Lemony Paleo Caesar Salad Dressing made dairy-free and paleo-friendly. This may just be the best Caesar Salad Dressing recipe you’ve ever tasted!
For YEARS, I have been in hot pursuit of the perfect homemade Caesar salad dressing recipe. Well. By George, I think I’ve got it!
Obviously “the best” and “perfect” are up to individual interpretation, so let me just tell you what “perfect” means to me in regards to a Caesar dressing.
- More vinaigrette-like than creamy/ranch-like
- SUPER flavorful
- Lemon-forward
- Definitely includes anchovy paste (it really isn’t a Caesar without in my opinion!)
- Less mayonnaise
- Perfect amount of garlic
Most recipes for Caesar salad dressing call for a lot of mayonnaise and canola oil. I go very light on the mayo here (1 Tbsp only) and use avocado oil instead of canola.
The big flavors come from the lemon juice and anchovy paste. The zesty sting is offset by a touch of pure maple syrup (which you can omit if you are keeping it keto). All ingredients combined leaves you with a super fresh and flavorful healthy dressing that is perfect for all your salad needs.
Ingredients for Caesar Salad Dressing:
Garlic: Lends a great deal of flavor to any salad dressing. I don’t recommend skipping it unless you follow a Low-FODMAP diet…in which case, replace it with an additional tablespoon of stone ground mustard.
Lemon Juice: The star of the show here. The lemon juice boosts the flavor of the dressing and makes it taste extra fresh. Plus, haven’t you heard? Lemon juice is fabulous for digestion and has a kick of Vitamin C.
Avocado Oil: My preference for cooking in general, avocado oil is super light in flavor, which allows the other flavors of a dressing to shine through. Plus, it includes healthy fats.
Mayonnaise: don’t freak out, it’s only 1 Tbsp. If you’re like me and you can’t stand mayo, I get it. We use just a smidge in this recipe to help bind all the ingredients together and keep the texture creamy and uniform.
Anchovy Paste: A little goes a long way! Even if you think you don’t like anchovies, I recommend at least trying it! You can scale it down if need be, but the anchovy paste is what gives the dressing that unmistakable CAESAR flair. I buy mine in a tube in the canned meats section of the grocery store.
Stone Ground Mustard: Adds additional tangy flavor. You can use dijon mustard as well!
Pure Maple Syrup: Not super mandatory, but recommended. You don’t even notice the dressing is particularly sweet with the maple syrup, but without it, you notice the acidity much more. If you follow a low-carb diet or prefer a zero sugar-diet, you can skip it or replace it with a sugar-free sweetener
Parmesan Cheese is an optional add-in. I leave it out because I don’t eat dairy, but for those of you who tolerate dairy well, I HIGHLY recommend the parm! It really adds that authentic Caesar essence.
How to Make Lemony Caesar Salad Dressing:
Add all the ingredients to a small blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to a jar and refrigerate until ready to use.
More Healthy Salad Dressing Recipes:
- 3 Carb-Conscious Salad Dressing Recipes
- Vegan Buttermilk Salad Dressing
- Mayo-Free Green Goddess Dressing
- Creamy Raspberry Vinaigrette
Stay tuned for an epic Caesar Salad Recipe!
Get your Caesar on!
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Lemony Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/3 cup avocado oil
- 1 Tbsp avocado oil mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp anchovy paste
- 2 tsp stone ground mustard
- 2 tsp pure maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp sea salt to taste
- 2 Tbsp parmesan grated, optional
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a small blender and blend until smooth. Taste for flavor and add more sea salt, anchovy paste, and/or mustard to taste. Transfer to a jar and refrigerate until ready to use.
This sounds lovely. How long can this be stored in the fridge?
Hi Anastasia! You can store it for up to 1 week. The dressing should last much longer than that, but I usually play it safe and pitch it if it lasts longer than a week. Enjoy! xo
wow, haven’t really had an alternative to the traditional dressing, thank you, love all of these ingredient swaps, great research and development!
My pleasure! I hope you love this version!