So when you think Vegan you think hippies eating salad, right? Well as much as I have preached on this blog that you are wrong, maybe I will give a little on this one. Salad is a quick, easy, and cheap way to feed vegetarians, vegans, and meat eaters alike. Although, I don’t subscribe to the vegan thought that vinaigrette is best in all cases. I was a ranch dressing eater as a child and still have not outgrown comfortable, delicious, creamy dressings. I wanted to give you a few recipes that you can make and serve vegans and they will be blown away. Also, try them with non-vegans and they will never know they are eating a healthier version of their old stand by 23498023 calorie salad topper.
Vegan Ranch Dressing
· ½ cup vegenaise
· 1/2 cup almond or coconut based milk
· 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
· 1 tablespoon dried dill (if using fresh herbs use 2 table spoons)
· 1 teaspoon black pepper
· 1 teaspoon sea salt
· 2 teaspoons garlic powder
· 1 teaspoon onion powder
Chipotle/ Mexi-Ranch
Take above Ranch recipe and add the following
· 1 teaspoon smoked sweet paprika
· 1 ½ teaspoon ground cumin
· ½ teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
Vegan Caesar Dressing
· ½ cup vegenaise
· ½ cup almond or coconut based milk
· 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
· 1 tablespoon vegan worcestershire sauce
· 1 tablespoon garlic powder
· 1 tablespoon lemon juice
· 1 teaspoon black pepper
“Honey” Mustard
· 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
· 1 tablespoon whole grain brown mustard (or your favorite rich mustard)
· 1 tablespoon dried basil
· 2 tablespoons agave nectar
· ¼ cup almond milk
· 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
· 1 teaspoon salt
· 1 teaspoon black pepper
Mixing Directions for All Dressings:
Mix together and let sit at least 1 hour before using. I generally mix all my ingredients together in a pint mason jar and shake it thoroughly and sit it in the fridge and shake it a few times over an hour or two before using.
Also if you don’t have time to do all of the above steps for dressing consider adding a 2 tablespoons of vegenaise and 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast to any other dressing or vinaigrette that you have in your pantry for a delicious faux comfort creamy version. One of my go to favorites is:
· 
1/2 cup Garlic Expressions
· 2 tablespoons vegenaise
· 1 teaspoon nutritional yeast
For the real comfort food taste, don’t forget to top your salad with some fake bacon bits. Most store brands are already vegan! Enjoy!
