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    Home » Course » Sauces and Dips

    Walnut Dressing

    Published: Aug 14, 2020 · Modified: Oct 31, 2022 by Erin Carter · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

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    This is the best walnut dressing or vinaigrette! Made with walnuts, avocado oil, sherry vinegar and shallots you are going to love it's slightly sweet taste and how easy it is to make. Perfect for topping salads, cooked vegetable or meat dishes or using as a dip. It's also paleo, vegan and dairy-free!

    A bowl of walnut dressing with walnuts on top for garnish.

    I am so excited to share this walnut dressing recipe with you! It has the most incredible flavour. It uses healthy ingredients like walnuts, avocado oil, sherry vinegar and shallots to give it a unique taste that is sweet with just a little tang. This dressing is so easy to make and is paleo, vegan and dairy-free. It's perfect for salads, topping meat or vegetable dishes or using as a dip for your favourite raw vegetables, chips or crackers. I also love pouring it over grilled cabbage or romaine lettuce.

    Why you will love this recipe:

    • It has the most incredible flavour! Slightly sweet from the maple syrup with just a little tang from the vinegar you are going to love its unique taste.
    • It's ready in just 5 minutes!
    • This walnut vinaigrette dressing recipe is so easy to make because you just throw everything in your blender.
    • It is so thick and creamy.
    • It's such a versatile recipe - use this dressing for salads, cooked veggies, as a dip or for meat and fish dishes.
    • It's a healthy dressing that is naturally gluten free, vegan, dairy free and paleo.
    • If you love walnut dressing, you will also love walnut pesto!

    Key ingredients and substitutions:

    • Raw walnuts - walnuts form the base of this delicious, creamy dressing. I recommend using raw walnuts, not roasted walnuts for this recipe.
    • Avocado oil - Avocado oil has a very neutral flavour so it's perfect for making dressings! If you don't have avocado oil you can use olive oil, but it will change the flavour slightly.
    • Sherry vinegar - You can buy this online or from most specialty food stores. I do not recommend trying to replace this with another type of vinegar as it would really change the flavour of this dressing.
    • Shallots - Find these next to the onions in the produce section. They add a unique savoury flavour to this dressing.
    • Dijon mustard - This adds the perfect amount of tangy flavour to this dressing. You can use any type of dijon mustard that you like.
    • Honey or maple syrup - either of these natural sweeteners can be used to give this dressing the perfect amount of sweetness.

    How to make this recipe:

    Step one:

    All you need to do is put all the ingredients into your Vitamix or other high speed blender, and then blend all the ingredients until they are smooth. Then enjoy!

    Step by step directions for making a walnut dressing in a blender.

    Tips and variations:

    • If you stop blending this dressing part way through and let it rest for a few seconds and then start blending again it will get VERY thick. Because of this I recommend blending it all in one go rather than stopping and starting (unless you prefer a thick dressing that has more of a thick, dip texture).
    • This recipe makes a large batch of dressing. If you want a smaller batch, simply cut the recipe in half
    • This dressing is made with raw walnuts. I always recommend soaking and dehydrating your raw nuts (read more about why here) to enhance the flavour and increase the nutritional value.
    • Instead of avocado oil you can use olive oil.
    • If you don't have a Vitamix or other high speed blender you could make this dressing in a food processor instead.

    How to store:

    Store this dressing in the fridge in an airtight container or jar for up to a week after making. It will thicken in the fridge so if you don't like a thicker dressing I would make a smaller batch and use it all initially.

    How to use this dressing:

    • As a topping for salads
    • As a dip for raw vegetables
    • As a topping for cooked vegetable or meat dishes
    • As a dip for crackers or chips
    • One of my favorites is to use it to top grilled cabbage or romaine lettuce
    A bowl full of walnut dressing with three walnuts on top.

    Frequently asked questions:

    Is this dressing vegan?

    Yes this is a vegan walnut dressing recipe.

    Is this dressing Whole30 compliant?

    No this salad dressing is not Whole30 compliant as it is made with maple syrup or honey, and no sweeteners are allowed on the Whole30 program.

    Other recipes you will love:

    • Homemade BBQ Sauce
    • Vegan Alfredo Sauce
    • The Best Carrot Dip
    • Vegan Cilantro Lime Dressing
    • Cashew coconut butter

    Since you made it this far we are basically best friends so be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Facebook where I share even more recipes and healthy living tips! And don’t forget to leave this recipe a star review before you go!

    Walnut Dressing

    This is the best walnut dressing! It has such a unique flavour and is perfect for salads, cooked vegetable or meat dishes or as a dip. It's paleo, vegan, dairy-free and gluten free.
    4.64 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, condiment, dips, sauces
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Lactose, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 2 minutes
    Cook Time: 2 minutes
    Total Time: 4 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 306kcal
    Author: Dr. Erin Carter

    Ingredients

    • 1 1/4 cups raw walnuts
    • 1 1/4 cups avocado oil (or olive oil)
    • 1/4 cup sherry vinegar
    • 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
    • 2 tablespoon dijon mustard
    • 1 small shallot, chopped
    • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (or more to taste)
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper (or more to taste)

    Instructions

    • Add all the ingredients to your Vitamix or other high speed blender.
    • Blend until smooth.

    Notes

    1. If you stop and start the blender when blending this dressing it will get very thick. Because of that I recommend blending it all in one go, unless you prefer a thicker type dressing with more of a dip consistency.
    2. This recipe makes a large batch of dressing. If you prefer a smaller batch I suggest cutting the recipe in half. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 126mg | Potassium: 68mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @pureandsimpleno or tag #pureandsimpleno!

    More Healthy Sauces, Dips and Dressings

    • Pumpkin Seed Butter
    • Vegan Walnut Pesto
    • Coconut Condensed Milk
    • Vegan Sriracha Mayo

    DISCLAIMERS: The statements made on this website have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. You assume full responsibility for how you use this information. Always consult with your physician or other health professionals before making any diet or lifestyle changes. This post may contain affiliate links whereby if you purchase these products I receive a small percentage of the sale price. This allows me to keep the blog running and I thank you for allowing me to do that!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kristie

      August 17, 2020 at 10:45 pm

      This dressing is SO YUMMY5 stars

      Reply

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    Hi everyone! My name is Dr. Erin Carter and I am so thrilled you are here. I am a physician with specialities in both internal medicine and rheumatology, and I believe that food and healthy living are forms of medicine. In my spare time I share health information and delicious, healthy recipes here on Pure and Simple Nourishment.

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