The 20 BEST Healthy, Whole Food, Plant Based Salad Dressings

(Note: this post was originally published in July 2020. It is frequently updated with new vegan salad dressing recipes. Make sure to bookmark this page so that you can keep coming back to it.)

A New Outlook on Salad Dressing

Whether you're a salad lover or a salad skeptic, the dressing you use can play a huge role in the taste, texture, and nutritional value of your dish. A great dressing can make a salad luscious, flavorful, crave-worthy, satisfying, and loaded with nutrients. Conversely, a sub-par dressing can make a salad boring, bland, and even unhealthy. Choosing the right healthy salad dressing recipe is a key step toward enjoying more salads, eating more fresh and colorful produce, and getting more nutrients.

In this post, I share some basic principles of homemade vegan salad dressing recipes including core ingredients, ratios, and substitutions. After that, most of the post is a compilation of the BEST plant based salad dressing recipes from vegan food creators around the world. Our overall goal is to help you eat more salads and to make those salads delicious, fulfilling, and nutritious.

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Why is Homemade Salad Dressing Better?

I always advocate for making your own dressing rather than buying it. Many store-bought dressings contain large amounts of low-quality oil and salt. Ones marketed as "oil-free" or "low-fat" compensate by adding sugar. Many store-bought dressings contain preservatives to extend their shelf-life and stabilizers or gums to enhance the texture.

There are many benefits to creating your own plant based salad dressing recipes at home. Most importantly, you can control the ingredients and their quality. Making your own dressing also means you can control the batch size. Instead of relying on a generic dressing until the bottle is empty, you can be creative with small-batch healthy salad dressing recipes; no two salads will ever be the same! As an added benefit, you'll be enjoying your dressing when it's freshest. Making your own can even save you money and minimizes wasted packaging.

Once you start making your own dressings, you'll never want to go back to store-bought.

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Homemade Salad Dressing Basics

How Do I Make Healthy Salad Dressing?

First, let's start with the basics. What are the main components of a healthy salad dressing recipe? While salad dressings are infinitely variable, many have the following core ingredients:

• Fat. This is what makes a dressing luscious, and also what helps it stick to the veggies. Blended avocado, tahini, high-quality oils, almond butter, yogurt, and blended nuts all make good (and healthier) bases for vegan salad dressing recipes. Don't try to make a dressing without a fatty component, it will end up thin and disappointing. The fat actually helps your body absorb the nutrients from those beautiful veggies and makes your salad more satisfying and filling.
  
• Acid. Something acidic is what makes a dressing come alive. This includes any sort of citrus juice or vinegar, and is key to making a dressing bright and flavorful.
  
• Other flavorings. Extra flavor components make these plant based salad dressing recipes unique and can include anything from herbs to spices to garlic to fruit. Adding a few vibrant, super-tasty elements makes a salad exciting, can help it match a specific meal, or can evoke a certain cultural heritage.
  

Okay, so now what? Where do you start if you want to create your own vegan salad dressing recipes? My suggestion is to pick a culture or a season as your starting point; that will push you in a specific direction. Once you've settled on the flavor profile you're trying to achieve, pick a fat and acid to match. Finally, add in a few different flavor powerhouses. Make sure to taste and adjust as you go. If you follow this formula (inspiration, fat, acid, other flavors), you'll be creating your own healthy salad dressing recipes in no time.

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Batch Sizes and Uses

One of the best things about homemade salad dressings is that you're in control of the batch size. Most of these vegan salad dressing recipes keep great in the fridge for at least a few days; if you make a big batch over the weekend, you'll have great ways to dress up your veggies all week long. On the other hand, I really enjoy making a customized dressing every time I make a salad in order to match the flavor profile I'm working with. Vinaigrettes are especially friendly for micro-batches and take only a minute or two to whip up. Most of the ideas below can easily be scaled up or down as needed.

One final thought before we dive into this big, beautiful compilation of plant based salad dressing recipes. Salad dressings aren't just for salad; any of the ideas below would be great drizzled over roasted or grilled veggies or over a bowl-style meal. The thicker ones work well as dips for veggies, chips, or crackers. So make sure to bookmark this page and come back to it again and again!

