This Creamy Avocado Dressing is healthy and dairy-free. It’s fantastic on any salad, but it can also be used as a spread on sandwiches, as a sauce for protein, or as an accompaniment to any grain or rice dish and is healthier than your typical all purpose ranch dressing. I like to think of it more as a creamy guacamole dressing that tastes sensational on everything.
It’s a green versatile showstopper that does it all!
Nutrition Information
Avocado, the main ingredient in this dressing, is not only creamy and delicious but also packed with nutritional benefits. Here are some of the nutrition facts: It’s a fantastic source of healthy monounsaturated fats, which are good for heart health and can help lower bad cholesterol levels. Additionally, avocados are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, making this dressing a nutritious choice for any meal. Including this dressing in your diet can provide essential nutrients while keeping your meals exciting and flavorful.
Avocado Dressing Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this Avocado Dressing Recipe:
Avocado: This is the main star of this dressing because it creates a creamy, non-dairy base with healthy fats and nutrients! The key is to get the perfect avocado, which can always be tricky. I recommend getting and using avocados, which are slightly under-rip than over-rip. Nobody wants a browned, turned avocado with a bitter taste in their dressing.
Lemon Juice: Lemon brightens this dressing, cuts through the fat of the avocado, and makes the flavors pop.
Garlic: I love adding some heat to this dressing with raw garlic. It adds the perfect bite.
Cilantro: This herb brightens this dressing and adds a wonderful freshness! If you don’t prefer the taste of cilantro, just sub this out with either tarragon, dill, mint, basil, or parsley.
Olive Oil (I like Extra Virgin Olive Oil) : Adds a thickness and richness to this dressing that also binds it together. You can also use avocado oil.
Water: Sometimes the dressing can get a bit thick (depending on the size of your avocados), so you can add a splash of water to thin it out.
Salt and Black Pepper: Salt brings out the natural sweetness of each ingredient, while pepper gives the dressing a lovely rounded bite.
Find the full recipe with ingredients and directions below.
How to make this Creamy Avocado Dressing
Prep and gather your ingredients: Scoop your avocados and place them in a food processor or blender. Juice your lemons, Microplane your garlic, de-stem your cilantro, and add that to the food processor or blender.
Pulse your dressing: Pulse the food processor or blender (great for making smoothies), while it’s running, and add the olive oil. Add a splash of water to achieve your desired consistency.
Season to taste: Season your dressing with salt and pepper and to taste and pulse to combine.
Avocado Dressing Variations and Tips
I’m quite keen on this avocado salad dressing recipe I provided, but it is the perfect base to experiment and mix and match flavor profiles that speak to you! Try some of the combinations below:
- Avocados: It is tricky to have and use a perfectly ripe avocado. If you buy avocados that you want to delay the ripening process, you can pop them in the fridge to halt the ripening process. If you want to speed up the ripening process, place your avocados in a paper bag with an apple.
- Herbs: I chose to use fresh cilantro for this recipe. However, some people oppose this herb and prefer a subtler flavor. Instead of cilantro, you can substitute it for tarragon, dill, mint, parsley, or basil. Or even a teaspoon of ground cumin for an earthy flavor.
- Heat: If you like spicy dressing, add a clove of garlic, minced jalapeño, cayenne pepper, chili oil, or chili crunch.
- Creaminess: If you like an even creamer base, add ¼ cup of mayonnaise, buttermilk, Crème Fraîche, sour cream, greek yogurt, or any non-dairy plant-based yogurt to this dressing.
Serving Suggestions for Creamy Avocado Dressing?
This recipe is perfect as a classic salad dressing, or used as a sauce, condiment, or flavorful addition to menu items like the below:
Salads: Perfect to add to your favorite salad, such as this summer cucumber tomato salad or top this colorful corn salad at the height of the summer season. You can also add this dressing to this beautiful persimmon salad or this creamy burrata salad.
Grain & Pasta Bowls: Add a dollop or top farro, pearl couscous, or bulgur wheat mixed in with some yummy pistachio pesto and the creamy avocado dresssing. Top with pickled red onions, roasted veggies or crispy carrot chips, roasted beets, air fryer broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, or roasted vegetables. You could even add another sauce to compliment the avocado dressing with this spicy tirokafteri sauce, or some aromatic harissa paste or tomato confit.
Proteins: Add a spoonful as a sauce to pan-seared salmon, grilled chicken, duck breast, or vegetarian saganaki. It’s even delicious over a soft-boiled egg with a dusting of sea salt.
How to Store
Refrigerator: You can store it in an airtight container in your refrigerator for five days.
Freezer: You can also make and freeze a batch in an airtight container for up to two months.
More Favorite Dressings and Sauces to Try
- Tahini Dressing
- Basil Vinaigrette
- Dill Sauce
- Tahini Sauce
- Tirokafteri
- Tomato Confit
- Tzatziki Sauce
- Harissa Paste
- Peanut Sauce
- Nuoc Cham Sauce
Creamy Avocado Dressing Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 ripe avocados
- 5 tbs fresh lime juice
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup cilantro, leaves (you can substitute this for tarragon, dill, mint, parsley, or basil)
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbs olive oil
- 1/2 cup water (To thin it out. If you like a thicker dressing or want this as a sauce, add less or no water.)
- Season to taste with additional salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Scoop your avocados and place them in a food processor or blender.
- Juice your lemons, and add to the food processor with the garlic cloves and cilantro.
- Pulse the food processor or blender, and while it’s running, add in your olive oil.
- Adjust the consistency and the water if desired.
- Blend all ingredients to create your creamy avocado dressing.
- Season your dressing with additional salt and pepper to taste.
