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

  • Author: Mia Zarlengo
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 46 servings 1x
  • Category: Lunch, Dinner

Description

The best spicy cashew dressing!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 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. 

Appetizers + Sides, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Lunch + Dinner, Paleo, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Category:

Dec 10, 2019

Copycat SweetGreen Spicy Cashew Dressing

Did you make this recipe? Be sure to tag @gatherednutrition on INstagram so I can see what you made! Leaving a rating and review on the site is a huge help too!

  1. Jessica says:

    How long will this keep in the refrigerator?

  2. Calla says:

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

  3. Clarissa says:

    AMAZING! This is just like the Sweetgreens spicy cashew dressing. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  4. Julia says:

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

    • Lotus says:

      I am too obsessed with the Sweet Greens version as well… just made this recipe for home and it is delicious… new fav!!

  5. Jenn says:

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

  6. Molly C says:

    Addicting and good with everything.

  7. Hilary says:

    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 🙂

  8. Heather says:

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

  9. Kendall says:

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

  10. Stephanie says:

    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!!!

  11. Veronica Lori says:

    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!

    • Mia Zarlengo says:

      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!

  12. Phaids says:

    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!

  13. Tam says:

    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 🙂

  14. lisa says:

    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.

  15. Cassi says:

    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!

  16. Alexandra says:

    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!

  17. David says:

    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 !!

  18. Hannah says:

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

  19. Victoria says:

    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?

    • Mia Zarlengo says:

      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!

  20. Mally says:

    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!

  21. Lucy says:

    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.

  22. Elisa says:

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

  23. Victoria says:

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

    • Mia Zarlengo says:

      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!

  24. Kinsley says:

    Soooo good! More sweetgreens dupe recipes please!

  25. sandra dzmura says:

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

  26. Erum says:

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

  27. Seeta says:

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

  28. Amanda says:

    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!

  29. Maia says:

    absolutely delish, I will be making this again!

  30. Rachel says:

    Love the flavor and it literally goes on everything !

  31. Jillian says:

    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!

  32. Samantha says:

    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!!

  33. Charlie says:

    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!

  34. jasmine says:

    This was amazing and super easy to make (+++ when you don’t have to pre-soak cashews!!). It made quite a bit, enough for about 7 servings, so I ate it like everyday last week (no complaints cause it’s super yummy and versatile). Would suggest halfing the batch if you’re just cooking for one though.

  35. Meg says:

    This dressing is hands down one of best I’ve ever made!! So addicting & yummy

  36. Calli says:

    Oooh, only make this if you don’t mind making whatever you put it on into dessert. It is SOOO sweet. I made it to the instructions but subbed lemon for lime as I didn’t have lime.

    • Mia Zarlengo says:

      Hi Calli. I have not heard this from anyone else, I’m sorry you didn’t like it! I do think lime compliments the flavors here better but I’m sorry you found it too sweet!

  37. Lakecia says:

    Where can I find nutritional yeast?

  38. Stephanie Santucci says:

    Can I just start by saying all of your recipes are incredible? I can’t remember the last time I felt satisfied after eating a salad I made for myself – this dressing is to die for! I know I can always trust your recipes, I’ve made so many of them and have loved and recommended them all to friends. Keep doing what you’re doing, it’s truly appreciated!

  39. Hada says:

    Any idea how many calories/fat per serving?

  40. Mackenzie says:

    So good!!!! We’re obsessed! Just like it. Didn’t have raw cashews but subbed unsalted roasted and it was still delish!

  41. Audrey says:

    This dressing is seriously out of this world! I keep trying to make other salads with different dressings but I don’t think anything will ever come close. Has anyone tried making this with something other than cashews or have any recommendations? I have a friend that is allergic and wanted to try an alternate for her.

  42. Sarah says:

    This sounds delish – can you give the nutritional info?

  43. Jena says:

    Hi Mia. Would you be willing to share how to prepared the blackened chicken for this recipe? It looks so good and I definitely want to pair it with this dressing!

  44. neha says:

    What is the purpose of the nutritional yeast? I’ve never used that ingredient before… or can it be left out?