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The BEST Plant Based Salad Dressing Recipes

To get you started, here are a bunch of healthy salad dressing recipes, listed in alphabetical order by dressing name. A couple are from me, but most are from other wonderfully creative food bloggers from around the world. You can either follow the recipe exactly, or use these ideas as springboards to inspire your own vegan salad dressing recipes. Remember, there's no "right" way to do this, so dressings are a great opportunity for creativity and customization.

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Almond Butter Dressing

From Claire of @ClaireBear_Bites. Check out her blog and Instagram feed for the most beautiful, whimsical, colorful bowls and breakfasts.

This luscious almond butter-based dressing provides just the right amount of decadence to a veggie-packed meal. Try it on salads or as a sauce on top of bowl meals; you can adjust the thickness based on how you want to use it.

• 3 tbsp almond butter
• 1.5 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1.5 tsp coconut sugar
• 0.5 tsp garlic powder
• 0.25 tsp salt
• 0.25 tsp black pepper
• 3-4 tbsp water (as needed)

Combine all of the ingredients in a small mixing bowl and whisk. Add the water incrementally until you achieve your preferred texture. This makes about half a cup of dressing.

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Asian Sesame Dressing

From Yuhan of @Yuhan.Kitchen. Check out her Instagram feed for colorful plant-based creations, vegan baked goods, and Asian flavors.

This Asian-inspired dressing is light, versatile, easy to make, and packed with flavor. It has a delicate balance of sweet, salty, and spicy flavors, and will bring all your veggies to life. Drizzle it over your favorite salad (Yuhan likes it with other Asian ingredients like mango and edamame) or use it as a marinade for grilling.

• 4 tbsp toasted sesame oil
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
  
• 1 tbsp finely-grated fresh ginger
• 1-2 cloves of finely-diced garlic
• 1 tsp chili flakes
• 1 tsp honey (or substitute sugar if you don't eat honey)
  

Combine all the ingredients and stir well. Make sure to re-stir before using, since the dressing will separate as it sits. This makes about two thirds of a cup of dressing.

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Blueberry Vinaigrette

From Stella of @TheWholeScoopBlog. Check out her blog and Instagram feed for fresh and colorful plant-based eats and Greek flavors.

This vinaigrette is exploding with bright, summery, fruity flavors, which are complement by tartness from balsamic vinegar and lemon juice. Stella loves it on a harvest salad with roasted veggies. This dressing can go seamlessly from summer to fall.

• 0.5 c fresh blueberries
• 2 tbsp olive oil
  
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
  
• 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
• Pinch of salt and pepper
  

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. This makes about half a cup of dressing.

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Dijon Balsamic Tahini Dressing

From Christie of @VeggieChristie. Check out her Instagram feed for the most epic vegan comfort food, loaded sandwiches, and creative leftover makeovers.

This creamy, flavor-packed, versatile dressing/sauce goes with anything. Use it to dress salads, as a dip for raw veggies, or as sauce on a bowl meal.

• 2 tbsp tahini
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp maple syrup
• Dash of water as needed

Mix the ingredients together well. If desired, use a dash of water to thin it out to your desired texture. This makes about a quarter cup of dressing.

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Green Goddess Avocado Dressing

I posted this dressing/sauce on Instagram and you all went crazy for it. This one makes a VERY frequent appearance in our house, especially during the summer.

This is a creamy, dreamy, herby dressing that gets its silky texture from avocado. It's a versatile dressing that is wonderful drizzled on anything from salads to grilled veggies to grilled protein (or even tossed with pasta, as shown above). Switch it up by using different citrus or different herbs to match whatever flavor profile you're working with.

• One ripe avocado
• Juice of a lime
• 2 c fresh basil
• 1 c fresh cilantro
• 0.5 c fresh mint
• Generous pinch of sea salt
• Splash of water as needed

Combine all of the ingredients in a high-power blender and blend until smooth. Add a dash of water as needed to reach your desired consistency; you may want a thinner consistency for a salad dressing and a thicker one for a sauce. This makes about a cup and a half of dressing.

