Looking for a recipe with hemp seeds or hemp hearts? This creamy Hemp Dressing recipe is easy to make in just 5 minutes! Vegan, healthy and full of flavor, this herby salad dressing can be used as a dip for veggies, or tossed with greens. Vegan, keto.
Hemp seeds ( or hemp hearts) are all the rage these days because of their plentiful health benefits. This is the recipe we make most with them and I can’t think of a veggie that doesn’t want to be dunked or bathed in this creamy Hemp Dressing. We’ve been loving it as a dip– for radishes, salad turnips, carrots, broccoli and cucumbers, as well as an all-around salad dressing for salad greens. Oh! And it does wonders for Broccoli – in this Broccoli Salad!
What I love about this hemp dressing, besides its creamy texture and lovely flavor, is how adaptable it is. We’ve made it with a whole number of herbs and it always turns out. Dill, parsley, cilantro and basil are my favorites but I’m sure you’ll come up with more. Plus it can be made in 5-minutes flat. Oh, and did I mention it’s vegan and keto? Whoa!
Ways to use Hemp Seeds
Smoothies: Add a couple of tablespoons of hemp hearts to your favorite smoothie for an extra boost of protein and nutrients.
Yogurt or Oatmeal Topping: Sprinkle hemp hearts over yogurt, oatmeal, or cereal to add a nutty flavor and a nutritional punch.
Salads: Use hemp hearts as a topping for salads to add a crunchy texture and extra protein.
Baking: Incorporate hemp hearts into baking recipes like muffins, bread, or energy bars for added nutrients and a nutty taste.
Homemade Granola: Mix hemp hearts with other nuts, seeds, and dried fruits to create your own nutritious granola blend.
Pesto or Sauces: Blend hemp hearts into pesto or sauces for pasta or vegetables to enhance their nutritional value.
Soups or Stews: Sprinkle hemp hearts on top of soups or stews just before serving to add texture and a nutritional boost.
Coating for Proteins: Use ground hemp hearts as a coating for tofu chicken, fish, or tofu before baking or frying.
Salad Dressings and Dips: Blend hemp hearts into homemade salad dressings for added creaminess and nutritional benefits.
Hemp Dressing Ingredients
- hemp hearts– make sure to side the tender insides or “hearts “of the seeds, also called hulled hemp seeds. You can also use soaked, raw cashews.
- olive oil more to add richness
- fresh lemon juice
- Apple Cider vinegar (or other pale vinegar)
- garlic cloves
- salt and pepper
- nutritional yeast (or sub-white miso paste)
- fresh herbs: flat-leaf parsley (or dill, cilantro, tarragon, mint, chives, or basil, or a combo)
Hemp Dressing Instructions
- Place all ingredients, except the herbs in a blender. Starting on low speed, gradually increasing, blend until creamy and smooth (make sure the garlic is blended). If you need to add another tablespoon or two of water, to get the blender going, that is fine.
- Add the herbs, and blend until chopped up finely.
- This will be a good “dip” consistency. If you’d like a looser salad dressing, add a little more water or olive oil to thin to desired consistency.
Serving and Storage
Hemp Dressing is best served chilled, and will thicken in the refrigerator. Store in a sealed jar, or covered bowl in the fridge. It keeps for 4 days in the fridge or can be frozen for 3 months.
Benefits of Hemp Seeds
- Rich in Nutrients: Hemp hearts are packed with essential nutrients like protein, healthy fats (omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids), vitamins (such as vitamin E), and minerals (including magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, and zinc).
- Excellent Source of Protein: They contain all nine essential amino acids, making them a complete protein source. This is especially beneficial for vegetarians and vegans.
- Heart Health: The balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in hemp hearts may support heart health by reducing the risk of heart disease and improving cholesterol levels.
- Digestive Health: Hemp hearts are rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber, which can aid digestion and promote gut health.
- Reduced Inflammation: The omega-3 fatty acids in hemp hearts have anti-inflammatory properties, potentially helping to reduce inflammation in the body.
- Skin Health: The fatty acids and nutrients in hemp hearts may contribute to healthier skin, potentially alleviating symptoms of conditions like eczema.
