Ginger Dressing

This zesty ginger dressing is easy to pull together and tastes great on a salad!

One of my favorite things about making salads at home is making homemade salad dressings. They taste so much better than store-bought ones and elevate your salad.

You're going to love this versatile dressing - it's great on salads, grilled vegetables, as a dipping sauce, as a marinade, or on roast chicken.

This fantastic homemade dressing is tangy, flavorful, and ready in just a few minutes!

You may be familiar with ginger dressings from Japanese restaurants - this is a similarly flavored dressing.

The Dijon mustard adds great flavor but it also helps emulsify the dressing. Dressings like this one, which are primarily vinaigrettes, will continue to separate unless they have a binder like mustard, mayo, egg, or xanthan gum. You only need a small amount but it makes the dressing so much better!

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions & Variations
• Tips for Making this Recipe
• Storage
• FAQs About Ginger Dressing
• Where to Use Ginger Dressing
• More Great Dressing Recipes
• Ginger Dressing

Ingredients

You'll need just a few, simple ingredients to make this recipe.

• Olive oil - Use extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor. If you don't have olive oil, you can use other neutral vegetable oils like canola oil, avocado or soybean oil.
• Rice wine vinegar - Also known as rice vinegar. You may find it at the store under either name. 
• Fresh ginger - You'll need about a 2" piece of fresh ginger root for this dressing.
• Soy sauce - Feel free to use regular soy sauce or low-sodium soy sauce, depending on your preference. Coconut aminos can be substituted for the soy sauce, but you may need a bit more salt. Tamari can be substituted 1:1 for soy sauce for gluten free. 
• Lime juice - Use lime juice from fresh squeezed limes. You can swap the lime juice for lemon juice if it's all you have on hand.
• Garlic cloves - Use fresh garlic cloves and make sure they don't have mushy spots, sprouts or other signs of bad garlic. 
• Dijon mustard - Don't leave out the Dijon mustard. It helps cream the dressing together and gives it a bit of extra tangy brine flavor. 

Instructions

Grate the ginger and garlic using a Microplane or box grater.

In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, rice wine vinegar, grated ginger, soy sauce, lime juice, grated garlic, and dijon mustard.

Whisk till fully combined. 

Use immediately or save for up to 6 days in the refrigerator.

Substitutions & Variations

• Sesame - If you'd like to make this a sesame ginger dressing, you can add sesame seeds or toasted sesame oil.
• Sweetener - If you want to add a bit of sweetness, you can add a teaspoon of honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar.

Tips for Making this Recipe

There's no need for fancy equipment for this recipe, but you can roughly chop the garlic and ginger and add all ingredients to a food processor if you prefer. 

Storage

This dressing will keep for up to 4 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

FAQs About Ginger Dressing

Can I use ground ginger instead of fresh ginger in this dressing?

You won't get exactly the same flavor with ground ginger, but if it's all you have on hand, you can use half the amount of ground ginger you would for fresh. So you can substitute 1 tablespoon of ground ginger in this recipe. Just make sure your ground ginger is from a fresh jar. 

What can I substitute for soy sauce in ginger dressing?

If you need a gluten-free soy sauce option, Tamari can be substituted one for one without any impact on taste in this dressing recipe. Coconut aminos is another gluten-free option, but it will slightly alter the taste. If using coconut aminos, you may need to add a bit more salt. Coconut aminos will add a light sweetness, which would be great in this dressing. 

Is ginger dressing healthy?

Not all ginger dressings are healthy, but this recipe is considered healthy since it uses simple, healthy ingredients. It's also so delicious, it may make you more likely to eat more green salads.

Can I freeze ginger dressing?

Ginger dressing won't freeze well, but if you plan to use it as a marinade, you can freeze it and thaw it before adding meat. 

Where to Use Ginger Dressing

 This easy dressing is great on a salad or roasted vegetables. Give it a try on one of these recipes:

• Savoy Cabbage Salad - This flavorful chopped salad is topped with this exact dressing and tastes wonderful.
• The Easiest Green Salad - This tasty side salad would be elevated with a tangy ginger dressing.
• Rainbow Carrot Salad with Quinoa - This warm salad would taste great with ginger dressing.

More Great Dressing Recipes

If you enjoy homemade dressings and sauces, try one of these other great recipes!

• Honey Dijon Dressing - This dressing is even better than the store-bought version, it's a perfect blend of savory and sweet.
• Creamy Dill Dressing - This tangy dressing pairs well with leafy green salads or can be used as a dipping sauce for crudites or drizzled over roasted vegetables or potato salad.
• Citrus Honey Salad Dressing - Try this homemade dressing if you are looking for a fresh and bright recipe with sweet and tangy flavors that is easy to make.
• Healthy Ranch Dressing - This easy ranch dressing recipe is delicious on just about any salad and makes a delicious dipping sauce. 

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