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Lemon Vinaigrette

From Ella of @Ellas.Tasty.World. Check out her Instagram feed for approachable, easy vegan and gluten-free recipes.

This bright, lemony dressing is perfect for spring. Use it to dress a salad, to drizzle onto a bowl meal, or as a sauce for grilled spring and summer veggies. Ella especially loves to use it on a springy quinoa salad, as shown above, since quinoa soaks up so much flavor.

• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp fresh-squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tsp fresh garlic, minced through a garlic press or very finely by hand
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 0.25 tsp sea salt
• 0.25 tsp black pepper

Mix all of the ingredients until well-combined. If making this dressing ahead of time, re-mix before serving since it will separate. This makes about a third of a cup of dressing.

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Lime and Mint Yogurt Dressing

From Mimmi of @NeverEnoughGreens. Check out her Instagram feed for incredible fruit platters, impressive baked goods, and seasonal veggies.

This bright, flavorful dressing is bursting with summery flair, but is also creamy and indulgent. Mimmi likes to use it on a big, summery salad like the one above; it pairs especially well with watermelon. It also makes for a great drizzle on grilled veggies. Change it up by using different fresh herbs or citrus.

• 0.5 c thick, unflavored, unsweetened yogurt of choice (vegan if desired)
• Zest of a lime
• Juice of a lime
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 0.5 tsp agave
• Big handful of fresh mint, finely chopped
• Salt and pepper
  

Combine all the ingredients and stir well. This makes about a cup of dressing.

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Magical Mint Dressing

From Andrea of @Sweet.In.Nature. Check out her Instagram feed for the coziest breakfasts, beautiful baked goods, and all sorts of healthy comfort food.

I fell in love with this dressing as soon as Andrea posted it, and I've made it many times since then. It's the most wonderful, unexpected combination of flavors, and is both cozy and fresh. Andrea likes to use it on a potato and cucumber salad for summer. Change it up by using Dijon mustard instead of honey mustard, using honey instead of maple syrup, or varying the herbs.

• Juice of a lemon
  
• 2 tbsp honey mustard (or regular mustard, for a fully vegan version)
  
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  
• 1 tsp maple syrup
• Pinch of salt and pepper
• Handful of chopped fresh mint
• Handful of chopped fresh parsley
• Leaves from a few sprigs of thyme, optional
  

Combine all the ingredients and stir well. If making this dressing ahead of time, re-mix before serving since it will separate. This makes about a cup of dressing.

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Mango Cilantro Dressing

From Mariela of @TheHungryDragonfly. Check out her blog and Instagram feed for vibrant Puerto Rican fare, family recipes, and beautiful vegan baked goods.

This sweet and herby dressing is full of summer energy. It's the perfect finish to a colorful salad or bowl with Latin-inspired flavors. It even works great as a dip for veggies at a summer party or picnic. Switch it up by using lime instead of lemon or by adding a bit of cayenne for some heat.

• Ripe mango
• Handful of fresh cilantro
• Juice of an orange, fresh-squeezed
• Juice of a lemon, fresh-squeezed
• 0.25 c olive oil
• 0.25 c maple syrup
• 1 tsp kelp salt or sea salt
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder

Combine all of the ingredients in a high-powder blender and blend until smooth. This makes about two thirds of a cup of dressing.

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Maple Mustard Yogurt Dressing

This is the dressing from my Vegan Brussels Sprouts Waldorf Salad but I couldn't resist sharing it here too. It's a favorite in our house, especially when I want to make a salad with a retro vibe.

This one is a creamy, sweet-and-tangy dressing made from a yogurt base. It's delightfully luscious and would be great on any salad you want to give a cozy vibe too. It also works beautifully as a dip or as a drizzle on roasted veggies. Change it up by using honey instead of maple syrup, or by using a splash of apple cider instead of lemon juice.

• Juice of a lemon
  
• 0.25 c unsweetened, unflavored yogurt of choice (vegan if desired)
  
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp coarse-grained mustard, ideally homemade
• Generous salt and pepper

Combine all the ingredients and stir well. This makes about half cup of dressing.

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Muhammara Dressing

From Noha of @LeeksNBeets. Check out her Instagram feed for the most beautiful, interesting, creative bowls and true veggie love.

