• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

gathered nutrition

  • About
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch + Dinner
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks
    • Dessert
  • Wellness
    • Skincare and Beauty
  • Favorites
    • Discount Codes
    • Kitchen Essentials
    • Chicago Restaurants
  • Contact

Spicy Cashew Dressing

December 10, 2019 by Mia Zarlengo 50 Comments

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 šŸ™‚ You guys are the best!

Enjoy! xx

Print
clock clock icon cutlery cutlery icon flag flag icon folder folder icon instagram instagram icon pinterest pinterest icon facebook facebook icon print print icon squares squares icon

Spicy Cashew Dressing

★★★★★ 4.9 from 28 reviews
  • Author: Mia Zarlengo
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
  • Category: Lunch, Dinner
Print
Pin

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.Ā 

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @gatherednutrition on Instagram

Filed Under: Lunch + Dinner, Recipes, Side Dishes

Previous Post: « Biscuit Topped Chili
Next Post: No Sugar Added Paleo Orange Cashew Chicken »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jessica

    December 17, 2019 at 1:17 pm

    How long will this keep in the refrigerator?

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Mia Zarlengo

      December 17, 2019 at 4:31 pm

      Up to 1 week šŸ™‚

      Reply
  2. Calla

    December 22, 2019 at 2:25 pm

    MY NEW FAVORITE DRESSING! Definitely going to be a weekly staple from now on. Thanks for the recipe!!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Mia Zarlengo

      December 23, 2019 at 2:03 am

      Thank you Calla!! So happy you love it xoxoxo

      Reply
  3. Clarissa

    January 18, 2020 at 9:42 pm

    AMAZING! This is just like the Sweetgreens spicy cashew dressing. Thanks for sharing šŸ™‚

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Mia Zarlengo

      January 20, 2020 at 8:21 pm

      Love hearing this!! Thank you Clarissa šŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. Julia

    January 21, 2020 at 5:21 pm

    Best dressing ever. It’s shockingly easy and tastes amazing!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  5. Jenn

    January 21, 2020 at 5:42 pm

    This is a great dressing to make for weekly meal prep!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  6. Molly C

    January 21, 2020 at 7:53 pm

    Addicting and good with everything.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  7. Hilary

    January 22, 2020 at 4:30 am

    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 šŸ™‚

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  8. Heather

    January 22, 2020 at 8:20 pm

    Delicious! So many different variations of base salad you can use this dressing for.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Mia Zarlengo

      January 23, 2020 at 11:05 am

      Thank you Heather! xo

      Reply
  9. Kendall

    January 26, 2020 at 4:25 pm

    LOVE LOVE LOVE! This dressing is delicious & so easy to make. Definitely a new go-to!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Mia Zarlengo

      January 27, 2020 at 5:20 pm

      Yay! Thank you Kendall! xo

      Reply
  10. Stephanie

    February 14, 2020 at 6:06 pm

    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. Veronica Lori

    February 22, 2020 at 2:25 am

    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
    • Mia Zarlengo

      February 22, 2020 at 7:51 pm

      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. Phaids

    March 3, 2020 at 5:34 pm

    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!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Mia Zarlengo

      March 4, 2020 at 4:36 pm

      Sucha compliment!! Thank you so much šŸ™‚ The spicier the better!

      Reply
  13. Tam

    March 8, 2020 at 9:10 pm

    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 šŸ™‚

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Mia Zarlengo

      March 9, 2020 at 9:11 pm

      Ah I’m so glad you stumbled on this recipe Tam šŸ™‚ Such a sweet compliment. Thank you!!

      Reply
  14. lisa

    March 28, 2020 at 3:18 pm

    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.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Mia Zarlengo

      March 28, 2020 at 4:07 pm

      Thanks for the note Lisa! Glad you loved it šŸ™‚

      Reply
  15. Cassi

    March 28, 2020 at 5:29 pm

    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!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  16. Alexandra

    April 3, 2020 at 12:20 pm

    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. David

    May 6, 2020 at 9:55 am

    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
    • Mia Zarlengo

      May 6, 2020 at 11:35 am

      The sriracha is what I like to use to get it closest to Sweet Green! You could probably try substituting hot sauce, but I haven’t tried it!

      Reply
    • Mally

      June 16, 2020 at 9:25 pm

      So I used a hot pepper sesame oil and still yummy.

      Reply
      • Mia Zarlengo

        June 17, 2020 at 2:08 pm

        Yum!! That sounds delish with this!!

        Reply
  18. Hannah

    May 13, 2020 at 1:40 pm

    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
    • Mia Zarlengo

      May 13, 2020 at 2:19 pm

      Yes you can!

      Reply
  19. Victoria

    May 18, 2020 at 5:27 pm

    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
    • Mia Zarlengo

      May 19, 2020 at 3:42 pm

      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. Mally

    June 16, 2020 at 9:21 pm

    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
  21. Lucy

    September 1, 2020 at 4:59 pm

    I don’t understand how this recipe has so many five-star reviews. Unfortunately, this was a serious miss for me. The texture was like watered-down cashew butter, and the flavor of the nutritional yeast was overpowering everything else. Most importantly, the flavor was completely off from what this recipe claims to be a “copycat” of. It was so unpalatable that I threw it away even after multiple attempts to improve.

