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    Home » Recipes » Condiments & Dips

    Carrot Ginger Dressing (Japanese Restaurant-style Salad Dressing)

    May 12, 2020 • Updated: July 19, 2022 • by Renée B. • This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe
    Carrot Ginger Dressing (Japanese Restaurant-style Salad Dressing)

    Carrot Ginger Dressing is a light, refreshing salad dressing that is simply irresistible! (It’s like your favorite Japanese restaurant dressing, only fresher!)

    Overhead shot of a bottle of Carrot Ginger Dressing on a tray with dressed greens.
    Jump to:
    • What's the Story Behind this Recipe?
    • Why You Will Love this Recipe
    • What Goes into this Recipe
    • How to Make Restaurant-style Carrot Ginger Dressing
    • FAQs & Expert Tips
    • More Fresh Salad Dressing Recipes
    • Carrot Ginger Dressing (Japanese Restaurant-style Salad Dressing)

    What's the Story Behind this Recipe?

    There's a little place near my house – Mr Bento’s – that serves the best teriyaki salmon burger! I always order it in a meal, which arrives on a quarter-sheet pan with four pot stickers and a cold, crisp green salad on the side. I look forward to that side salad nearly as much as the salmon burger itself: I just can’t resist that delicious Carrot Ginger Salad Dressing!

    At one point about a month ago, I was jonesing hard for something fresh and light and bright to satisfy my umami urges. All I wanted in life was a big green salad doused with Mr Bento's dressing. No salmon burger. No potstickers. Just the salad. 

    So I decided to figure out how to make Carrot Ginger Dressing for myself. Honestly, I was blown away when I learned how easy this is to make!

    Why You Will Love this Recipe

    If you aren't making your own salad dressings yet, consider this: most dressings (including this one) take less than ten minutes to mix up. You save a ton of money, and the food you eat is fresher and healthier. 

    The only downside is, homemade dressings do not last ten or twelve months in the fridge. (On the other hand, is that really a downside?) 

    This easy blender dressing recipe has so many great things going for it: it’s super-fast to pull together, naturally dairy-free and vegan, and has no added sugar. (The carrots add just the right amount of sweetness.) The teaspoon of orange zest enhances and brightens the natural carrot and ginger flavors.

    In addition to the easy prep and fabulous flavor, one of the things we love most about this dressing is the stunning color it brings to the plate, especially when paired with leafy greens.

    What Goes into this Recipe

    Japanese Carrot Ginger Dressing has a simple, pantry-friendly list of ingredients.

    Carrot Ginger Dressing ingredients: carrots, ginger, orange zest, sesame oil, seasoned rice vinegar, soy sauce, onion, water.

    Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

    ★ Carrots: This dressing is actually a great way to use those rubbery carrots that are a little past their use-by date. Be sure to peel them first.

    ★ Ginger: Use fresh, peeled ginger. For easy peeling, use the edge of a spoon against the root instead of a peeler or knife.

    ★ Orange zest: Use fresh orange zest. Dried orange zest is not a good option.

    ★ Sesame oil: Sesame oil is a small but vital component to this recipe. Use a high-quality sesame oil, and make sure it is fresh. 

    ★ Seasoned rice vinegar: Seasoned rice wine vinegar is sweeter than regular rice wine vinegar, and brings bit more flavor to the overall dish.

    Substitutions: Rice wine vinegar, or white wine vinegar.

    ★ Soy sauce: Use tamari or light soy sauce if you have it. Light soy sauce is thinner and not as strong-tasting as dark soy sauce.

    How to Make Restaurant-style Carrot Ginger Dressing

    Combine all ingredients in blender cup and blend until smooth.

    Overhead shot of Dressing Ingredients in a blender cup.

    That's it. You're done!

    Bottle of Carrot Ginger Dressing on a tray with dressed greens.

    FAQs & Expert Tips


    Carrot Ginger Dressing isn’t just for salad! Try it on salmon (so good!) or other grilled fish, rice, spring rolls, sautéed greens, sandwiches, noodles, steak, shrimp, and roasted vegetables.

    If your dressing seems too thick, you can thin it with a little more water. We prefer to make this dressing quite thick, and then add water as needed. That way, it can also double as a dip.