    • Mia Zarlengo says:

      It adds a specific type of savory flavor while still being dairy free! You can try skipping it, although it may change the flavor a little bit!

  45. Kelly Phan says:

    I tried this recipe for dinner tonight and it did not disappoint! It’s amazing😍

  46. Courtney says:

    This is the BEST dressing!

  47. Greta says:

    We loved this recipe. Just one thing I discovered. Cashews are in the Anacardiaceae (along with mangos and poison ivy) and I got a rash on the roof of my mouth and on my lips. I’ll try roasted unsalted next time. Only sharing in case someone else has a similar reaction to the raw cashews.

  48. Julia says:

    You knocked it out of the park on this one! My husb and I were licking our plates clean after dinner tonight.

    Delish!

  49. Stephanie says:

    Delicious! Super fresh and tastes just like SweetGreen!

  50. Katie says:

    I tried this today after seeing your Instagram reel and it is AMAZING! So easy to just blend everything up and the flavor is spot on. I even used frozen cashews and it worked perfectly in my vitamix.

  51. Kate says:

    This is so good!!! I would call it 90% accurate to sweetgreen’s version. I crave their dressing so often and now I can make it myself. Made this for my parents and brother over a big salad and everyone was a huge fan.

  52. Drew says:

    I’ve made this easily 20 times and it always hits the spot. About 90% accurate to the true SG flavor, as mentioned above.

  53. Mia says:

    I’ve made this a bunch of times and it’s always been a hit. I added however a cup of cilantro. I noticed the Sweet Green recipe has specs of cilantro in it.

  54. Rahcel says:

    This is so good, identical to sweet green. You’re a genius!

  55. Elena says:

    Has anyone tried making this with cashew butter rather then soaked cashews? 🙂

  56. Caroline says:

    Wow!!! I’ve tried like 3 different spicy cashew dupe recipes and none of them were good. This is PERFECT! I am so excited….moved away from a sweetgreen and I crave it all the time! Thank you!!!

  57. Nalini says:

    This dressing is amazing. I’m addicted to sweet green and this is the exact match to their spicy cashew dressing!

  58. Allie says:

    This was hella good. I ordered sweetgreen and they dropped the ball and forgot the dressing, so I figured, why not try to make it myself? I found this recipe and then realized I didn’t have any cashews…I did have pistachios though so subbed those in and it turned out delicious! Stoked to have this in my salad dressing lineup now 🙂

  59. af says:

    Tastes exactly like the sweetgreen one!! I didn’t have nutritional yeast but I don’t think you need it. I also used soy sauce instead and felt it was too strong – will use 1 tsp instead of 2. I also added more water in my version but all around so great!

  60. Ally says:

    Do you soak the cashews before you add them to the blender?

  61. Kayla says:

    Such a good dressing! I make this dressing and add it to my meal prep bowls for lunches for the week – quinoa, Cruciferous Crunch mix from TJ’s, and either fried eggs or hard boiled eggs for protein. The flavor is amazing and makes such satisfying meals

  62. Zurovast says:

    Thank you for the recipe. From the recipe, it sounded good. I had no Sriracha and still it tasted fine. I soaked the cashews for a smooth consistency and less of a taste.

  63. Anar shah says:

    Absolutely love it

  64. Becca says:

    YUM! Thank you for this copycat dressing! Now I can successfully make my Sweetgreen salad at home.

  65. Joanna Gonzalez says:

    While the dressing is tasty, it does not taste anything. Like sweet greens, the sesame oil was overbearing.

  66. Theo says:

    I am obsessed with this recipe. I’ve been eating a salad for lunch with this dressing for the past 2 months. It doesn’t get old. So happy I found this recipe

  67. Ivy says:

    This tastes just like the dressing from Sweetgreen and it’s so easy to make. Thank you so much!

  68. Bianca Johnson says:

    Truthfully, I was not expecting this to taste anything like the sweetgreen dressing but holy moly. It’s almost identical.
    No more paying $10+ for a salad just to get the dressing.

  69. Erica says:

    Just made this. Yum, yum, yum. Can’t wait to put it on my super green goddess salad.

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Simple. Attainable. Gathered Nutrition.