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!

Print

More Recipes

• Garlic Confit
• Mushroom Quesadilla
• Maple Glazed Carrots
• Vegan Pesto