After lots of recipe testing, I perfected the Sweetgreen Spicy Cashew Dressing. My homemade version uses real, whole ingredients: a raw cashew dressing base, with Asian-inspired flavors like tamari, lime, fresh ginger & garlic, & sesame oil.
Copycat recipes are my specialty! I love making my favorite restaurant recipes at home that taste just like the original, and this vegan cashew dressing brings Sweeetgreen flavor to any salad or grain bowl.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Total Time: 10 minutes (plus 30 minutes soaking)
- Recipe Difficulty: Easy
- Cooking Method: Blending
- Main Ingredients: Cashews, tamari, ginger, sesame oil
- Dietary Info: Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free
- Serves: 8-10 servings
- Calories: 101 per serving
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I'm obsessed with this dressing at Sweetgreen, and this recipe tastes exactly like it!
Sweetgreen's Spicy Cashew Dressing is a fan favorite and the standout flavor on their bowls. Try it on my Sweetgreen Crispy Rice Bowl copycat!
If you're a Sweetgreen fan, you'll love my Harvest Bowl plus plenty more easy copycat recipes to try next!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Restaurant Quality: Tastes exactly like the Sweetgreen recipe.
- Meal Prep Friendly: Makes enough for a week of salads and bowls.
- Naturally Vegan & Gluten-Free: No dairy, eggs, or gluten.
- Versatile: Works as a dressing, dip, marinade, or sauce.
- Customizable: Adjust pepper flakes to match your spice preference
- Better for You: Made with whole & healthy ingredients!
Spicy Cashew Dressing Key Ingredients
- Raw Cashews: Soaked in hot water for 30 minutes, these buttery nuts create the ultra-creamy base for your creamy cashew dressing.
- Fresh Lime Juice: Adds bright acidity to the rich cashew base; fresh juice beats bottled for flavor.
- Tamari: A wheat-free fermented soy sauce that's less salty & more flavorful.
- Fresh Ginger Root: Freshly minced ginger adds zing and flavor.
- Red Pepper Flakes: Gives spicy cashew sauce its signature heat; adjust to taste.
- Toasted Sesame Oil: Adds a nuttiness & enhances the Asian-inspired flavor.
- Fresh Cilantro: The fresh green herb adds a bright & herby flavor.
Substitutions & Variations
- Cashews: Try peanut butter or almonds if you don't love the cashew butter dressing flavor
- Honey: Swap with maple syrup or agave for a vegan cashew dressing.
- Tamari: Use coconut aminos or liquid aminos for soy-free. You can also use gluten-free soy sauce or regular soy sauce if you're not gluten sensitive.
- Rice Vinegar: Use apple cider or white wine vinegar.
- Fresh Ginger, Lime, and Garlic: Ground ginger & garlic work, but fresh is best! Fresh lime is best for that wonderful cashew lime dressing flavor.
- Cilantro: Swap with parsley or basil if you don't like cilantro.
- Spicy: Add sriracha and extra red pepper flakes for an extra spicy Thai cashew dressing.
How To Make Spicy Cashew Dressing
- Step 1: Place the raw cashews in a heat-safe bowl and pour boiling or very hot water over top until they're completely covered. Let them soak for 30 minutes (or overnight if you prefer). This process is essential for a smooth, creamy texture in your raw cashew dressing.
- Step 2: Drain the soaked cashews, then add the cashews, honey, fresh cilantro, rice vinegar, tamari, sesame oil, minced garlic & ginger, lime juice, and red pepper flakes to a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend on high speed until completely smooth.
- Step 3: If the dressing is too thick, add water 1 tablespoon at a time (up to 2-3 tablespoons total) and blend again. Taste and adjust: add more honey for sweetness, lime juice for tang, tamari for saltiness, or red pepper flakes for heat.
- Step 4: Transfer to an airtight glass jar or container. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld. The dressing will thicken slightly when cold. Simply whisk in a splash of water to thin if needed.
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Expert Tips
- Soak Longer for Creaminess: If you have a standard blender (not high-speed), be sure to soak the cashews. Boiling water speeds it up.
- Taste as You Blend: Pause to taste and tweak the heat, tang, or sweetness to your liking.
- Add Water Slowly: It's easy to thin a thick dressing, but harder to fix a watery one.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh lime juice, cilantro, garlic, & ginger make all the difference in flavor. Cilantro stems are tender and flavorful, so no need to pick every leaf.
What to Pair with Spicy Cashew Dressing!
This versatile Thai cashew dressing elevates any salad, bowl, or meal! It goes beautifully with the Sweetgreen Crispy Rice Bowl, drizzled over the Cucumber and Pepper Salad, Cooked Salmon Poke Bowls, or Chicken Crispy Rice Bowls. It's a great sauce for grilled chicken thighs or baked salmon as well!
Love sauce recipes? I love making homemade sauces! Try my Garlic Parmesan Sauce, Creamy Cottage Cheese Queso, my Honey Whipped Feta, or my favorite Thai Peanut Sauce!
Frequently Asked Questions
Only if you have a high-powered blender like a Vitamix. However, even with a powerful blender, soaking improves the creaminess of the dressing.
Soak raw cashews, then blend them with lime juice, tamari, garlic, ginger, and seasonings until smooth to make a creamy cashew salad dressing.
Spicy cashew dressing contains soaked raw cashews, lime juice, tamari, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, sesame oil, and optional sweeteners like honey.
Replace cashews with sunflower seeds for a similar texture. The flavor will be slightly different but still delicious. You can also try tahini sauce made from ground sesame seeds!
Did you make this recipe?
Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment and rating below. Also, share it on socials to let others know what you think! Be sure to tag @entirelyemmy so I can share your masterpiece with my followers! ✨
📖 Recipe
Spicy Cashew Dressing Sweetgreen Copycat
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Raw Cahews soaked
- ½ Cup Fresh Cilantro
- 2 Tablespoons Honey or maple syrup
- 1 Tablespoon Rice Vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons Tamari or gluten free soy sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil
- 2 Garlic Cloves mincd
- 1 Tablespoon Ginger minced
- 1 Lime juiced
- 1 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes adjust to spice preference
Instructions
- Soak the cashews in boiling water for 30 minutes (or overnight). Drain and rinse.
- Add soaked cashews, honey, cilantro, rice vinegar, tamari, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, lime juice, and red pepper flakes to a blender. Blend until silky smooth.
- Add water 1 tablespoon at a time until the dressing is pourable. Taste and tweak sweetness, tang, or heat. Pour over salads & bowls, use as a dipping sauce, & enjoy!
Notes
- Soak Longer for Creaminess: If you have a standard blender (not high-speed), soak cashews 2-4 hours or overnight for the smoothest texture. Boiling water speeds it up.
- Taste as You Blend: Pause to taste and tweak the heat, tang, or sweetness to your liking.
- Add Water Slowly: It's easy to thin a thick dressing, but harder to fix a watery one.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh lime juice, cilantro, garlic, & ginger make all the difference in flavor. Cilantro stems are tender and flavorful, so no need to pick every leaf.
- Storage: Store your spicy cashew sauce in an airtight glass jar or container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Always use a clean spoon when serving to prevent bacterial contamination and extend shelf life.
Nutrition
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Emmy Clinton says
This is my favorite Sweetgreen dressing, and I'm so excited to share it with you!!