• About
  • Work with Me
    • Contact
  • Food Photography
  • Newsletter

Chef Janet

So good, they'll never know it's gluten-free.

  • Gluten-Free Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Baked Goods
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
    • Main Course
    • Salads
    • Sauces and Dressings
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
  • Cooking Basics
  • Gluten-Free Diet Tips
Home Β» Sauces and Dressings Β» 2-Minute Spicy Cashew Dressing (or Dip!)

May 3, 2021 (last updated February 15, 2023)

2-Minute Spicy Cashew Dressing (or Dip!)

5 from 1 review
Janet Harlow
Leave a Comment Jump to Recipe

This creamy, spicy cashew dressing (or dip!) has the perfect balance of flavors. This sweet, savory, and spicy sauce can be slathered on top of salads, rice bowls, or noodles! With just 2 minutes of prep required, it’s so simple and so delicious.

Be sure to check out more of my sauces and marinades including my homemade teriyaki sauce, 4 ingredient chicken marinade, creamy sesame dressing and my 5 minute, 3 ingredient stir-fry sauce.

Hers’s how easy it is!

Ingredients

Cashew butter – The sweetness of cashew butter makes it such a great base for a dressing with salty additions. Many similar recipes call for soaking cashews for hours. Using cashew butter makes this recipe much faster and easier but it can be pretty pricey. For a more affordable option, use peanut butter. If you are nut-free, sesame tahini is an excellent substitute.

Coconut Aminos is similar to soy sauce in that it is fermented but from coconut instead of soy. I find soy sauce to be way too overpowering and salty. Coconut aminos are much milder and less salty but still add that tangy fermented flavor.

Overhead view of spicy cashew dressing ingredients in small bowls. Cashew, butter, cashews, red chili flakes, hot sauce, coconut aminos, vinegar and agave. green runner weaving thru bowls.

Sweetener – Agave and maple syrup are my favorite sweeteners but coconut palm sugar, brown sugar or even honey will work. The hot water in the recipe will help to dissolve any dry sweeteners.

Rice vinegar is the more traditional Asian ingredient but I have used apple cider vinegar or even lime juice. The idea is to add a little sour to balance out the sweet cashew and salty coconut aminos. Sour ingredients are also great flavor enhancers.

Toasted sesame oil gives this sauce an amazing toasty, nutty flavor. Be sure to use toasted sesame oil. Regular sesame oil has very little flavor. When you open a bottle of toasted sesame oil and take in the aroma, you’ll understand the difference. It can usually be found in the Asian foods section of the grocery store.

Red chile flakes or hot sauce will add a little kick to the sauce. Even if you don’t like spicy heat, add just a pinch. Spicy ingredients are great way to elevate all the other flavors and with such a small amount, it won’t be spicy. If you like a good kick, add more.

Close up of white plate with crunchy salad. Spoon above dripping spicy cashew dressing onto salad, Small glass pitcher with dressing and green napkin on right. White background.

Mixing the Dressing

This dressing can be whisked together in a bowl in just a minute. A wire whisk will get it nice and creamy, But cashew butter can sometimes be grainy so a blender or immersion blender will do an excellent job of making it smooth and creamy.

Balancing Flavors

Taste is is such an individual thing. Everyone’s idea of what tastes good varies wildly. I think this dressing tastes perfect as is, but you may not. Mix it up as is and taste. Do you like it sweeter? More sour? More spicy? Add just a little bit more of whatever you think it needs, stir and taste again.

  • Too salty? – Add more sweetener
  • Too sweet? – add more vinegar/lime juice or coconut aminos
  • Too sour? – Add more sweetener
  • Blah tasting? – The sweetener, vinegar, coconut aminos and chili flakes will all help to wake up the flavors and make it stronger tasting.
close up of vegetable salad with spicy cashew dressing on white plate. fork and spoon to left and small glass pitcher with dressing in back right. white background

More Easy Sauce Recipes

Don’t miss my full list of easy, gluten-free sauces and dressings. Many of them mix up in just a few minutes. This Sesame Teriyaki Sauce (Gluten-Free) is perfect for chicken, fish, steak and stir fries. My recipe for Salmon with Miso-Honey Sauce is sure to please a crowd.

close up of white plate with crunchy salad. Spoon above dripping spicy cashew dressing onto salad, Small glass pitcher with dressing and green napkin on right. White background.

