Honey Almond: Dressing, sauce, spread, mousse? Your pick. VG. GF.

Honey and almonds pair so well together! The combination with lemon juice makes a luscious and protein-packed dressing in less than 5 minutes that is good for vegans. We continue to show that plant-based food is no compromise on flavor and nutrition—quite the contrary.

We have few dressings at home. And along with the lemon date tahini, this one has multiple roles. My older son could have a generous helping for breakfast—thick, creamy, mousse-like. Or for a snack, or dessert.

With a little imagination, putting together good plant-based food that can be vegan and gluten-free, is easy.

Pairing

1. Shredded romaine and a medley of heirloom grape tomatoes, any tomato. VG, GF.

2. Shredded romaine with cucumbers, tomatoes, mixed peppers. VG, GF.

3. Like a sauce over roasted vegetables: beets, parsnips, carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower. VG, GF.

4. Thickly spread on bread to make open-faced sandwiches with thinly sliced beets and cucumbers, or tomatoes and avocado, or beet and avocado, etc. VG (Use GF bread.)

5. As a dessert or breakfast with some fresh fruit. Or for snacking. VG. GF.

6. As a dip with warm pita, tapas style. VG. (Use warm corn or other GF tortillas or tortilla chips to make it affordable.)

Ingredients

1 cup blanched super fine/finely sifted almond flour (we use Blue Diamond)

Zest of a lemon

1/4 lemon juice from the zested lemon (to taste)

1 tablespoon good honey (2-3 finely chopped dates or to taste for vegans and Jains)

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4-1 cup water

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (we use unfiltered but that it not necessary)

Method

Blend everything together on ice-crush setting on a regular blender or regular setting for super powerful blenders. Blend till totally smooth and creamy drizzling more water if needed. Taste and adjust if needed.

Store in an airtight glass container/jar in the fridge for up to 10 days.

It will get thicker as it “sets” in the fridge and it can be diluted with water/water and oil, orange juice. This dressing is not good runny as the flavor gets diluted and it will not adhere and coat well.

Preparation: 5-7 minutes

Makes 1 1/2 to 2 cups