Creamy Sesame-Ginger Dressing

Updated June 27, 2025

Creamy Sesame-Ginger Dressing
Rachel Vanni for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Spencer Richards.
Total Time
15 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes
Rating
5(563)
Comments
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This is the recipe that inspired my book, “Good Things” (Random House, 2025), and my entire palate still puckers with pleasure every time I make it. After I’ve balanced and adjusted the flavors and dipped a bit of lettuce or cabbage into the dressing for a final taste, I always marvel at the way it manages to take every element — salt, acid, umami, fiery ginger, garlic and spice — right to the edge . . . without stepping over.

Featured in: 3 Salad Dressings You Should Memorize

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Ingredients

Yield:1½ cups
  • ¼cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, plus more as needed
  • ¼cup seasoned rice vinegar, plus more as needed
  • 5tablespoons white miso
  • 2tablespoons honey
  • 2teaspoons toasted sesame oil
  • 6garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1(3-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1fresh jalapeño, stemmed (seeded if desired) and sliced
  • ½cup neutral oil
  • Kosher salt
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (3 servings)

469 calories; 41 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 25 grams monounsaturated fat; 12 grams polyunsaturated fat; 24 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 14 grams sugars; 4 grams protein; 1060 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a liquid measuring cup or wide-mouth jar, combine the lemon juice, vinegar, miso, honey, sesame oil, garlic, ginger and chile, and use an immersion blender to blend until smooth. With the immersion blender running, add the neutral oil in a thin stream. (Alternatively, you can use a countertop blender.) Taste and adjust with salt, lemon juice and vinegar as needed.

  2. Step 2

    Cover and refrigerate remaining dressing for up to 1 week.

Tip
  • To make a crunchy cabbage slaw, combine ½ head thinly sliced cabbage, 2 coarsely grated carrots, ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro, 2 scallions thinly sliced on sharp bias, 3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds and 1 cup salted roasted peanuts in a large bowl. Toss with a generous amount of dressing. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Chill for 30 minutes before serving.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
563 user ratings
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Comments

@Maggie South River Miso makes a chickpea and an azuki bean miso neither have soy in them. Also, San-J makes a no soy tamari sauce that is soy free. I hope this helps!

For those concerned about raw garlic bite, here's a tip from Cook's Illustrated I use all the time in dressings: Place unpeeled garlic cloves in a small bowl and microwave for about 15 seconds or until cloves are warm to the touch but not cooked. It prevents allicin from forming - which is what gives raw garlic its bite. https://www.americastestkitchen.com/cooksillustrated/how_tos/6583-taking-the-bite-out-of-garlic

Six cloves of raw garlic can’t be tolerated by many people in such a small volume of dressing. There is no easy sub I do use powdered garlic in small amounts it is gentler on the system.

Finally, a recipe with the correct, and delicious amount of garlic!

I subbed 1.5 tbsp granulated sugar for the honey and personally found this made the dressing a bit sweet. Mine didn’t come out as smooth and creamy as the picture but still very tasty. Like the idea of adding tahini.

Disappointing. Too lemony, too salty, barely any sesame flavor. Here’s my go-to, easy, creamy miso-sesame-ginger dressing: 1 TB light miso 3 TB tahini 1 TB kecap manis (Indonesian sweet soy sauce) or 1 TB soy sauce 1 tsp maple syrup 1/4 c unseasoned rice vinegar Dash Sriracha or other hot sauce, to taste 1 TB finely grated ginger 1 TB toasted sesame oil Whisk all ingredients. Thin as needed with water, mirin or brewed tea.

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