2-Minute Spicy Cashew Dressing (or Dip!)

Author: Janet Harlow
Course: Salad, Sauces and Dressings
Cuisine: Asian
Servings: 1 cup
This creamy, spicy cashew dressing (or dip!) has the perfect balance of flavors. This sweet, savory, and spicy sauce can be slathered on top of salads, rice bowls or noodles! With just 2 minutes of prep required, it’s so simple and so delicious
5 from 1 review
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 minutes mins
Total Time 3 minutes mins

Recommended Products

  • The Original Coconut Aminos

Ingredients
  

  • 1/3 c cashew butter peanut butter for budget friendly or sesame tahini for a nut-free sub
  • 1/4 c hot water
  • 2 Tbsp coconut aminos*
  • 1 Tbsp rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp agave or other sweetener agave syrup substitute
  • 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1/4 tsp red chile flakes or 1/2 tsp hot sauce more if you like extra spicy

Instructions
 

  • If your cashew butter is refrigerated, heat it in the microwave for 10 seconds to soften it.
    Small glass bowls with ingredients for spicy cashew dressing.
  • Use a whisk, blender or
    immersion blender to mix this dressing. Cashew butter can sometimes be grainy and the blender or immersion blender will work best to make it super smooth.
    Overhead view of cashew butter being poured into glass bowl. Ingredients in small bowls surrounding.
  • Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl or blender and mix until smooth.
    Overhead view of glass bowl with spicy cashew dressing being mixed with a wire whisk.
  • Taste. Feel free to add more vinegar if you prefer it more sour, more sweetener, coconut aminos for more salty flavor or more chile flakes/hot sauce for more kick.
  • Store this dressing in the refrigerator and it will stay fresh for several weeks (less time if lime juice is used). If it gets to stiff, heat briefly (10-15 seconds) in the microwave and stir.

Notes

*Coconut aminos is similar to soy sauce but milder in flavor and less salty.
Did you make this recipe?Let me know how it was! Tag @chefjanetk on Instagram.

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

Posted In: Sauces and Dressings, Vegan · Tagged: cashew, easy, salad dressing

Comments

  1. Jenny says

    February 5, 2023 at 1:40 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious! I had some cashew butter to use up and this was so easy to throw together with the other ingredients I had on hand. Used it as dressing on a salad of zoodles, carrot, red bell pepper, cilantro & cashews, but really had to hold myself back from eating it straight by the spoonful! I’ll make more to drizzle over chicken, stir-fry, rice, anything! Yum.

    Reply
    • Janet Harlow says

      February 5, 2023 at 2:47 pm

      Yay! Thanks so much for letting me know.

      Reply

Leave a Comment & Rate this Recipe Cancel reply

If you love this recipe, please consider leaving a star rating and review when you post a comment. Star ratings help people discover my recipes online. Your support means a great deal to me.

Thank you!
Janet

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Me
Hi, Welcome! I'm Chef Janet and I create gluten-free recipes that everyone will love, gluten-free or not.

Set up a customized lesson with me to learn basic cooking techniques, gluten-free, menu planning and kitchen tips to make your life easier. Follow me on instagram to keep up with my latest and let me know how I can help.

