Check ingredients Add all ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth.
Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking by adding more pickle juice for a stronger flavour, garlic for spiciness, apple cider vinegar for acidity and salt for saltiness.
If the dressing is too thick to your liking, add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
Enjoy on salads, as a dip or a sauce for my Panko Crusted Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Bites.
Soaking your cashews is a must - especially if you don’t have a high speed blender. If you are in a rush, soak them in boiling water for 30 minutes before making this dressing. Drain and use as directed. If you plan to make this recipe in advance, simply soak them in room temperature water overnight before using them.
Is there a replacement for pickle juice? YES - Caper juice. It is also delicious, tangy and I think it would work wonderfully well here.
Can I make this recipe with any other nuts? I would say stick with the cashews, when blended they have such a wonderful creamy texture compared to other nuts that may remain quite grainy even after extensive blending.
This dressing came together as a total accident. One evening, I was trying to put together a creamy dressing that resembled a ranch sauce but having only a few of its traditional ingredients on hand, I quickly gave up the idea and decided to simply invent a creamy dressing from scratch.
I know from experience that pickle juice is a liquid that is totally underrated in the kitchen. That little brine is TAAAASTY! I have personally been using it for year as a liquid element and flavour enhancer in my dressings. Because it is slightly tangy, salty and garlicky, it is a great base to build flavour upon.
As for the rest of the ingredients, they are rather simple and most likely already in your pantry so you won’t have to go out and buy them.
The cashews act as the base of this recipe. When blended, they become extremely creamy and their richness is what makes this dressing rich and indulging.
In terms of flavour profile, I personally like a dressing that has more of a kick rather than being sweet. That is why this recipe has not 1, not 2, not 3, but FOUR tangy elements: apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, garlic cloves and pickle juice. On top of that, I added in some raw yellow onion for a deeper flavour profile and to add a touch of sweetness to this dressing – yep, I know it might be counter-intuitive to say that onions add sweetness, but trust me they do & you won’t regret adding them into this recipe.
With only 9 ingredients, this recipe has quickly become a go to in my household, for good reasons: it is super easy to whip up, is made with simple ingredients, and yet is packed with flavour!
Well on that note, I hope you guys give this recipe a try.
It is truly a tasty dressing to have on hand! It keeps for up to two weeks and as mentioned before, it is so so versatile.
If you decide to make this recipe, make sure to share it on Instagram, showing me what you enjoyed it with and tag me in your post (@muriellebanackissa).
