Sesame Ginger Dressing

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.

Sesame Ginger Dressing being poured over a salad in a bowl.

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 (bottled in a pinch) 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.

whisking Sesame Ginger Dressing in a jar

Finely grate the ginger so it blends into the dressing nicely without becoming stringy.
For a smoother dressing, blend it for 10 to 15 seconds before stirring in the sesame seeds.
Start with less Sriracha and slowly add more after tasting to ensure it isn’t too spicy.

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

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image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Combine all ingredients in a jar and shake well to combine.
Enjoy over salads, as a marinade, in stir fries or as a dip.

Homemade Sesame dressing should be refrigerated right after making and kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dressing

Cuisine Asian

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