Jalapeno and Tomatillo salad dressing recipe - vegan and oil free

Creamy tomatillo and jalapeno dressing or dip recipe – Or use apples!

This tomatillo and jalapeno dressing, dip or spread recipe is incredibly easy and offers a unique flavour combination that goes well in your next bowl, burger, wrap, or salad. You can use tomatillos when they are in season (or out of your garden), or substitute apples or goldenberries and end up with a very similar result.

Tomatillo and jalapeno vegan dressing recipe.
Creamy, thick, and full of flavor. This easy to make sauce uses a unique combination of ingredients to add a flavorful note to bowls, salads, wraps and burgers.

We absolutely love Tomatillo and jalapeno dressing in wraps and burgers as a spread – it adds a spicy hit along with a gorgeous refreshing note. It stands up well against other flavors, too. When I use this in a wrap I can still pick out all of the flavors in the sauce.

Jalapeno and Tomatillo salad dressing recipe - vegan and oil free

Creamy Jalapeno and Tomatillo (or apple) Spread

This creamy and 2delicious bright and spicy spread can be used as either a spread, dip, or salad dressing. Great for burgers, bowls or salads it's very versatile. No tomatillos? No problem – perfect and easy to find year-round substitute offered.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Sauces, Spreads & Condiments
Cuisine: American, Fusion
Keyword: jalapenos, sunflower seeds, tomatillos
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 16 Servings
Calories: 41kcal
Author: Jen deHaan

Ingredients

  • 8 oz tomatillos Substitute apple slices, see notes
  • 1/3 cup sunflower seeds See notes
  • 1/3 cup cashews Or substitute more sunflower seeds, see notes
  • 3 cloves garlic Or 2 tsp garlic powder, more to taste
  • 1 jalapeno Seeded, or not, or partially seeded
  • 3 Tbsp lime juice Substitute lemon juice if desired
  • 3 Tbsp parsley Fresh, or 1.5 Tbsp dried
  • 1 Tbsp onion powder Powder, granulated, or flakes
  • 2 Tbsp white vinegar Substitue apple cider vinegar if desired
  • 2 Tbsp dijon mustard Substitue yellow mustard if desired, omit for SOS-free
  • 2 tsp dill Dried, or 2 Tbsp fresh
  • 1 tsp salt Optional, omit for SOS-free
  • Plant-based milk or water Optional. Such as oat milk. See notes

Instructions

  • Dehusk and wash the tomatillos, and add to the blender. Leave in the cores. I use raw tomatillos for this recipe, however you could try roasting them if desired.
  • Add all remaining ingredients and blend until creamy and smooth, adding a bit of oat milk or water if needed to blend.
  • If you want to use this as a salad dressing, add a bit more oat milk or lime juice until you reach the desired consistency.
  • Store refrigerated in an air-tight container.

Notes

Makes about 2 cups of thick dressing/spread
Plant-based milk: Only if needed to blend, or thin down for salad dressing. The tomatillos I grow are very fresh and carry a lot of liquid in their cores, so I do not need any additional to blend this dressing. However tomatillos and water content varies. I prefer oat milk or a similar neutral plant-based milk for dressings.
Nutrition Facts
Creamy Jalapeno and Tomatillo (or apple) Spread
Serving Size
 
2 Tbsp
Amount per Serving
Calories
41
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
3
g
5
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Sodium
 
168
mg
7
%
Potassium
 
90
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
 
3
g
1
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
1
g
2
%
Vitamin A
 
86
IU
2
%
Vitamin C
 
5
mg
6
%
Calcium
 
9
mg
1
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe? Customized it?Let us know how it was in the comments!

Substitutions and changes

Tomatillos: Substitute apples or goldenberries for a very similar result.

Jalapenos: Spice this dressing up by leaving in the seeds and veins in your jalapeno. I removed about half of them for a medium heat level. This will depend a lot on how large and ripe your jalapeno is, and what your tolerance is like. If you want it spicier, use a serrano instead.

Cashews and sunflower seeds: I often use all sunflower seeds instead of half cashews, half seeds for this dip. Cashews mostly make the end result a bit creamier and provide a bit more depth of flavor. You can also substitute chickpeas, chickpea flour, or white beans for all or some of the nuts and seeds.

Nut or seed free: Use chickpeas white beans instead of cashews and sunflower seeds.

Garlic: You could substitute fresh ginger root for this ingredient – it will change the result quite a bit, but works well with the rest of the flavors.

Dill: Using dill gives this dressing a slightly ranch feel. If you want to use this in burritos, for example, you might want to omit dill or use parsley instead.

Other substitutes are noted in the recipe itself.

For SOS-free Tomatillo and jalapeno dressing (salt, oil, sugar free)

For a SOS-free Tomatillo and jalapeno dressing, omit the salt and use yellow-mustard powder instead of mustard. Or, ensure that your prepared mustard is sodium free.

Add additional lime or lemon juice to taste. This often helps a lot with flavor enhancement in a sodium free dish (hits the same elements of the brain).

For more dips and dressing and sauces on our site, see this page!

Tomatillo and jalapeno dressing or dip is oil free and vegan.
This creamy oil free vegan dressing or dip features refreshing ingredients – jalapenos and tomatillos. Subsitutes are offered if you can’t find tomatillos or they are out of season.
Jen deHaan
Jen deHaan

Jen is a plant-based nutrition enthusiast and vegan living in British Columbia, Canada. She has over 20 years experience in software, graphics, and art, including many years in Silicon Valley corporations. Jen completed the Developing Healthy Communities graduate program at Tufts University's Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Jen really likes dogs and dancing too.

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5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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