    ★★

    Reply
    • Mia Zarlengo

      September 1, 2020 at 9:44 pm

      I’m sorry you felt that way! I’m not sure what went wrong!

      Reply
  22. Elisa

    September 11, 2020 at 2:32 am

    So good! Tastes just like the dressing I absolutely love from my favourite restaurant in town! Thank you! šŸ™‚

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  23. Victoria

    October 13, 2020 at 3:19 am

    Do you have a good substitute for the nutritional yeast??

    Reply
    • Mia Zarlengo

      October 13, 2020 at 2:13 pm

      for this recipe there isn’t a great sub, but in a pinch you can leave it out but you will probably need to season it more for better flavor! i haven’t tried it without it!

      Reply
  24. Kinsley

    October 13, 2020 at 11:59 pm

    Soooo good! More sweetgreens dupe recipes please!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  25. sandra dzmura

    October 17, 2020 at 4:30 pm

    This dressing is amazing it tastes exactly like the one at Sweetgreen!! I will make this in the future for sure!

    Reply
  26. Erum

    October 18, 2020 at 10:24 pm

    Followed the recipe exactly and it came out great. So good tossed with chickpea pasta and roasted veggies!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  27. Seeta

    October 19, 2020 at 9:01 pm

    This really tastes like the Sweetgreen dressing! Love it! Thank you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Mia Zarlengo

      October 20, 2020 at 5:00 pm

      Love to hear that! Thank you so much šŸ™‚

      Reply
  28. Amanda

    October 27, 2020 at 4:16 pm

    OMG can’t believe I waited so long to try this. I used Sambal Oelek instead of Sriracha (not a huge sriracha fan) and its amazing!

    Reply
  29. Maia

    November 2, 2020 at 11:13 pm

    absolutely delish, I will be making this again!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  30. Rachel

    November 2, 2020 at 11:54 pm

    Love the flavor and it literally goes on everything !

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  31. Jillian

    November 24, 2020 at 9:49 pm

    I was eating this by the spoonful!! I put it on some roasted winter veggies and omgggg. I also threw some on a salad. I also stirred some into cauliflower fried rice. Amazing!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  32. Samantha

    November 28, 2020 at 11:56 pm

    Was looking for a re-creation of the spicy cashew dressing from Sweet Green and this is spot on!! Did add a few tbs of water to thin it out. So good!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  33. Charlie

    January 4, 2021 at 1:00 am

    Thank you for this recipe! I’ve made it four times this month, and I keep experimenting with different forms of heat as substitute for sriracha. My favorites so far have been 1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper (for a real kick), and a teaspoon lao gan ma for a more subtle heat and earthy flavor. I look forward to checking out your other recipes!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Mia Zarlengo Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

About me

Welcome! I am so happy you chose to gather around my table. My name is Mia Zarlengo, and I am a registered dietitian with a passion for simple healthy recipes, women's hormonal health, and overall wellness! Read More…

Click for my kitchen essentials

Click for my restaurant guide to Chicago

Follow me!

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

gatherednutrition

by Mia Swinehart, MS, RD, LDN
hi my first ever youtube video is live! it’s a g hi my first ever youtube video is live! it’s a grocery haul šŸ’•šŸ’ 

linked in stories!
cherry ice cream smoothies for 2 šŸ’šŸ¦our curre cherry ice cream smoothies for 2 šŸ’šŸ¦our current fave. i finally put this one up on the blog!  this smoothie is packed with antioxidants + healthy fats for a filling and energizing smoothie. be sure not to skip the almond extract- it gives it the best flavor!! link in bio! 

https://gatherednutrition.com/cherry-ice-cream-smoothie-vegan-paleo/
definitely not here to brag about my summer roll w definitely not here to brag about my summer roll wrapping game (🄲), BUT you do need this spicy almond butter sauce in your life!! this is one of my weekly go-to meals. i use whatever i have on hand- these have butter lettuce, shredded cabbage, bell pepper, and air fried tofu. so perfect!! you can also make the sauce nut free with sunflower butter- link in bio for the recipe! 

for the tofu:
press out liquid, slice into strips, and spray with a little avocado oil. season with any seasonings you like, then air fry at 400 for 10 mins or so until crisp. they will puff up a lot but deflate once out of the air fryer! 

https://gatherednutrition.com/simple-spicy-almond-butter-sauce/
truly the best banana bread you will ever make. tr truly the best banana bread you will ever make. trust me!! you would never know this is gluten free. it’s so soft, fluffy, and moist (yea i said it!). my fave way is with the walnuts- it tastes like the most amazing banana nut muffin from a bakery. you can also do chocolate chips! one of my all time favorite recipes on the blog. link in bio! 

note: i do not recommend any substitutions that are not listed in the recipe! changing the flours will result in a different texture šŸ¤

 https://gatherednutrition.com/the-best-banana-bread/

Privacy Policy

Footer

Gathered Nutrition, Inc.

Copyright © 2021 gathered nutrition on the Foodie Pro Theme