Vegan Avocado Salad Dressing
This Vegan Avocado Salad Dressing is both healthy and delicious! This recipe combines avocado with olive oil, lemon juice, maple syrup, and herbs to create a flavorful and nutritious dressing that can also be served as a dip. It is perfect for salads or as part of a healthy snack.
Did you know that fresh avocado can be used as a base for salad dressing? Avocado is great for this because it has a buttery texture and can be mixed with other ingredients to create an ultra-creamy sauce.
This avocado dressing is delicious on salads but it can also be used as a dip for crackers or vegetables. It is a great vegan alternative to ranch dressing or hummus!
This salad dressing is vegan and gluten-free, so it’s great for people who have special diets or food allergies. It’s made with simple ingredients like olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs which makes it not only healthy but easy to make!
Ready to learn how to make a vegan dressing with avocado? Let’s do it!
🥑Ingredients
- Avocado – Smashed avocado makes up the base of this dressing adding a creamy texture and a dose of healthy fats and fiber.
- Spring Onions – A layer of light onion flavor coming from the green shoots of spring onions gives this dressing a great taste.
- Water – Helps thin out the avocado to make it a dressing texture.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Also adds healthy fats along with a rich texture that helps all of the ingredients blend together.
- Lemon Juice – The juice of fresh lemon not only keeps the dressing from turning brown but also adds a refreshing pop of citrus flavor.
- Maple Syrup – A touch of natural sweetener like maple syrup balances out the tanginess of lemon juice and adds a hint of sweetness to this dressing while keeping it vegan.
- Fresh Garlic – A clove of fresh garlic helps to round out the flavors and add a touch of zing.
- Sea Salt – Salt is necessary for any dressing and it really brings out all the flavors in this one.
- Fresh Herbs – A mix of freshly chopped parsley and basil add a refreshing herbaceous taste to the dressing. You can use any herbs that you have on hand.
🥣 How to make avocado salad dressing
1️⃣ Step One: Prepare the vegetables
Remove the skin and pits from ripe avocado and smash it using a fork into a bowl. Chop up the herbs, spring onions, and fresh garlic.
2️⃣ Step Two: Blend in food processor
Add all of the prepared ingredients to a food processor along with the liquid. Pulse at first to break up the avocado, then bring up the speed until a smooth and creamy dressing is created. Use immediately or store.
👩🏻🍳 Chef’s Tips & Flavor Variations
- Make sure your avocado is ripe before mashing. An underripe avocado will be harder to smash and may have a bitter taste.
- You can use any fresh herbs you like for this recipe. Parsley and basil are great choices but dill, chives, or cilantro would also work well!
- If you don’t have fresh herbs on hand, you can also use them in their dried form. Since dried herbs have a stronger taste, always add a little then taste and adjust.
- Instead of lemon juice, try using fresh lime juice to change up the flavor.
- Add a little more maple syrup if you want a sweet avocado dressing.
- Agave syrup can be used as a substitute for maple syrup.
- If you want a more acidic dressing, add more lemon juice.
- This vegan avocado salad dressing recipe can also be made in a blender if you don’t have a food processor. Just make sure to blend until completely smooth.
- To make an oil-free avocado dressing, simply omit the olive oil and continue to add water until the desired consistency is reached.
🧊Storing & Freezing
Storing: To store any leftovers, place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to three days.
Freezing: The dressing can also be frozen for future use. Just put it in a sealed bag or container with as much air removed as possible and freeze for up to two months. When you’re ready to use, let thaw overnight in the fridge. Whip it back up in a bowl until creamy.
❔FAQ
This dressing is a great way to use up any ripe avocado that is on the verge of going bad as they make a naturally creamy dressing.
Yes! Avocado makes a great base for salad dressings because not only does it add creaminess, but also lots of good fats and fiber too. You can make this vegan avocado dressing recipe healthier by using light olive oil or avocado oil instead of extra virgin olive oil.
If stored in an airtight container, this vegan avocado salad dressing will last in the fridge for up to three days. It can also be frozen for up to two months.
Avocado ranch dressing is typically made using avocado, mayonnaise (or vegan mayo), non-dairy milk, lemon juice, and herbs. You can add a mix of ranch-style herbs such as fresh dill and parsley to create a vegan avocado-ranch.
Vegan Avocado Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 cup avocado mashed, from about 1.5 avocados
- ½ cup spring onions dark green shoots only
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp pure maple syrup
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ¼ cup fresh basil
- ¼ cup fresh parsley
- 1 pinch sea salt to taste
Instructions
1️⃣ Step One: Prepare the vegetables
- Remove the skin and pits from ripe avocado and smash it using a fork into a bowl. Chop up the herbs, spring onions, and fresh garlic.
2️⃣ Step Two: Blend in food processor
- Add all of the prepared ingredients to a food processor along with the liquid. Pulse at first to break up the avocado, then bring up the speed until a smooth and creamy dressing is created. Use immediately or store.
Yum! I love avacado! This looks delicious!
Thanks, Crystal! It’s a great dressing for those of us who love avocado!
This looks so fresh and healthy. It looks like a good dipping sauce for chips as well. Thanks for sharing xxx
Thanks so much, Josie! Using it as a dipping sauce is a delicious idea!