whole food plant-based Caesar dressing

Our family has a lifelong craving for the tangy lip-smacking Caesar. This dressing hits the spot.

Ingredients

4 garlic cloves, pressed
6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons vegan fish sauce (or 1 t coconut aminos and 1 t low sodium GF tamari)
5 tablespoons nutritional yeast
¼ teaspoon salt
Dash cayenne
½ cup cooked chickpeas, unseasoned (or half chickpeas, half white beans, if available)
Freshly ground black pepper, 10 grinds

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a high-powered blender, such as Vitamix, Nutribullet or Ninja.  Blend until smooth.

What is Nutritional Yeast?

Nutritional yeast is a deactivated dried yeast used as a condiment and nutritional supplement; known for nutty or cheesy flavor. Dried nutritional yeast is an excellent natural source of B complex vitamins (except for B12) plus a variety of minerals. Look for yeast that has been processed at low temperatures. Yeast does not contribute to candida as has been claimed; candida feeds on refined carbohydrates, not yeast. The late eminent physician Dr. Henry Bieler treated many cases of chronic fatigue with yeast supplements. Many brands, including Bob’s Red Mill, fortify the nutritional yeast with synthetic B-vitamins. There are a few unfortified brands available, Sari Foods is one that I use.

Note of Caution:

Individuals with a yeast allergy or Crohn’s disease should avoid nutritional yeast.  If you have celiac disease, I recommend calling the manufacturer to inquire about their testing processes.   Nutritional yeast is occasionally grown using a medium that contains grains. Therefore, cross-contamination with gluten can occur. You can also look for a certified gluten-free brand.

This recipe qualifies for the whole-food plant-based (WFPB) designation, meaning that it is made of only of whole plant foods and does not contain any extracted ingredients, such as sugar or oil, that would damage the body’s endothelium (the inner most lining of the arteries).