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GET IT NOWAfter seeing all the ingredients in bottled and restaurant dressings, I started making my own years ago and never looked back. I’ve whipped up my fair share of condiments, but this sweet and tangy Asian salad dressing is one I created specifically for my Asian salad recipe. And I have to say, it’s pretty amazing. Make it with me in just 5 minutes!
Why You Need My Asian Salad Dressing Recipe
- Sweet, nutty, and tangy taste – The combination of nutty sesame oil, tangy lime juice, sweet honey, and coconut aminos for a burst of umami all give my dressing the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors.
- Quick to make – Like I said, you only need 5 minutes to make this Asian salad dressing. Faster than running to the store!
- Natural ingredients – In fact, you only need 6 of them (plus salt if you’re counting that, and one optional spice from your pantry). And you’ll find none of the mystery additives or refined sugar that store-bought dressings have, so mine is also gluten-free.
- Versatile – I created this homemade Asian dressing for my Asian salad with cabbage and carrots, but it’s so versatile that you’ll want to drizzle it on all your healthy salad recipes.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the ingredients for the best Asian salad dressing, what each one does in my recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Sesame Oil – This is the base of the dressing, and provides the rich, nutty taste. Feel free to use olive oil or avocado oil if you don’t have any or like it more mild. I stick to regular sesame oil, but you can mix 3 tablespoons regular (or any neutral oil) with 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil for a stronger flavor—just avoid using only toasted sesame oil as it can be too intense.
- Lime Juice – For tang. Freshly squeezed lime juice is going to give you the best flavor, but I was in a hurry, so I just used bottled lime juice instead. Rice vinegar (or rice wine vinegar) would make a good substitute if you need one.
- Coconut Aminos – For umami. I try to avoid soy, so coconut aminos is my go-to soy sauce substitute. Plus, it’s a little sweet. If you prefer soy sauce or tamari, feel free to use that instead!
- Honey – For natural sweetness. I use my natural sugar-free honey, which tastes just like the real thing without the sugar! Of course, regular works in this Asian salad dressing, too.
- Aromatics – Including garlic and ginger. You can substitute 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder and a pinch of ground ginger if those are what you have on hand.
- Sea Salt – And an optional pinch of crushed red pepper flakes if you want a kick.
VARIATION: Add sesame seeds!
It’s a nice way to add a little crunch and extra nutty flavor to this Asian sesame dressing.
How To Make Asian Salad Dressing
- Whisk the ingredients. In a small bowl, mix together the sesame oil, lime juice, coconut aminos, honey, garlic, ginger, sea salt, and red pepper flakes (if using). Not much to it!
- Season to taste. Adjust the salt and red pepper flakes to your taste.
TIP: If you’re making this for later, combine the ingredients in a jar instead of a bowl and just shake to combine.
That way, you’re ready to store in the same container.
Storage Instructions
Keep your Asian salad dressing in an airtight jar in the fridge for up 2 weeks. It tends to separate as it sits, so just whisk or shake to freshen it up.
I like to store this dressing in a mason jar for easy mixing, but you can also use a glass salad dressing bottle or a plastic squeeze bottle.
Ways To Use it
This dressing particularly shines in Asian slaws, like my Asian salad (pictured above), but it also works well as a swap in my Ahi tuna salad and cabbage salad.
Plus, it can double as a marinade for baked chicken breast, pan seared pork chops, or air fryer salmon. You can even toss vegetables in Asian dressing before roasting. Just make sure to use only sesame oil that’s not toasted if you’ll be heating it.
More Easy Dressing Recipes
If you enjoyed this Asian salad dressing recipe, you’ll love my other easy dressings made with real food ingredients. A couple of these are Asian-inspired, and the other 2 are just my faves:
Asian Salad Dressing
Whip up my sweet, nutty, and tangy Asian salad dressing recipe in just 5 minutes for your favorite salads and slaws. It's quick and easy!
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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In a small bowl, mix together the sesame oil, lime juice, coconut aminos, honey, garlic, ginger, sea salt and red pepper flakes.
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Adjust the salt and red pepper flakes to taste.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 2 tablespoons
Nutrition info uses sugar free honey.
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Gratitude Moment
I can’t stop with the trip pics, I keep finding more memorable ones as I sort through them.
This is another favorite part from one of our hikes. The entire hike reminded me of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with beautiful trees and curvy branches to climb. But then we came to this clearing with the sun visibly shining through the trees. I felt like I was in a fairytale!
2 Comments
Mia Angelo
0I made a lot of this and stored in bottles and gave some to family. So good and healthy. The asian flavors are good and taste authentic.
Jasel
0I used this on my Asian slaw, and the flavors were amazing. I also marinated some chicken with it, and it turned out so juicy. Great recipe! And Keep sharing those beautiful memories! Love the gratitude section.