- Weight Management: Hemp hearts are nutrient-dense and can help keep you feeling full, potentially aiding in weight management when incorporated into a balanced diet.
More Dressings you may enjoy
- Creamy Cashew Basil Dressing
- Mustard Seed Maple Dressing
- Greek Salad Dressing
- Italian Dressing
- Creamy Avocado Dressing
- Dilly Ranch Dressing
- Creamy Pesto Dressing
- Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing
Anyways, another way to eat more fresh healthy veggies is to have something delicious to dip or dress them in. Creamy Vegan Hemp Dressing! Cheers!
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Creamy Herby Hemp Dressing
- Prep Time: 5
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 ¼ cup 1x
- Category: dressing, dip
- Method: blended
- Cuisine: Western
- Diet: Vegan
Description
5-Minute Creamy Hemp Dressing is vegan, herby and delicious- an easy way to spice up your favorite salads and veggie platters! Make this with fresh dill, parsley or basil! Keto and vegan.
Ingredients
- 1 cup hemp hearts
- 1/2 cup water, more to thin
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, more to add richness
- 4 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon Apple Cider vinegar (or other pale vinegar)
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast (or sub 1 teaspoon white miso paste)
- 1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley (or dill or basil, or a combo- and chives are nice too)
Instructions
- Place all ingredients, except the herbs in a blender.
- Starting on low speed, gradually increasing, blend until creamy and smooth (make sure the garlic is blended).
- If you need to add another tablespoon or two of water, to get the blender going, that is fine.
- Add the herbs, blend until chopped up finely.
- This will be a good “dip” consistency. If you’d like a looser salad dressing, add a little more water or olive oil. (Just 2-3 tablespoons or so.) This is best served chilled, and will thicken in frigerator. Store in a sealed jar, or covered bowl in the fridge.
Notes
Adding the vinegar will extend it’s shelf life to 4-5 days. ( Insteading of using all lemon juice). Fee free to sub-soaked cashews for hemp hearts.
Hemp hearts can be found at most grocery stores in the bulk section, or baking section or online. They are also available at Costo and Trader Joe’s, sometimes called “hulled” hemp seeds.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2.5 tablespoons
- Calories: 75
- Sugar: 0.3 g
- Sodium: 147.9 mg
- Fat: 6.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 1.7 g
- Fiber: 0.6 g
- Protein: 3.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
I recently committed to avoiding dairy and was looking for a creamy dressing because I’m getting tired of vinegar dressings. This creamy hemp dressing is delicious and I had everything on hand already.
Glad you gave it a try!
Where is the sodium coming from?
It is coming from the salt. Feel free to reduce if you like.
This looks great! Can you freeze it?
Great question Sally, haven’t personally tried freezing it, but seems like it should be ok?
Words cannot describe the happiness i feel to have this dressing in my life. Today I had white miso, flat leaf parsley and dill on hand. Stoked to try different herb combos. Thanks for all your recipes. Huge fan!
Love it Devon! 🙂
It says 75 calories but doesn’t have a serving size. It can’t be for the whole recipe. Could you add the serving size please.
Sorry about that Jessica- one serving = 2.5 tablespoons – all fixed now.
What would you recommend for oil and salt free?
Thanks
You coudl leaveout the oil, add more water if needed. What about adding white miso paste to taste?
This is delicious! I’ve never been a fan of creamy dressings but wanted to try your smoked salmon fennel salad. I am so glad I saw your note to try this dressing over the cream-based dressing. I may have found my new favorite dressing. Thank you! I’ve never thought of using hemp hearts in this way.
I will say I plugged the ingredients into myfitnesspal and the calories are much higher, but so is the protein, so I am happy! Thanks again!
Thanks Michelle!
Obsessed. My new favorite dressing. I often don’t have the herbs on hand but still just as delicious without. Extra plus, hemp seeds are loaded with awesome nutrients.
They are! So glad you liked this on Sarah, one of my favorites too!
I love this sauce,I can’t live without it now. It is my comfort food, I love it on fried caugette. Is it freezable as I would like to take some away on holiday with me.
Thanks Julie! Glad you like this one!
