Asian Salad Dressing
This 5 Minute Asian Salad Dressing is sweet ‘n savory with a sesame ginger twist that’s incredible! Made with hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and honey, this recipe is great on salads and as a dip!
Try this on my popular Asian Salad recipe!
Growing up, my mom taught me that a hint of spice (okay, way more than a hint) and a hint of sweet would go a long way to making a savory condiment or dish delicious. Today, we’re going to use my mom’s tried and true concept to make the perfect Asian Salad Dressing.
Think: spicy ginger, nutty sesame, and warm honey, all combining to make the best Asian salad dressing! I love using hoisin sauce and rice vinegar to truly amp up the umami in this recipe.
You’ll love adding this recipe onto everything from crisp Asian Salad to stir-fried tofu and Blistered Green Beans to using it as a dipping sauce!
What is Asian Salad Dressing?
Asian salad dressing is a salad dressing that’s inspired by Asian flavors.
For today’s Asian salad dressing, we’ll be using ginger, sesame, honey, and soy sauce to create the perfect dressing for an Asian Salad that’s packed with cabbage, carrots, cilantro, celery and more.
What’s in Asian Salad Dressing?
Asian salad dressing can be made with a variety of ingredients, but I’ve chosen a select and balanced few to hit just the right notes for a tasty dressing.
- Oil – for less guilt, I use extra virgin olive oil, but for those who prefer less flavor from the oil, try something neutral like canola or avocado (which has a very light flavor).
- Sesame oil – I use this sesame oil for a highly potent sesame flavor.
- Rice vinegar – this adds a mild flavor and aroma to your dressing.
- Soy sauce – I use a “less sodium” soy sauce which lowers the sodium content without sacrificing on flavor.
- Ginger – always use fresh ginger for a bright, slightly spicy taste.
- Honey – honey is preferred in this recipe, but you can use maple syrup in a pinch.
- Hoisin sauce – one of the key ingredients in this recipe, hoisin sauce is one of my favorite sauces of all time. It’s the perfect balance between sweet & savory, bringing out the best in many flavorful ingredients & meals.
- Sesame seeds – the prettiest component of this dressing—it signals the sesame flavors you’ll taste from the sesame oil.
How to Make Asian Salad Dressing
I’m going to take you through, step-by-step with instructional photos as we learn how to make Asian Salad Dressing together.
Be sure to check out the detailed instructions & precise ingredients in the recipe card lower in this post.
First, choose an oil and add it to a small mixing bowl. You can use extra virgin olive oil, canola oil, and more.
Second, carefully add in sesame oil. This ingredient is very aromatic and potent, so you don’t want to go overboard with it.
Third, add in the rest of the ingredients: rice vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, honey, and hoisin sauce.
My favorite part is adding in the sesame seeds. Aren’t they pretty?
Fourth, grab your cutest tiny whisk and whisk Asian Salad Dressing until emulsified.
Do you see the color difference when the ingredients are just sitting in separate layers versus when they are truly combined into one?
The Asian salad dressing should have a creamier, more opaque look, with the sesame seeds evenly floating throughout.
Lastly, transfer your homemade Asian ginger sesame dressing to an airtight container.
Then, pour over this incredible Asian Salad and enjoy!
How to Store Asian Salad Dressing
Since this Asian salad dressing is made fresh, you’ll be able to keep it for up to 1 week, maximum.
Be sure to store this dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Also, shake it up thoroughly before using.
Variations
Here are a few flavor variations you can easily make of this homemade dressing recipe.
- Add peanut butter – whisk in 2-3 teaspoons of peanut butter to make it thick and creamy.
- Make it zesty! Add the juice from about ¼ to ½ lime to add a fresh twist
- Swap the honey with maple syrup if you prefer a warm maple tinge to your homemade dressing. Also try my Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts.
- Make it spicy: add in a few squirts of sriracha or a few teaspoons of sambal oelek to add a kick of spice.
- Increase the ginger and sesame: some folks like a thicker sauce with tons of add-ins. Try increasing these two to do so.
More Salad & Vegetable-Rich Recipes
- Asian Salad – this dressing recipe is made especially for this delicious salad!