Follow along on Instagram

Cookie season is here and I've got you covered wit Cookie season is here and I've got you covered with gluten-free cookie recipes from traditional spritz cookies to cookies with unconventional ingredients like peanut butter whiskey, teff and mesquite flour. Recipes at chefjanetk.com (link in profile)

β›„β„οΈπŸŒ²πŸͺ

Cover: Buttery Spritz Cookies
1. Mesquite Flour Cookies
2. Danish Butter Cookies
3. Pumpkin Teff Cookies
4. Marbled Tahini Cookies
5. Buttery Spritz Cookies
6. Peanut Butter Whiskey Cookies
7. Peanut Butter Tahini Cookies
8. Snowball Cookies (aka Mexican Wedding Cookies)

πŸͺπŸŒ²β„οΈβ›„
This gluten-free blueberry crisp is made with fres This gluten-free blueberry crisp is made with fresh blueberries and topped with a cinnamon brown sugar topping with no oats. Oats can be tricky when you're gluten-free, so I prefer my crisp without them. Link to the recipe in my profile.
🫐🫐🫐
These buttery cookies are gluten-free and melt in These buttery cookies are gluten-free and melt in your mouth. Link to the recipe in my profile.
🧈πŸͺ🧈
#glutenfreecookies #glutenfreebuttercookies #danishbuttercookies #losangeleschef #glutenfreeblog #buttercookieshomemade #glutenfreelosangeles #glutenfreehomemade #cookiesfromscratch
This gluten-free strawberry sheet cake is filled w This gluten-free strawberry sheet cake is filled with fresh strawberries in a strawberry swirl. It's the perfect dessert for a crowd on a spring or summer day. Link to the recipe in my profile.
πŸ“πŸŽ‚πŸ“
Simply take some fresh strawberries and whirl them in the food processor until they're finely chopped. Mix some into the batter and spread the rest between layers of batter to create a pretty swirl when you cut into the cake. 
πŸŽ‚πŸ“πŸŽ‚
#glutenfreecake #strawberrycake #freshstrawberries #sheetcake #glutenfreedessert #berrydessert #strawberrydessert #glutenfreeblog #glutenfreelosangeles #strawberrydesserts #bbqdessert #memorialdaydessert
This Gluten-Free Lemon Bundt Cake is a dreamy good This Gluten-Free Lemon Bundt Cake is a dreamy good, sunny treat. Link to the recipe in my profile.
πŸ‹πŸŽ‚πŸ‹
#glutenfreebundtcake #glutenfreelemoncake #lemonbundtcake #losangeleschef #glutenfreelosangeles #glutenfreecake #lemondessert #glutenfreeblog #glutenfreedessert
This Gluten-Free Carrot Cake is fluffy, moist and This Gluten-Free Carrot Cake is fluffy, moist and packed with cinnamon spice goodness. Link to the recipe in my profile.
πŸ₯•πŸŽ‚πŸ₯•
I prefer my carrot cake with no crushed pineapple or nuts or raisins. I use a little applesauce to give it some fruity flavor but that's it. So if you're on team nut-free, raisin-free, this is the cake for you.
πŸ₯•πŸŽ‚πŸ₯•
#glutenfreecarrotcake #glutenfreecakes #glutenfreeeaster #losangeleschef #glutenfreelosangeles #glutenfreeblog #glutenfreedesserts #glutenfreebaking #glutenfreedessertrecipes #easterdesserts
Whether it's summer peach season or not you can ma Whether it's summer peach season or not you can make this gluten-free peach cobbler. The recipe includes instructions for fresh, frozen or canned peaches. Link to the recipe in my profile.
πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘
#glutenfreepeachcobbler #glutenfreecobbler #peachdessert #peachcobbler #losangeleschef #glutenfreeblog #glutenfreechef #glutenfreelosangeles #summerdesserts #glutenfreedesserts
This gluten-free chocolate mug cake is ready in ju This gluten-free chocolate mug cake is ready in just 5 minutes. When you want a cake just for yourself, it's the perfect recipe. Link to the recipe in my profile.
πŸŽ‚πŸ«πŸŽ‚πŸ«
#glutenfreecakes #chocolatemugcake #glutenfreemugcake #singleservedessert #glutenfreechocolatecake #glutenfreeblog #losangeleschef #glutenfreelosangeles #dessertforone #glutenfreedesserts #fastdessert

Copyright © 2023 Chef Janet · Support by Foodie Digital · Privacy Policy · Accessibility Policy · Web Stories