some brands of unsweetened soy milk made the dressing slightly sweet, while Trader Joe’s shelf-stable unsweetened soy milk did not.  The soy milk also thickened the dressing more than oat or almond milk.

Vinegar - The recipe calls for distilled white vinegar but apple cider vinegar will also work.  The vinegar adds tanginess to the dressing.

Spices, seasonings, and herbs - These are key to the flavor of the vegan ranch dressing.  Fresh quality dried herbs are best for adding flavor to the recipe, not old ones that have been in the pantry for 2 years.  Dried herbs lose their potency over time.  

Feel free to add dried parsley to the recipe.  If you want to use fresh herbs instead of dried ones, the general rule is 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs to 1 teaspoon of dried herbs, but I would start with less, taste, and add more if you prefer.

How to soak cashews

You may not need to soak your cashews if you have a high-powered blender, but to ensure a smooth consistency I soak cashews even when I use a high-speed blender. If you use a regular blender that can’t handle raw cashews, it’s best to soak the nuts for a smoother consistency.

• Option one: Place the cashews in a container with enough water to cover them by 1 inch (the cashews will swell as they soak) and soak the nuts overnight (or about 8 hours).  Place the container in the fridge if soaking overnight.  
• Option two: Boil enough water to cover the cashews by at least 1 inch and pour the hot water over the nuts in a heat-tolerant container.  Soak for around 30 minutes on the counter.  If you don’t have a high-speed blender you may need to soak them longer than 30 minutes.

Tips

• The dressing will thicken some after being refrigerated.  If you want to use the cashew ranch dressing as a dip as soon as you make it, use ½ cup of dairy-free milk.  When I tested with Trader Joe's shelf-stable soy milk, it thickened more than almond and oat milk after being refrigerated for 30 minutes.  So I didn’t find it necessary to reduce the milk when the dressing was used as a dip when I use that brand. 
• The dressing can be enjoyed as soon as it’s made, but I think it tastes better after sitting in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

How to make vegan ranch

1. Start the dressing recipe by soaking the cashews overnight or use a quick soak method (see the section on how to soak cashews).  

2. Drain the cashews and add them to a high-speed blender with the remaining ingredients. 

3. Blend until smooth, taste, and adjust if needed. 

4. It can be enjoyed as soon as it’s made, but I think it tastes better after sitting in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

Serving suggestions

Add the creamy dressing to a variety of dishes, but here are a few suggestions.

• Grain bowls - Combine cooked grains, cooked beans, fresh or cooked veggies, with a drizzle of vegan oil-free ranch dressing.
• Chickpea rice salad with broccoli and tomatoes.
• Enjoy it on a chickpea vegetable rice bowl.
• Salad dressing.
• As a dipping sauce for raw veggies.
• On top of roasted vegetables like broccoli.
• As a dip for roasted potato wedges (homemade fries).
• A dip for vegan buffalo cauliflower, buffalo tofu, or oil-free tofu nuggets.

Storage

The leftover dressing will last in the fridge in an airtight container for about 5-7 days.  If it has thickened too much after being refrigerated, whisk in a little dairy-free milk until it has thinned out.

Frequently asked questions

Related recipe

• Vegan chipotle dressing
• Cilantro cashew dressing
• Cashew lime crema

I hope you enjoy the recipe!  If you did feel free to rate the recipe and leave a comment.