Japanese Ginger Salad Dressing Recipe | A Spicy Perspective (2024)

Japanese Ginger Salad Dressing Recipe – Your favorite restaurant-style Japanese Ginger Dressing is easy to make at home, in just minutes, with a handful of simple, healthy ingredients!

Why We Love This Japanese Ginger Salad Dressing Recipe

We love our local Japanese hibachi restaurant.

Hibachi literally means “fire bowl” in Japanese, and the chefs take great care to provide both a delicious dining experience and a tantalizing live cooking show as food is prepared on a large, hot, flaming grill in front of diners.

Before the flames get going, the first course of the meal is traditionally a simple green salad topped with a fresh and bright carrot and ginger dressing. It is by far my kids’ favorite, and I love to see how happy they are to gobble up every bit of veggies that the dressing has touched!

Want to see that same enthusiasm for salad in your home?

We have perfectly replicated that slightly sweet, tangy, incredibly crave-able taste with our easy and healthy homemade Japanese Ginger Salad Dressing Recipe!

This vegetarian and vegan-friendly salad dressing is made with fresh veggies and a handful of pantry staples and is ready to enjoy over crisp romaine or iceberg lettuce in only about 10 minutes.

Best served cold on chilled greens, you definitely want to add this refreshing carrot and ginger dressing to your must-make summer menu!

Ingredients You Need

It is hard to believe all of that bright, perky flavor comes from such a small list of ingredients. But it’s true!

The perfect blend of fresh veggies and ginger, vinegar and oil, salt, and sugar create an incredibly balanced dressing you’ll want to pour over your salad.

Here are the ingredients you need to make the Best Restaurant-Style Japanese Dressing:

• Carrots – fresh carrots, chopped
• Onion – use white onion or shallots if you have them on hand
• Celery – chopped
• Rice vinegar – for a hint of tang
• Canola oil – or any neutral flavor oil like vegetable oil or avocado oil
• Fresh grated ginger – fresh ginger is key!
• Granulated sugar – to balance all the flavors and add just a hint of sweetness
• Soy sauce – for a bit of umami goodness!
• Garlic – fresh garlic is best

I prefer to use gluten-free and low-sodium soy sauce and nearly flavorless canola oil for this Japanese recipe. That way the ginger and carrot flavors really stand out!

How to Make Japanese Ginger Dressing from Scratch

You only need a blender and 10 minutes to make the best Japanese Ginger Salad Dressing at home that tastes just like your favorite hibachi-style sauce!

First, roughly chop all of the produce. Place in the blender.

Add all other ingredients to the blender. If you are sensitive to sodium, start with 1 tablespoon of soy sauce. You can always add more if needed!

Cover the blender and turn on high. Puree until smooth.

Taste, then add more soy sauce if desired. Refrigerate until ready to serve!

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy it on just romaine or iceberg lettuce for a classic Japanese restaurant-style salad.

Load down your greens of choice with even more fresh veggies, like cucumbers and tomatoes, for nutritious and hearty side salads that the entire family will love!

It would be delicious with a rainbow chopped salad or Asian-inspired salad!

Tips & Tricks

• For more umami flavor, add a little bit of miso paste! Cut back on the soy sauce in that case, though, since both are high in sodium!
• Instead of soy sauce, you can use coconut aminos for less sodium!
• You can use rice vinegar, rice wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar. Any of these will add a good amount of acid to the dressing!

Get the Complete (Printable) Japanese Ginger Salad Dressing Recipe Below. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Will This Recipe Last In The Fridge?

You can keep this homemade ginger salad dressing in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge.

Is Ginger Salad Dressing Healthy?

The large content of ginger and vegetables in this salad dressing means there are some health benefits! However, the oil does add a decent amount of fat into the homemade ginger dressing, so it should still be consumed in moderation!

Is This Recipe Gluten-Free?

Japanese Ginger Dressing can be made GF by using a gluten-free soy sauce or liquid aminos.

How Can I Make This Recipe Paleo?

Easily make this as a paleo-friendly salad dressing recipe by substituting honey for the granulated sugar, coconut liquid aminos for the soy sauce, and your favorite light flavored oil – like avocado oil – in place of the canola oil. Keep in mind that using honey will make the recipe not vegan-friendly. Swap the honey for agave to make a paleo and vegan dressing!

Can I Use a Food Processor Instead?

You can definitely make this Japanese salad dressing in a food processor, however, it will not turn out as smooth! If you want a perfectly smooth dressing with no chunks, it is best to use a blender.

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