    More Fresh Salad Dressing Recipes

    • Fresh Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
    • Authentic Thousand Island Dressing
    • Original Taco House Fiesta Dressing
    • Creamy Russian Dressing

    For more recipes and cozy living tips, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for all of the latest updates.

    Carrot Ginger Dressing (Japanese Restaurant-style Salad Dressing) recipe
    5 from 6 votes

    Carrot Ginger Dressing (Japanese Restaurant-style Salad Dressing)

    Naturally sweet and slightly tangy, Carrot Ginger Dressing is a light, refreshing salad dressing that is simply irresistible! (It’s like your favorite Japanese restaurant dressing, only fresher!)
    Print Pin Add to Shopping List Go to Shopping List
    Course: Condiment, Salad, Sauce
    Cuisine: Asian Fusion
    Diet: Gluten Free, Low Lactose, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time:10 minutes
    Total Time:10 minutes
    Servings: 16 servings
    Calories: 57kcal
    Author: Renee
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 1 Blender

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Metric
    • ½ pound coarsely chopped carrots
    • ⅓ cup canola oil or extra-light olive oil, or other light, neutral oil
    • ⅓ cup fresh ginger peeled & coarsely chopped [1.5 ounces]
    • ¼ cup seasoned rice vinegar
    • 3 tablespoons red onion coarsely chopped
    • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce or tamari
    • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
    • 1 teaspoon fresh orange zest
    • 1 tablespoon water as needed

    Instructions

    • Combine all ingredients in blender cup.
    • Blend until smooth.
      If your dressing seems too thick, you can thin it with a little more water.

    Notes

    We prefer to make this dressing quite thick, and then add water as needed. That way, it can also double as a dip.

    Dressing may be refrigerated for a two weeks. (Probably longer, but it doesn't last that long at our house.)

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 57kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 73mg | Potassium: 59mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2368IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg
    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details.

    More Condiments & Dips

    • Orange Spiced Cranberry Sauce
    • 2-Ingredient Creamy Peanut Butter Dip
    • Slow Cooker Pumpkin Butter
    • Simple Berry Compote
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    About Renée B.

    Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

    Reader Interactions

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    1. Dannii says

      November 04, 2021 at 12:22 am

      5 stars
      This dressing looks so light and fresh. I can't wait to try it.

      Reply
    2. Tara says

      November 03, 2021 at 9:20 pm

      5 stars
      Such a beautiful vivid color! I love how easily this dressing comes together and in only a few minutes too. So perfect for pairing with salads.

      Reply
      • Renée says

        November 03, 2021 at 9:55 pm

        I know - I love the contrast you get with this dressing! It makes for a really nice presentation.

        Reply
    3. Mirlene says

      November 03, 2021 at 7:09 pm

      5 stars
      This is one of my favorite dressings to have on a salad when we go to a Japanese restaurant. I never knew it had carrots. Looking forward to making my own!

      Reply
      • Renée says

        November 03, 2021 at 9:54 pm

        It is surprising, isn't it? Carrots are the secret ingredient in a lot of things! (Homemade tomato soup immediately come to mind.)

        Reply
    4. Cate says

      November 03, 2021 at 5:36 pm

      5 stars
      This dressing is fantastic! So easy and flavorful and love the ginger and sesame.

      Reply
      • Renée says

        November 03, 2021 at 9:52 pm

        Ginger and sesame are such great culinary partners, aren't they‽

        Reply
    5. Erika says

      May 13, 2020 at 1:38 pm

      5 stars
      This dressing is so flavorful and delicious. Pinning too!

      Reply
    6. Cindy says

      May 13, 2020 at 12:22 pm

      I made this today. We LOVED IT. We are always looking for new tasty ways to make dressing. We seem to get caught up in a rut. But this broke us out of that rut. So good!

      Reply
    7. Tawnie Kroll says

      May 13, 2020 at 12:14 pm

      Such a flavorful and tasty recipe! I had so many carrots to use up and this was just the perfect use of them. Thank you!

      Reply
    8. Jennifer says

      May 13, 2020 at 12:03 pm

      5 stars
      I just love the combination of sweetness from the carrots with a bit of heat from the ginger. What a delicious flavor combination.

      Reply

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