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Spicy Cashew Dressing

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kale salad with sliced chicken breasts on platter

Inspired by my favoriteee dressing at Sweet Green! The best creamy spicy cashew dressing (paleo and vegan, too)!

If you’ve had the cashew dressing at Sweet Green and are obsessed like I am, this will now be your new favorite recipe. It tastes like the real deal, and it’s easy to make! No soaking of cashew required, as long as you’ve got a high speed blender!

kale salad with sliced chicken breasts on platter
kale salad with sliced chicken breasts on platter

One bite of this and you’ll be hooked!

You just toss everything into a blender, and in a minute or so you’ve got the best ever creamy dressing. The flavor is insane, and it goes so well with so many salads and bowls. Pictures here with some kale and blackened chicken, but you can toss it with any salad, or try it on veggie + rice/quinoa bowls! I love having a batch of this in the fridge at all times. So good!

kale salad with sliced chicken breasts on platter

Homemade dressings are the way to go! It helps to avoid unnecessary additives, weird oils, or any other junk you might find in store bought. This dressing also provides a good source of healthy fat to your meal, making whatever salad or bowl you’re having more filling and satisfying. It’s a flavor win, AND a nutrition win!

I know so many of you have been waiting for me to get this transferred from the old site! Forgive my slowness and thanks for waiting 🙂 You guys are the best!

Enjoy! xx

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Spicy Cashew Dressing

★★★★★ 5 from 18 reviews
  • Author: Mia Zarlengo
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
  • Category: Lunch, Dinner
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Description

The best spicy cashew dressing!

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup + 2 tbsp raw cashews
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 3 tbsp filtered water
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar (can sub white vinegar)
  • 2 tbsp tamari or coconut aminos (can sub soy sauce)
  • 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tsp ginger, minced or grated
  • 1 tsp siracha (more for more spice)
  • Sea salt, to taste
  • Optional: 1 tsp of red pepper flakes (if you like more spice)

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients to a high speed blender. Blend until smooth.
  2. If dressing is too thick, add up to 2 more tbsp water. Taste and adjust salt/spice level to preference. 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  7. I literally make this all the time! And every time I do someone asks for the recipe! So yummy. Good as a dip or a dressing 🙂

    ★★★★★

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  10. Obsessed with this dressing! I looked around for a long time online after trying to find a good, easy to make version of this dressing from Sweetgreen. I was thrilled after trying this, and have now made it so many times since I can’t even keep track. SO good, thanks, Mia!!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  11. Can’t wait to try making this tomorrow! Do you know the calories for this? Also what do you do with 2 tbsp raw cashews or 1/3 cup plus 2tbsp? Thank you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

    • I don’t know the calories on this! Also, do you mean the 1/32 cup + 2 tbsp cashes in the ingredient list? They go in the blender as well!

      Reply

  12. You got this right on! Sweetgreens is my favorite and their spicy cashew dressing is what makes me keep coming back for more. I made yours and instantly knew you got the proportions right. I always throw a little more Sriacha for a spicier twist! Thank you!

    ★★★★★

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  13. Hello! I’ve been searching for the Sweet Green Spicy Cashew dressing for ages and stumbled across your recipe…I just tried it and it tastes EXACTLY like the one used in their Spicy Thai salad. Thank you ever so much 🙂

    ★★★★★

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  14. this is delicious! I did not add siracha to mine. For those of you that a calorie counting, I put it in my app and it came to 51 calories per tablespoon. 1.4g protein, 3.8g fat, 3.1g carbs.

    ★★★★★

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  15. This is the best addition to all of my meal prep plans! Easy to make, good enough to eat with a spoon (which I definitely did), and was so great to have on hand for not only salads, but to add to roasted veggie bowls or drizzle on tacos. I’d say it’s better than sweetgreen’s, and I love knowing exactly what’s in it!

    ★★★★★

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  16. My favorite salad dressing!!! I always make a double (or triple…) batch. So creamy, and I used a little bit less water than called for so this could double as a dip with veggies. Delicious!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  17. Hi,

    Love the recipe thanks, could you recommend anything else instead of the siracha sauce, for the spice ? trying to get it close to sweetgreens spicy cashew !

    Thanks !!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  18. Hi! Can’t wait to make this! Can I used cashews that have been soaked? I soaked too many for my Cashew Cream!
    Thanks!

    Reply

  19. I had to make a couple of edits to this recipe due to available ingredients/preferences. I subbed the sriracha for Olek Sambal Chili Paste (and I added a lot because I love spice!) and I left out the Nutritional Yeast because my stomach can’t tolerate it, but this was absolutely delicious and will totally satisfy my Sweetgreen cravings! Finally!! The only problem is I now have a ton of dressing to get through in one week – any idea how well this freezes?

    ★★★★★

    Reply

    • I’m so glad you enjoyed this!! I actually have not tried freezing it so I can’t say for sure, but it may be ok!

      Reply

  20. I made a homemade vegan version of ‘shroomami salad and added this dressing. Omggg, delicious! And maybe even better than sweetgreen 🤫😁! All I had on hand for sesame oil was a hot pepper sesame oil, which for me the spicier the better! Thanks!

    Reply

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