Asian Salad Dressing

If you’re new to the world of making salad dressings from scratch, this Asian salad dressing is a great place to start. It’s one of those homemade salad dressing recipes you can make with fridge and pantry ingredients if you frequently use Asian-inspired sauces and oils. Plus, it comes together in less than five minutes.

Aside from being ridiculously easy, the dressing has a balanced flavor profile you’ll love. It’s a little tangy, a little spicy and a little savory. It’s the perfect pairing for all of your favorite Asian-inspired salads. And, you know what, when a dressing is this good, why stop at salads? You can use this Asian vinaigrette in Asian slaw, in cold noodle side dishes, as a dipping sauce for spring rolls, and even as a zesty marinade for chicken, pork or beef.

Like many of our favorite homemade vinaigrettes, this easy recipe requires nothing fancy to prepare. Grab a small bowl and a whisk (or even a small mason jar), combine the ingredients, and mix until emulsified. You’re rewarded with no cooking, minimal cleanup and maximum flavor. What could be better?

Ingredients for Asian Salad Dressing

• Soy sauce: This is the base for the Asian salad dressing recipe. For a bolder flavor, try using dark soy sauce. If you’re watching your sodium intake, opt for a low-sodium variety. Here are the best soy sauces we tested.
• Rice vinegar: This type of vinegar is made from fermented rice and has a sweeter flavor profile than other types of vinegar. We like to use unseasoned white rice vinegar, but for a sweeter taste, try seasoned rice vinegar.
• Olive oil: Olive oil is a common base in many salad dressings. In recipes where olive oil is a main ingredient, we find it worth splurging on high-quality olive oil to infuse the dressing with as much flavor as possible.
• Sesame oil: This nutty and aromatic oil is typically found in your Asian food aisle. For this recipe, regular sesame oil will suffice. However, you can also swap for toasted sesame oil (like in this sesame dressing recipe), which will offer a more robust flavor.
• Dijon mustard: For a little zip and acidity, stir in a bit of Dijon mustard.
• Fresh ginger: A staple in many Asian foods, fresh ginger is wonderfully aromatic and gives recipes a zesty kick that’s warm and spicy. Here are more recipes for ginger lovers so you can use up the whole hand.
• Crushed red pepper flakes: This Asian salad dressing recipe is great for those who like a little heat. Reduce or omit the red pepper flakes for a milder-tasting Asian dressing, or increase it if you really want to set your taste buds on fire. You could also experiment by adding a little chili crisp to the dressing.

Directions

Step 1: Combine and shake

Place all ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid, and shake well.

Step 2: Chill until ready to serve

Use immediately on your favorite green salads, or refrigerate until serving.

Editor’s Tip: Homemade dressings, like this easy Asian vinaigrette, will separate as they sit in the fridge. Make sure to give it a good shake to recombine the ingredients before each use.

Taste Recipes

Recipe Variations

• Make a sweet onion Asian vinaigrette: For a sweeter spin, add 2 tablespoons finely minced caramelized onions to the dressing, along with 1 tablespoon honey.
• Try a gluten-free version: For a gluten-free option, opt for tamari rather than soy sauce. You will also want to check the labels of the vinegar and sesame oil to ensure they were processed in a gluten-free certified facility.

How long does Asian salad dressing last?

When made as directed, this homemade Asian salad dressing will keep for up to six weeks in the refrigerator. Store in an airtight container or a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid. One of the bonuses of mason jar recipes is that you can just shake it before using it again without having to transfer it to a special dish or mixing bowl.

Asian Salad Dressing Tips

Taste Recipes

How do you use Asian salad dressing?

This Asian salad dressing recipe is among our favorites to toss with Thai-style cobb salad, sesame almond slaw and easy Asian noodle and beef salad. It also makes a super-tenderizing marinade for grilled chicken breasts, marinated flank steak or grilled pork chops.

How can you thicken Asian salad dressing?

You can thicken Asian salad dressing by adding an egg yolk. Egg yolks are the preferred route to thicken salad dressings because of their consistency and ability to emulsify well with the other ingredients. You’ll need to temper the yolks like you would when making aioli. Here are seven more ways chefs thicken sauces and dressings that you can test out.