I love salads! And, who wouldn’t when you can have fresh salads that are topped with the most amazing dressings in the world… such as this one – Hemp Omega Caesar Dressing. For those of you who crave Caesar dressing but abstain because it’s not typically vegan, look out, because here is a tremendously healthy version that is Raw and Vegan and Awesome!
Most of you are familiar with my love affair of all food products hemp, so you won’t be surprised to learn that I’m presenting Manitoba Harvest Hemp Seeds (and oil, if desired) in this delicious recipe. Hemp is an amazing super-food because it’s loaded with nutrition, including essential fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3, hence the name of the dressing). According to Manitoba Harvest (and the World Health Organization – ehem) these two essential fatty acids should be consumed in a balanced ratio of 4:1 which is found naturally in hemp foods. Additionally, Manitoba Harvest Hemp Seed Oil also has the fatty acid Gamma-Linolenic (GLA) which helps maintain hormonal balance. But, hemp’s awesomeness doesn’t stop there… its amino acid profile dominates with 8 essential amino acids (10 if you’re elderly or a baby), making it a vegetarian source of “complete” protein!
I made this dressing for a special dinner event recently and it was a huge hit. Most of the guests were omnivores and they raved about how much they loved the dressing. You can imagine the surprise when I told them it was Raw and Vegan!
Hemp Omega Caesar Dressing
Yield 2 cups
1 cup water
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup olive oil, flax oil, or hemp oil
1/2 cup Manitoba Harvest hemp seeds
2 cloves garlic
1/2 teaspoon Himalayan crystal salt
3/4 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 tablespoon raw agave nectar
1 tablespoon dulse (or more!)
zest of 1/2 lemon
Blend all of the ingredients until creamy and enjoy over a crisp romaine salad with chopped tomatoes and cucumbers.