This dressing is exploding with flavor and Middle Eastern flair. The luscious texture makes it great on a salad, but also on grilled veggies or any of Noha's gorgeous bowl meals. You can vary the spice level, so customize it to fit your tastes.

• 1 c walnuts
• 1 roasted red bell pepper
• 0.5 c water
• 0.25 c olive oil
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1.5 tbsp pomegranate molasses
• 1 tbsp tahini
• 1 large garlic clove
• 1 tsp sea salt
• Half or less of a serrano pepper optional, if you like heat

Combine all of the ingredients in a high-power blender and blend until smooth. This makes about two cups of dressing.

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Peach Dijon Vinaigrette

This dressing is from my Grilled Peach and Farro Salad. It's such a summer go-to for us that I couldn't resist including it here.

This is my favorite dressing to make during the summer. It's light, bright, and pairs beautifully with any salad involving fruit and/or fresh herbs. It also takes about one minute to make, so it's a great last-minute dressing or marinade. Change it up by using any fruity, infused balsamic.

• 0.25 c peach-infused white balsamic vinegar
  
• 2 tbsp good, robust olive oil
  
• 2 tbsp coarse-grained mustard, ideally homemade
• 0.25 tsp sea salt

Combine all the ingredients and stir well. Make sure to re-stir before using, since the dressing will separate as it sits. This makes about half a cup of dressing.

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Pomegranate Dressing

From Annette of @TofuAndTiramisu. She's no longer creating recipes, but her Instagram used to feature everything from vibrant salads to vegan comfort food to nourishing treats.

Bursting with double the pomegranate flavor (both juice and molasses!), this creative dressing has a sweet/tart balance that works wonderfully on summer and fall salads. It especially excels with harvest-themed ingredients like roasted squash.

• Juice of half a lemon
• 2 tbsp pomegranate juice
• 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• Pinch of salt

Combine all of the ingredients and whisk well to mix. If needed, re-mix before serving since the dressing may separate. This makes about half a cup of dressing.

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Spicy Avocado Citrus Dressing

From Amy of @TheVeggiePalette. Check out her Instagram feed for a fun and unique synthesis of plant-based recipes and art that will change how you see food.

This dressing combines sweet, spicy, herby, and creamy flavors into a very unique package. Drizzle it over a salad, slather it on grilled veggies, or use it as a dip. It particularly excels with Mexican-inspired flavors. It's everything you love about guacamole, but in a citrusy salad dressing form.

• Ripe avocado
• Juice of two oranges
• Juice of a lime
• Half a jalapeno, seeded and minced
  
• Small scallion, minced
• Clove or two of garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro
• 1 tsp cumin
• 0.5 tsp salt
  

Combine all of the ingredients except the avocado in a blender or food processor and blend until combined. Add the avocado and blend another 5-10 seconds. This makes about a cup of dressing.

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Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette

From Catrina of @PlantedFamilies. Check out her Instagram feed for everything from fun snacks to fresh salads to nourishing sweet treats, as well as kid-friendly eats.

This dressing screams summer. It's lovely with any sort of summery salad, especially one involving berries. Or use it as a drizzle over balsamic-grilled veggies. Catrina likes to use it on a fresh summer salad like the one above, which has spinach, cucumbers, strawberries, and walnuts.

• 2 c fresh strawberries
  
• 0.25 c neutral-flavored oil, like sunflower or avocado
• 2 tbsp water
  
• 1 tbsp aged balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp fresh chives
  
• 0.5 tsp Dijon mustard
  
• 0.5 tsp sea salt, or more to taste

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. This makes about two cups of dressing.

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Strawberry Lime Vinaigrette

From Ci Ci of @Raspberry.Clovers. Check out her Instagram feed for colorful, whimsical, and artistic veggie-filled dishes.

Bursting with sweet strawberry and tangy lime, this dressing is bright and vibrant. Ci Ci loves it most on a "sweet and spicy" summer salad with spinach, watermelon radishes, purple daikon radishes, grapefruit, strawberries, raspberries, avocado, vegan feta, and toasted cashews.

