This creamy nutritional yeast dressing is a powerhouse of essential vitamins and irresistible umami flavor. It's made in minutes and tastes SO GOOD. Elevate your salads and grain bowls with it, or simply use it as a dip.
Made in minutes, this nooch dressing is an unexpected explosion of flavors - garlicky, salty, and tangy. If you're bored of your Caesar dressing and want to switch things up, give this homemade dressing a go!
💌 Why I Love This Recipe
- Addictingly cheesy: Nutritional yeast adds a delightful cheesy taste without any dairy.
- No tools required: Make it with a blender or without - your choice!
- Rich in nutrients: Brimming with B vitamins and healthy fats.
- Simple & Homemade: A great alternative to store-bought dressings.
- Very versatile: Easy to make and customize to your own taste.
🛒 Ingredients
- Nutritional Yeast Flakes: Often referred to as "nooch," these cheesy flakes are packed with vitamin B and provide a cheesy, umami flavor.
- Garlic Cloves: Fresh garlic will add that signature punch of flavor without being too overwhelming.
- Salt and Pepper: These cupboard staples will enhance the other flavors and can be adjusted to your taste.
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Creates a rich & smooth texture while providing healthy fats and a pleasant bitterness.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Bring out acidity and sharpness in equal measures. It's also rich in gut-friendly bacteria.
- Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce: Known for its umami (savory) flavor, it helps deepen the flavor and adds a bit of color.
- Brown Sugar: Adds a gentle touch of sweetness to balance the acidity and savory notes.
- Water: Adjust the consistency to your preference.
Where can I buy nutritional yeast? You can find it in large supermarkets or health stores (like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's in the US and Holland & Barrett in the UK). If you buy it regularly, I recommend getting it in bulk online to save some money.
🥄 Equipment
- Blender or Food Processor: for mixing the dressing. OR
- Whisk and Large Mixing Bowl: if you don't have a blender or prefer a chunkier texture.
👣 Steps
Hint: This is just a super quick overview. See the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post for detailed instructions and exact ingredient details.
Option 1 - Whisk
Step 1: Mix. Add all the ingredients to a medium bowl or a large jar.
Step 2: Whisk. Whisk vigorously until all the ingredients are combined and the dressing has a smooth consistency.
Option 2 - Blender
Step 1: Mix. Add all the ingredients to a blender or food processor.
Step 2: Blend. Blend on a low setting until smooth and creamy.
No blender AND no whisk? There's a third option. Add all the ingredients to an airtight container (I often use a clean nut butter jar). Secure the lid tightly and shake intensely for 10-15 seconds until combined.
👨🍳 Chef’s Tips
- Season gradually. Salt and pepper are added to taste - make sure you don't go overboard. Add them slowly, taste again after blending, and adjust if you need more.
- Add fresh herbs: Sprinkle some finely chopped herbs like parsley, cilantro, or dill for a burst of freshness and color.
- Storage: Store any leftover dressing in a sealed container or mason jar in the fridge for 4-5 days.
🤔 Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Feel free to replace extra-virgin olive oil with avocado oil or light olive oil (milder flavor).
To make this dressing GF, you will need to use gluten-free soy sauce (often available in the Free From section of your supermarket)
If stored properly (in an airtight container and in the fridge), this dressing will last for up to five days.
Remember that the oil might separate, so you'll need to shake, mix, or stir it again before using it.
🥑 Variations
- More filling - For a more substantial dressing, try adding a tablespoon or more of your favourite nut butter (peanut, cashew, almond, etc.).
- Spicy - Add some red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or even fresh chilies.
- Citrusy - Add juice from a freshly squeezed lemon for a refreshing, citrusy take.
- Extra creamy - Start with a tablespoon of tahini (sesame paste) and add more to taste.
- Smoky - Add smoked paprika.
- Healthy fats - Add half a ripe avocado for a creamy dressing filled with good fats.
🧄 Substitutes
- Garlic - Leave it out or substitute it with garlic powder or granules. You can also use onion powder.
- Brown sugar - Can easily be replaced with other types of sugar or liquid sweeteners, such as maple or agave syrup.
- Apple cider vinegar - Rice wine vinegar is the best replacement.
- Soy sauce - Tamari or coconut aminos can be used instead.
- Extra virgin olive oil—Use any other oil you like if needed. Avoid coconut oil due to its strong flavor. Sesame oil is a good option if you want a nuttier flavor.
🍽️ Serving Ideas
This nutritional yeast vinaigrette dressing can be used in many ways.
- Salads: Drizzle it over a fresh salad (like my wilted spinach or couscous salads).
- Grain Bowls: Use it as a tangy topping to buddha and grain bowls, adding flavor and creamy texture.
- Marinade: Works great as a marinade for veggies, tofu, tempeh & beyond.
- Pasta salads: The cheesy flavor naturally matches many pasta salads.
👏 More Nooch Recipes
Bought nutritional yeast but don't know how else to use it? Try out these tried & tested recipes with nooch as the star ingredient.
If you made this nutritional yeast dressing it would mean a LOT to me if you could leave a comment & star rating below - this helps more readers discover my recipes and helps me run this blog!
🍴Recipe
The BEST Creamy Nutritional Yeast Salad Dressing
EQUIPMENT
- Blender or food processor (option 1)
- Whisk (option 2)
INGREDIENTS
- 5 tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- ½ tablespoon brown sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoon water
INSTRUCTIONS
Option 1 - Blender
- Add all the ingredients to a blender or food processor.
- Blend on a low setting until smooth and creamy.
Option 2 - Whisk
- Add all the ingredients to a medium bowl or a large jar.
- Whisk vigorously until all the ingredients are combined and the dressing has a smooth consistency.
Notes
-
Tip 1 - Season gradually. Salt and pepper are added to taste - make sure you don't go overboard. Add them slowly, taste again after blending, and adjust if you need more.
- Tip 2 - Add fresh herbs: Sprinkle some finely chopped herbs like parsley, cilantro or dill for a burst of freshness and color.
- Tip 3 - Storage: Store any leftover dressing in a sealed container or mason jar in the fridge for 4-5 days.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: The nutritional information above is calculated automatically. The author of this post cannot guarantee 100% accuracy of this data.
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