Roasted Red Pepper Dressing (Easy!)

An easy Roasted Red Pepper Salad Dressing recipe that's ready in just 5 minutes! It's so rich, flavorful, and healthy. Use it to enhance chopped salads, Mediterranean salads, or warm grain salads. (Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free.)

Most people probably don't think of salads as exciting, but with the right dressing... they totally can be! This is one of those dressings that gets me excited.

It features fire-roasted bell peppers that are immensely flavorful. Then we add vinegar, miso, herbs, and a touch of maple syrup to balance the flavors. (So good!)

Best of all, it comes together in just 5 minutes or less.

Plus it's naturally vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free. It's also great for meal prep because you can double or triple the batch to store in the fridge for later!

Ingredients for Roasted Pepper Dressing

For this recipe, you'll blend in a small high-speed blender or food processor:

• Roasted red bell peppers: For convenience, I use jarred fire-roasted peppers. Find a good quality brand that you enjoy, as the flavor can vary significantly between brands. (I use "Mediterranean Organic" fire-roasted bell peppers.) Alternatively, feel free to roast your own in the oven if desired.
• Apple cider vinegar: Or you can substitute red wine vinegar or even balsamic vinegar for a different flavor profile if desired.
• Pure maple syrup: I use this as a natural sweetener to help balance the flavors.
• White miso: This is a fermented soybean paste. I highly recommend including it for a deeper, savory, salty flavor. It's fantastic in dressings, soups, and sauces. But if you don't have any, simply salt to taste instead. (Although some flavor will be lost.)
• Dried garlic powder: Be sure your pantry spices are fresh (not expired) for best flavor. I prefer garlic powder in this recipe, but you could also use a small garlic clove for stronger flavor. Roasted garlic could be a delicious addition as well.
• Dried Italian seasoning: This finishes the dressing with a subtle sweet & savory herby flavor. The main herbs typically used in Italian seasoning are basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary. Many also contain marjoram and sage.

Customizing

Herbs: Substitute the Italian seasoning with your own favorite herbs, or even fresh herbs like parsley for a brighter flavor. A pinch of red pepper flakes can add a spicy touch as well.

Other flavors: This is a fun recipe to play around with and I find it pretty forgiving. Depending on your preference, try adding one small shallot, a tablespoon tahini for more texture, a teaspoon of Dijon mustard, fresh lemon juice, or black pepper to taste.

Consistency: You can also control the thickness by adding more or less water.

Serving

Salad: Drizzle it over your favorite greens, romaine lettuce, tossed salads, kale salads, pasta salads, etc. I find it works especially well with Mediterranean-style flavors.

Grain bowls: Toss this roasted red pepper dressing with various grain salads like rice or quinoa. One of my favorites is a wild rice blend salad with kale, white beans/chickpeas, roasted cauliflower, cucumber, tomatoes, Kalamata olives, fresh herbs, vegan feta cheese, etc.

Other dishes: Spoon it as a sauce over pizza, sandwiches, wraps, or even protein like tofu.

Storing

Store leftovers in a sealed glass jar or airtight container in the refrigerator. I find it keeps for about 4-5 days. Stir again before serving.

For more inspiration, also browse all oil-free salad dressing recipes.

If you're enjoying this roasted red pepper salad dressing recipe, also check out:

• Easy Peanut Sauce
• Three Bean Salad with Vinegar Dressing

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