• 1 c strawberries
• Juice from half a lime
• 2 tbsp agave
• 2 tbsp white or apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. This makes about a cup of dressing.

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Tropical Coconut Dressing

From Anisha of @UpbeetAnisha. Check out her blog and Instagram feed for a refreshing approach to no-labels eating and a synthesis of flavors from California and India.

This tropical dressing is fun, unique, easy to make, and will take all your salads on an exotic vacation. Pair it with tropical fruits such as papaya, mango, and avocado for an instant island vibe.

• 3 tbsp full-fat coconut milk (i.e. the kind from the can, not the coconut milk beverage)
  
• 2 tbsp orange juice
  
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  
• 1 inch of ginger root, finely grated
  
• Pinch of salt
  

Combine all the ingredients and stir well. Make sure to re-stir before using, since the dressing will separate as it sits. This makes about half a cup of dressing.

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Turmeric Maple Dressing

From Lindsay of @LivingWith4FromScratch. Check out her Instagram feed for creative bowls, cozy baked goods, and family-friendly cooking inspiration.

This luscious, creamy dressing is as versatile as it is nourishing. Turmeric has a wide variety of health benefits including anti-inflammatory properties and is considered by many to be a "superfood". Its earthy, floral flavor allows it to pair with a diverse array of ingredients, like the black bean and peach salad shown above. Drizzle this dressing over any salad or bowl.

• 0.5 c unsweetened, unflavored yogurt (vegan if desired)
  
• 1 tsp golden milk powder or paste (this is a concentrated combination of turmeric and other spices that you use to make golden milk; numerous companies sell it, but you can also make your own at home)
  
• 1 tsp maple syrup
  

Combine all the ingredients and stir well. This makes about half a cup of dressing.

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Vegan Caesar Dressing (Cashew Base)

From Valeria of @NutsAboutGreens. Check out her blog and Instagram feed for everything from salads to main courses to baked goodies, all of which are family-friendly.

Classic Caesar dressing gets a nourishing, vegan remake using a creamy cashew base. This dressing gets its savory, salty, umami flavors from a surprising diversity of plant-based sources. Pair it with a classic Caesar salad (like Valeria's Caesar Salad shown above) or with any salad of your choice.

• 1 c raw cashews, soaked in hot water for 3-4 hours and then drained
• 0.75 cup water
• 2 cloves garlic
• 3-4 tbsp lemon juice (or about 1 lemon)
• 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1 tbsp capers
• 1 tbsp caper brine
• 2 tsp miso
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 0.5 tsp sea salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper

Add all the dressing ingredients to a high-power blender. Blend until smooth and creamy, adding a little more water if you want it thinner. This makes about two cups of dressing.

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Vegan Caesar Dressing (Hummus Base)

From Laura of @StreetCityVegan. Check out her Instagram feed for creative, drool-worthy vegan comfort food and the most epic sandwiches.

A Caesar dressing made from hummus?? It's a genius way to end up with a decadent, creamy, high-protein dressing (that's secretly easy too). You can use regular hummus or experiment with other flavors you think might go well, like lemon or garlic.

• 0.25 c hummus
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp capers, minced
• 2 tsp caper brine
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 0.25 tsp salt

Combine all the ingredients and mix well. You can thin the dressing out with a dash of water if desired. This makes about half a cup of dressing.

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Closing Thoughts

And there you have it: a bunch of awesome, flavorful, easy to make, good-for-the-body, plant based salad dressing recipes. We all hope you find these ideas useful, either as a specific recipe or as a base concept for your own creations. My biggest goal for this post is that these healthy salad dressing recipes will inspire you to make more salads and to fall even more in love with fresh, colorful veggies. Once you start making your own dressings at home, a whole world of healthful, flavorful, and unique options will open for you.

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Share It!

Have you made one of these delicious, flavorful, good-for-the-body vegan salad dressing recipes? If so, we'd love to see! Tag @TheRogueBrusselSprout in your post, as well as the foodie who contributed the dressing idea (you'll find everyone's Instagram handles above). We'd also love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Please let us know what dressing you made and if you tweaked it in any ways that worked nicely.