While some recipes benefit from a long list of ingredients, sesame dressing isn’t one of them. Made with just four everyday ingredients and ready in under five minutes, this Asian sesame dressing will quickly take your salad game to new levels of deliciousness.
To make this simple dressing, all you’ll need is a bit of toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce and granulated sugar. It’s quick, cost-effective and bursting with flavors that pair perfectly with an array of Asian salad recipes, sides, appetizers and entrees.
Make it once, and we promise you’ll be hunting for ways to incorporate this sesame salad dressing into every green salad you make. It’s a total upgrade from store-bought dressing, and we simply cannot get enough of it.
Ingredients for Sesame Dressing
- Toasted sesame oil: Toasted sesame oil is perfect for Asian dressings because it has another layer of intense flavor and aroma that you just don’t get in plain sesame oil. There are plenty of sesame recipes to use up your bottle if you’ve bought it specially for this recipe.
- Rice vinegar: Made from fermenting rice wine, rice vinegar is sweeter and less acidic than other types of vinegar. We like to use unseasoned white rice vinegar for this easy sesame dressing recipe, but you can experiment with other types, like brown rice vinegar or seasoned rice vinegar.
- Soy sauce: Add a touch of rich umami flavor to the dressing with the best soy sauce. It balances the sweetness of the rice vinegar and sugar. If you are watching your sodium levels, opt for low-sodium soy sauce. For a gluten-free sesame salad dressing, use tamari.
- Sugar: Regular white sugar adds a sweetness to the sesame dressing that complements the tangy rice vinegar, salty soy sauce and nutty sesame oil.
Directions
Step 1: Combine the ingredients
In a small bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients (you could also combine using a mini food processor).
Step 2: Cover and store
Cover and store any extra dressing in the refrigerator.
Editor’s Tip: This recipe yields approximately 1 cup dressing. Scale the recipe as needed to suit your needs and application.
Recipe Variations
- Sesame oil options: For a more mild-tasting sesame salad dressing (or if you plan to use this dressing as a marinade), you can opt for regular sesame oil. Regular sesame oil is a better choice in cooking applications since toasted sesame oil can taste bitter or burnt when exposed to high heat.
- Spicy sesame dressing: For a spicy version, add a few pinches of crushed red pepper flakes or Korean gochugaru.
- Different sweetener: For a natural sugar alternative, you can make an Asian sesame dressing with an equal amount of honey instead.
- Mix-ins: For texture and flecks of color, add 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds to the dressing or finely chopped chives. For a burst of flavor, add up to 2 teaspoons minced ginger or garlic.
How long does sesame dressing last?
We recommend mixing and storing this Asian sesame dressing recipe in a glass jar with a tightly fitted lid, such as a Mason jar, and refrigerating it for up to two weeks. If the dressing separates during storage, give the covered jar a gentle shake before using.
Sesame Dressing Tips
How do you use sesame dressing?
This sesame dressing is perfect over a homemade side salad with mandarin oranges, sliced almonds and chow mein noodles. Or use it as a salad dressing for Thai-style cobb salad and Asian slaw. A hearty Asian lettuce salad is another excellent choice.
It also makes a wonderful, zippy marinade for grilled chicken, pork and tofu. Finally, use the dressing as a dip for fresh spring rolls and steamed vegetables like broccoli.
Why does my salad dressing separate?
Homemade and store-bought vinaigrettes will almost always separate when stored unless they contain additives that help stabilize the ingredients. Dressing separation is natural and nothing to worry about. It’s not a sign that your sesame dressing has gone bad. Give it a good shake before serving to recombine the ingredients.