- Blistered Green Beans
- Roasted Bell Peppers
- Pesto Pasta or Pesto Pasta Salad
- Chickpea Salad
- 7 Layer Salad – simply layer 7 salad ingredients with an amazing homemade dressing to make this beautiful recipe.
- Italian Pasta Salad – we love this recipe so much, we make it weekly!
delicious salad recipes
Asian Salad Dressing
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 bottle 1x
Description
This 5 Minute Asian Salad Dressing is sweet ‘n savory with a sesame ginger twist that’s incredible! Made with hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and honey, this recipe is great on salads and as a dip!
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or neutral cooking oil (avocado, canola, etc.)
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil, or to taste
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon less sodium soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 1/2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1–2 teaspoons sesame seeds
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small mixing bowl. Whisk thoroughly until emulsified.
- Or, add all ingredients to a jar and seal tightly. Shake vigorously until all ingredients have emulsified.
- Serve atop this Asian Salad Recipe and enjoy!
Notes
Storing Instructions: Store in the refrigerator for a maximum of 1 week. Shake well before using.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Condiments
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Asian
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So delicious
Yay! I’m so pleased to hear it, Jenn! 🙂
This is delicious and easy to make! I used minced ginger in a squeeze tube found in the produce section at the grocery store.
Oh how awesome! Good to know the squeeze ginger works. Thanks for taking the time to stop by and let me know how much you’re enjoying the dressing, Daneka!
Girllll you are the sauce queen! I made your outstanding onion ring sauce last week (can’t wait to make your new onion ring recipe!) and now I just made this amazing dressing! It’s delicious! Light and sweet, just how I like it!
LOL what can I say? I do love me a good sauce! 😄 I hope you enjoy the new recipe, and I can tell you from personal experience they taste amazing dipped in this Asian salad dressing. 😉
This was such a quick and easy recipe that does not disappoint! Light, sweet and refreshing; easily, a new favorite recipe!
So glad to hear how much you enjoy it!
The blend of flavors in this dressing is just perfect! I love having this dressing on hand for salads and to dip veggies in!
Oh gosh, I know, right? It’s soo good as a dipping sauce, too! 😋
I made this dressing for my salad at lunch today and it was delicious! Such great flavor!
Woohoo! That’s so great to hear!
This is truly one of my favorite Asian salad dressings. The funny thing is that I’ve never made it at home. Thanks for the detailed and step by step instructions. Can’t wait to dress up my salad with this flavorful dressing tomorrow.
Thanks you, Rosemary! I’m glad you found the instructions helpful. Here’s to more amazing homemade salads in the near future! 😄
Easy recipe, I’d love to make this again. Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful! So glad to hear it! 🙂
I am a sucker for sweet and savory salad dressings. This one is even better with all these Asian flavors.
I’m so happy you’re enjoying it!
This is my new go to salad dressing! I made it with our salad for dinner last night and it was packed with flavor!
That’s so awesome to hear, Tayler!
This was perfect! Just like at our favorite Japanese restaurant. We’ve tried store-bought variations but something was always off. This recipe nails it!
Thanks, Dana! Store bought dressing can be real hit or miss, so I’m glad I was able to help you find the flavors you were craving.
This is one of my new favorite dressings! The flavor is so amazing, and it’s so versatile. I made it for a salad with breaded chicken bites, but I’m thinking next time I’ll use it as a glaze for my salmon.
Love it! I’m so pleased you’re finding so may ways to enjoy it, Beth. 🙂
I want to put this salad dressing on everything. The flavours are insanely good.
Thank you! 😊 I know, I feel like I’ve tried it on everything in my kitchen at this point. 😂
I love this dressing! It is both equal parts sweet as it is savory; was perfect on my salad for dinner this evening! Definitely, a new favorite recipe!
Woohoo! I know, isn’t the sweet/savory combo the best?
Used this with coleslaw mix from the store and it was a hit with dinner!
That’s awesome! Love combining it with a slaw mix. 😉
This salad dressing was full of flavor, easy to make, and tasted great on a salad I made for lunch today!!
That’s awesome! So happy to hear it. 🙂
I love the combination of sweet and savory flavors! This salad dressing looks so good and so easy too with only 5 minutes.
Yes! I’m all about the easy prep recipes–especially if it makes it easier to eat more veggies. 🙂