This easy sesame ginger dressing is a creamy, flavorful dressing made with toasted sesame oil, fresh ginger, lime juice, tamari, rice vinegar, and tahini. It's perfect for Asian-inspired salads, grain bowls, slaws, noodles, chicken, shrimp, and vegetables. Shake or blend it together in minutes for a fresh homemade dressing that's far better than bottled.
The combination of nutty toasted sesame oil, fresh ginger, and lime creates a balanced dressing that's savory, tangy, and lightly sweetened. Make a batch ahead to keep in the refrigerator for quick lunches, meal prep, and easy weeknight meals. I especially love it with cabbage salads and as a dipping sauce for grilled chicken, shrimp, and sesame salmon.
Sesame Ginger Dressing Recipe Snapshot
- Creamy with good cling - Tahini gives the dressing enough body to coat salads, slaws, noodles, and grain bowls.
- Bold sesame flavor - Toasted sesame oil and tahini create a rich, nutty, toasty flavor.
- Bright and tangy - Rice vinegar and fresh lime juice balance the richness.
- Quick to make - Blend everything together in just a minute.
- Versatile - Use it on salads, cabbage slaw, salmon, chicken, shrimp, noodles, vegetables, or grain bowls.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Neutral oil - Use avocado oil or another neutral-tasting oil (like Zero Acre Oil).
- Toasted sesame oil - Adds the dressing's rich, toasty sesame flavor.
- Unseasoned rice vinegar - Be sure to buy unseasoned rice vinegar so there is no added sugar or seasoning.
- Tahini - Sesame seed paste, for a creamy dressing with a little nutty flavor.
- Lime juice - Fresh lime juice adds bright acidity to balance the dressing.
- Tamari or soy sauce - Use tamari for gluten-free, or low-sodium soy sauce if gluten is not a concern.
- Sweetener - Choose honey or maple syrup to lightly sweeten and balance the dressing.
- Ginger - I use convenient jarred ginger purée, but fresh ginger works perfectly too. Finely grate it with a Microplane.
- Garlic - Adds savory depth.
- White sesame seeds - Optional, for a little extra sesame flavor and texture.
Please see the recipe card for measurements.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use a nut butter - Replace the tahini with 1-2 tablespoons almond butter or cashew butter. If the dressing is too thick, blend in a little water until pourable.
- No soy - For a soy-free alternative, look for San-J No Soy Tamari (it is terrific). Another option is coconut aminos but the flavor is better with the San-J.
How to Make Sesame Ginger Dressing
- Add all of the ingredients to a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously until combined.
- For the smoothest, creamiest dressing, puree the ingredients in a small blender until emulsified. Taste and adjust with additional lime juice, tamari, or sweetener if needed.
Serving Suggestions
Toss sesame ginger dressing with crisp greens, shredded cabbage, kale, or spinach, or use it for Asian-inspired slaws and chopped salads. It's also delicious with soba noodles or other cold noodle salads, and drizzled over broccoli, roasted asparagus, roasted vegetables, chicken, shrimp, salmon, or other fish.
Serve it as a dipping sauce for spring rolls, turkey lettuce wraps, fresh vegetables, or grilled skewers. It's so flavorful, you may be tempted to drink it straight from the jar.
Recipe FAQs
Store it in a sealed jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Shake or whisk before serving.
Yes. Make it several hours or a day ahead so the ginger, garlic, sesame, and lime flavors have time to blend.
It is gluten-free when made with tamari labeled gluten-free instead of regular soy sauce. Check all labels if cooking for someone with celiac disease or a serious gluten sensitivity.
More Dressing Recipes
Homemade dressing and vinaigrettes sure beat store-bought dressings, and they are so easy and fast to make. Try some of these to dress salads, bowls, veggies, and more.
If You Make Sesame Ginger Dressing
Please drop me a comment and let me know what you served it with. I love hearing from you, and your comments help other readers too.
📖 Recipe
Sesame Ginger Dressing
Equipment
- Small blender or a jar with a tight fitting jar
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup avocado oil or a neutral oil
- 3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 3 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
- 2 tablespoons low sodium GF tamari or soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons tahini or cashew butter
- 1 1 /2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon jar ginger puree or finely zested fresh ginger
- 1 small garlic clove finely zested
- 1-2 teaspoons white sesame seeds optional
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Instructions
- Add everything to a small blender and puree until smooth. Without a blender, add to a jar with a tight fitting lid and shake well until smooth.
Nutrition
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