Another stellar recipe…followed it to the letter, my herbs were basil, chives, dill and a paltry amount of parsely. It’s delicious. Thank you
Thanks Cheri- glad you enjoyed this one!
SO GOOD! I’m neither a dressing nor a sauce type of person and I’m obsessed with it. Can’t wait to put it on anything 🙂
Awesome! Glad you like this!
This looks delicious. Is there anything I could use in place of the nutritional yeast?
A little miso paste. 1 teaspoon. 😉
And if that’s not available?
Just leave it out!
Ok thanks. Have so much left over 1 what else can this used for (vegetarian)
Use it as a salad dressing or a dip!
I’ve been looking for a non dairy “ranch”. FOUND IT! This is awesome! Tasted like a ranch parmesan!
The BEST green miracle sauce I’ve ever had!I put this on anything and everything to made a meal a “finished” product. I’ve made this a few times with what I had on hand-avocado and dried dill instead of herbs (awesome)…currently making it tonight with a boatload of fresh dill and a handful of arugala. Thank you so much from a newly born Vegan!
Love it Holly!
I made this today. Tastes so fresh and delicious! I had to use ingredients I had on hand substituting lime juice for the lemon, and chives and avocado instead of parsley or basil. It turned out to be the best creamy dressing I’ve ever made. Thank you!
I didn’t have hemp seeds and google said I flaxseed was a good substitue. I used a cup of flaxseed and it was horrible smelling, tasting, and super thick consistency. Will using hemp seed give a similar smell and taste? Was so looking forward to it, as I love green goddess dressing. Thank you for the info!
Flax seeds will absolutely NOT work here. Sorry. Cashews would. Or another creamy nut.
So flavorful and creamy. My husband thought it was homemade ranch.
I use it on salads, drizzled on my Freekeh. This recipe will remain a ‘go to’ 🙂
So happy you liked it!
This tasty herb dressing complemented my lightly steamed cauliflower, radishes, and carrots perfectly!
I’m recently gluten- and dairy-free and always find news ways to eat in your newsletter! I love the added nutritional value of using hemp hearts instead of a non-nutritive, fake dairy substitute. Creamier than a homemade buttermilk ranch with satisfying healthy fats, I’m excited to experiment with my new favorite dressing!
Since my husband snagged my fresh herbs and lemon for a roast, I used dried Italian mixed herbs and preserved Meyer lemons. The fresh garlic bkends so well with the other ingredients. I’m happy to eat this dressing as part of my immunity-boosting garlic regimen.
Thanks again! I’ve learned so many healthful techniques from you! AND, I feel so good after eating any of your recipes.
Thanks so much Laura, appreciate you being here and happy the recipes are helping on your health journey.
Delish. It will be gone in no time….
This is delicious – very much like Green Goddess dressing. Freshly made it is thin enough for dressing a salad.
I’m so glad you liked it!
I made this with the broccoli salad this weekend to take to a brunch. It was delicious and everyone asked for the recipe. I had no problem making the dressing in the blender. I put all the liquid ingredients in first. I am going to make extra next time, to use in my salads to take to work. Yumm!
Great to hear, thanks!!!
I just made this and can’t stop eating it! I added an avocado because i add one to everything and that made it extra creamy:)
I made this dressing with the broccoli salad and it is my new favorite dressing! Who knew that you could make a dressing out of hemp seeds. I absolutely love that it is vegan, too, as I am fasting this month. I made it in my blender and it worked just fine. I guess it depends on the blender, and I do not have a vitamix. Mine is a Ninja and it was nice not to have to get the big ole food processor out.
Awesome Lisa! So glad you liked it! Yes, best to use a blender. I doubled the recipe so this should work in any blender now.
I loved the flavor of this dressing which I used in the broccoli salad but it did not work in the blender and I had to move it to the food processor. It made enough for the salad only. Next time I will double the recipe.
Ok good to know! Sorry about that. I’ve been “borrowing” a Vita-Mix – we’re staying in a rental home for the winter, and didn’t bring our regular blender. Didn’t even cross my mind it may too little to blend (using a reg blender). I will note the recipe and sorry about that.