This Sesame Ginger Dressing is tangy, savory, and nutty with fresh ginger, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, and a touch of Sriracha. It takes just minutes to shake together and instantly makes simple salads restaurant-worthy.
This flavorful dressing is great on an Asian noodle salad, a crisp arugula salad, or a fresh leafy greens salad.
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Holly’s Recipe Highlights: Sesame Ginger Dressing
- Flavor: Savory, tangy, and nutty with a bright hint of lime and a subtle kick of heat from Sriracha.
- Skill Level: No cooking required! This beginner-friendly recipe is mixed and chilled.
- Prep Note: This recipe uses fresh garlic, so be sure to store it in the refrigerator right after making and use it within 3 days.
- Serving Suggestions: Great on your favorite salads, drizzled over a salmon bowl, or as a dipping sauce with chicken lettuce wraps.
Total Time: 10 minutes Servings: 21 Tablespoons Cooking Method: Chilled
Ingredient Notes
- The Base: Vegetable oil acts as the perfect base for this dressing, as it doesn’t overpower the other flavors. Swap it for canola, avocado oil, or another neutral-flavored oil.
- Rice Wine Vinegar: Perfect to add a mild tang to this recipe. Use unseasoned rice wine vinegar so the sweetness can be controlled for the best flavor.
- Soy Sauce: Opt for low-sodium soy sauce to control the sodium. Tamari works well for this recipe, too!
- Honey: Sweetens and balances the rice wine vinegar. Can be replaced with maple syrup.
- Aromatics: Fresh minced garlic adds a savory bite while fresh ginger gives this dressing a fresh, gentle heat. Swap the fresh aromatics with ¼ teaspoon each of powdered garlic and ground ginger to extend the shelf life.
- Flavor Boosters: Toasted sesame oil delivers that signature nutty flavor (don’t skip it)! A splash of fresh lime juice (or bottled) adds a punch of citrus, and a teaspoon of Sriracha provides a subtle warmth.
Favorite Variations
- Add Texture: Stir in a teaspoon of sesame seeds for texture and a pretty finish.
- Make it Creamy: Stir in a spoonful of tahini or peanut butter to make this a creamy dressing perfect for sesame ginger noodle salad or Asian slaw.
- Swap the Citrus: Replace the lime juice with fresh-squeezed lemon juice or orange juice for a twist.
How to Make Sesame Ginger Dressing
- Squeeze a lime, mince a clove of garlic, and grate some ginger.
- Measure and add each ingredient (per recipe below) into a jar or cruet and shake to blend.
Storing the Dressing
Store sesame ginger dressing in a glass jar or salad dressing cruet in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Shake well before using, as it will separate as it sits.
Freezing is not recommended.
More Easy Salad Dressings
Did you enjoy this Sesame Ginger Dressing? Leave a comment and rating below!
Ingredients
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons less sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha or to taste
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds optional
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a jar and shake well to combine.
- Enjoy over salads, as a marinade, in stir fries or as a dip.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dressing
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The dressing seems very watery-is 2 tbsp of water a mistake? I made it exactly as directed. It tastes good, but I am afraid it is going to make my salad seems too liquids.
The water is added to keep the mixture from being to salty and pungent.
My family love this recipe! Tastes great on salads.
This was delicious. Forgot the water but it was tasty without! Thank you!
Haven’t tried it yet, but can virtually taste it! Is a serving size 1 tablespoon or 2?
Hi Shelley, serving size is 1 tablespoon :)
Delicious. Made it with more sesame oil and no veg oil, and less soy sauce due to its high sodium content. Added sesame seeds because your picture shows them but they’re not on the ingredient list.
We went to a dinner party where they were preparing Asian short ribs. I made this salad and the dressing and it was AMAZING! Such a hit. Thank you!
Good afternoon,
Am sending this email requesting information. I love the little glass jar your delicious dressing is in….where can I find them? Please help.
I wish I could locate this jar, I get emails about it frequently! I purchased it many years ago from H&M home and they no longer have it. The embossing the jar says “100 lbs Net, Stock No.1”
Unfortunately, there is no other information on the jar to identify.
First of all, love the recipe! I checked the comment section knowing I couldn’t be the only one interested in the jar and was dismayed to find it no longer available.
Thanks for the recipe. I needed a change of pace and it was just what I was looking for!
Made this today in a salad dressing jar; the kind that comes with Italian dressing packets. It’s the perfect size. Wonderful recipe!
Amazing flavors! Thanks for a delicious recipe! Served this on a Savoy cabbage-based salad topped with shrimp. It was delightful!
That sounds delicious, Jennie! So glad you loved it!
This was sooooo good! It’s my new summer salad dressing!
Looks delicious!
Really love this dressing and think it is much better than store bought. The only variation I do is trade the regular oil for olive oil and switch the honey to brown sugar (just a matter of preference and what I had on hand).
It is perfect for asian chicken salad and great as dipping sauce for egg rolls. Thanks for posting this!
Glad you enjoyed it, Diana! And thank you for sharing your substitutions :)
I first came across and love this dressing from a grain bowl store opposite my workplace. Google-d and tried this recipe, all I had to say was it tasted exactly the same! Love it, thank you for sharing!
This is outstanding! I’ve been searching for a dressing with these flavors..and this is it! I did not have fresh ginger or lime.. But used small amount of ground ginger and bottled lime juice. I’m so thrilled I found this recipe!
So happy you finally found it Mary Lou! That is awesome.
My favorite sesame ginger salad dressing is no longer available in any of the store where I shop so thought I’d make my own. This recipe is amazing!! I’m adding it to salads, broccoli slaw and stir fry. It’s my new favorite!
So glad this recipe lived up to your favorite dressing Kathy! That is great to hear :)
Followed this recipe exactly and it was PERFECT. This sauce made some boring steamed veggies, tofu and brown rice taste DELICIOUS – my boyfriend was seriously raving about it. I’ll be making this dressing regularly to keep on hand! Thank you, and I love your site!
Deliss,only added one tablespoon of honey
Delicious and light-tasting. The acidity is perfect. I used lemon instead of lime and substituted kombucha vinegar for one tablespoon (I was running low on ingredients), and it turned out fantastic!
Can you sub out the soy sauce for a non soy like amigos?
Hi Kristin, we have only made the recipe as written. If you sub out the soy sauce let us know how it turns out.
I made it substituting with coconut aminos and found it tastes quite watery. Next time l will try it without adding the water or just add 1 tablespoon.
I did! I used coco aminos, no honey, no water, and I love how it turned out! I used 1/2 seasoned and 1/2 unseasoned rice vinegar, too.
So love your recipes and have made many of them. This Sesame Ginger dressing looks like a winner to me. Thank you.
Do you have th recipe for the salad with red cabbage, carrots and wonton stops as in this picture? I would love to make this.
Hi Sharon, We love this dressing on Asian noodle salad.