Did you know a whopping 80% of foods in the grocery stores have added sugars? I guess I’m not surprised since sugar is highly addictive.
One of the many foods that have added sugars is dressing, particularly the low fat kind. Food manufactures are adding sugar to their low fat dressing to make them more tasty. One of those added sugars may be high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). HFCS is one of the sweetest types of sugar on the market and is not only highly processed, but is also cheap.
Studies have shown that HFCS may contribute to diabetes, obesity, insulin resistance, and decreased feelings are fullness after eating. So make sure you read those labels before you consider buying foods with HFCS.
Since I am not one to buy highly processed foods, I have been able to keep HFCS out of my diet. Of course, in moderation, it isn’t the worst thing. But if it is something you consume regularly, you may want to think twice.
I love to make my own homemade dressing and and typically make a simple olive oil based dressing, but I’ve been wanting to try and make my own creamy dressing for a while now and this Cashew Caesar Dressing is my first attempt at it.
This vegan dressing is…
Creamy
Slightly Salty
Nutty
Mustard-y
Prep: You will need a food processor or high speed blender. This makes about 2 cups of dressing.
Recipe:
1 cup of soaked raw cashews (soaked in water for a few hours or overnight)
1 tablespoon of brown mustard (or Dijon)
1/2 teaspoon of oregano
1 garlic clove (or 1 teaspoon of garlic powder)
a squeeze of lemon juice
1 teaspoon of nutritional yeast (optional)
1/4 cup of water
1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
Add more water if too thick
Instructions:
Add your soaked and drained cashews to your food processor as well as as the rest of the ingredients and pulse/process on high until creamy. Add in water to make it less creamy. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Enjoy over your favorite salad. I topped mine over Romaine, Homemade Breadcrumbs, and Roasted Chicken:
Do you have a favorite homemade dressing?
