Salads have incredible potential. They are infinitely customizable and completely satisfying, given the right ingredients. One of the key factors that take a boring salad to an epic salad is the dressing. Whether you toss, drizzle, or dip, dressings can elevate even the blandest iceberg to something delicious and even crave-worthy. We’ve rounded up the best, easy-to-make vegan salad dressings to ensure you never have to crunch through a sad salad again.
9 Easy Vegan Salad Dressings for Summer Salads
1. Greek Dressing
No Greek salad is complete without its proper dressing. Drizzle this Mediterranean-style dressing over a bowl of chopped romaine, kalamata olives, tomatoes, and cucumbers for a light yet delicious lunch. To get even more authentic, top with some vegan feta cheese, like VioLife.
Get the recipe here.
2. Spicy Lemon Olive Oil Dressing
The classic lemon and olive oil emulsion is so basic. Spice things up with this twist on the culinary classic. Simply add a pinch of red pepper flakes to your lemon and olive oil mixture and whisk like crazy. This neutral dressing works well on almost any green. For a unique salad with some punch, roast your favorite veggies with a light coating of this dressing, then serve them on a bed of your favorite lettuce.
Get the recipe here.
3. Maple Tahini Dressing
Move over ranch, this creamy tahini-maple dressing is our new salad staple. This thick, luxurious, and slightly sweet dressing may have you licking the spoon… or at least dunking veggie sticks into it. We love massaging it into a raw kale salad and letting it sit for a few hours to transform tough kale into a tender treat.
Get the recipe here.
4. Garlic Soy Maple Dressing
This Asian-inspired mixture doubles as a dressing and a marinade. Use it to add flavor to Asian cabbage salads and slaws, or marinate tofu and tempeh to give your vegan protein some extra kick.
Get the recipe here.
5. Caesar Dressing
The classic Caesar-style dressing typically involves anchovies, giving it that umami flavor the whole world seems to adore. This recipe attains that sample savory taste… without the pureed fish. It’s a crowd-pleaser for sure. Toss it with a bunch of chopped romaine or massaged kale and your guests may lick the salad bowl clean.
Get the recipe here.
6. Classic Ranch Dressing
For the kid at heart, the one who would only touch a vegetable if it was slathered in ranch, this is for them. It’s the perfect accompaniment for romaine, carrot sticks, and cucumber slices, but it’s also terrific for slathering on sandwiches for a harmonious sandwich-and-salad-combo.
Get the recipe here.
7. Thai Peanut Dressing
Peanut dressing is essentially the liquid equivalent to peanut butter, but with a bit more kick. It’s liquid gold. Toss it with cabbage or lettuce for a Thai-inspired salad, use it as a marinade for tofu, or turn it into a dipping sauce for veggie-packed spring rolls.
Get the recipe here
8. Cilantro Lime Dressing
You don’t need cream to make a creamy dressing. This recipe relies on the popular avocado for its creamy texture. A squirt of lime, cumin, and a handful of cilantro make this a must for taco salads. Chop up some romaine and top with tomatoes, black beans, tomatoes, and corn, then go wild with this dressing.
Get the recipe here.
9. No-Honey Mustard Dressing
You are three ingredients away from the dressing that may change your life. For the salad-haters, whip up this simple yet satisfying no-honey mustard and be prepared to crave salad on the daily. We love it over massaged kale, romaine, spinach… you get the picture. Don’t worry about leftovers. This dressing is also a terrific dip for vegan chicken nuggets. Because some days are salad days, and others are not.
Get the recipe here.
Image Credit: Minimalist Baker
