Asian Salad Dressing

We love Asian flavors in the C&D household! And not too many things beat a good, homemade salad dressing and I love experimenting and sharing our favorites here. This Asian salad dressing recipe definitely checks off the box for an easy, tasty dressing and I’m excited for you to give it a try! I like to pair this dressing with my Asian Chicken Salad recipe – it’s a bright, flavorful salad topped with grilled chicken and this delicious Asian salad dressing.

Ingredients needed

This Asian salad dressing recipe is made up of simple, easy-to-find ingredients – most of which you probably have on hand already! I use rice wine vinegar, coconut aminos, and sesame oil in most of my Asian-inspired recipes. They all last for quite some time in either the fridge or pantry, so I always make sure I’m fully stocked! Here’s what you’ll need:

• Extra virgin olive oil – The base of this vinaigrette is a combo of olive oil with a touch of sesame oil.
• Sesame oil – Balances the tang from the rice vinegar and the saltiness of the coconut aminos with its rich, slightly nutty flavor. The depth this oil gives the dressing is incredible. 
• Rice wine vinegar – Adds a delicious Asian flair to the dressing!
• Coconut aminos – A dark-colored sauce that tastes similar to soy sauce. However, it has 73 percent less sodium than soy sauce. And is great for people with allergies or food sensitivities, it’s soy and gluten free.
• Honey – For sweetening the dressing. Feel free to sub with agave, brown sugar, or maple syrup to make it vegan!
• Garlic – Crushed fresh garlic adds that classic garlicky flavor that pairs so well with all of the other flavors in this recipe.
• Sea salt – Just a pinch brings all of the flavors together.

How to make this dressing

This Asian vinaigrette could not be easier to make at home! There’s simply no need for store-bought salad dressings when you have one as easy and delicious as this! In my opinion, homemade dressings are the way to go because they always taste so much fresher, plus you get complete control over the ingredients.

Just follow a few simple steps to make this homemade dressing recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full printable recipe.

• Whisk ingredients. I like to mix my ingredients in a small glass jar with a lid. Simply, add all of the ingredients into a mason or other type of jar, screw on the lid tightly and shake vigorously. Alternatively, you can combine the ingredients with a fork in a small bowl or jar.
• Taste. Give your dressing a taste and add any additional ingredients, like more honey or more salt, as needed.
• Store. All done! Allow the flavors to meld together at room temperature while preparing your salad. Or store your dressing in the refrigerator to use later.

Variations & tips

• This dressing works great as a marinade. Add the dressing to a large resealable bag or large dish with about 1 pound of chicken. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before cooking the chicken.
• Dressings can easily be adjusted to personal preference, so taste and adapt as preferred. You may want to add a bit more honey if you like things sweeter or a little more vinegar for more tang.
• Don’t have sesame oil available? Sub with a neutral flavored oil and add in a bit of tahini!
• Use garlic powder, if you don’t happen to have fresh garlic. Keep in mind that 1 clove of garlic is equal to 1/2 tsp minced garlic or 1/8 tsp garlic powder.

Ways to use the dressing

This Asian salad dressing is super versatile! Here’s some of the ways we love to use it:

• Salads – Perfect for topping all sorts of salads. Try it over a simple baby kale, spinach salad or even use it to make an Asian coleslaw.
• Marinade – As mentioned above this dressing works great as a marinade for chicken!
• Dip – This dressing is delicious as a dip for spring rolls, egg rolls and other Asian finger foods.
• Pasta Salad – Make an Asian-flavored pasta salad with this dressing.

How to store

Store the dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to about 7 days. To enjoy it at room temperature, take it out of the fridge 30 minutes prior to use and be sure to shake or stir well before using.

More homemade dressing recipes

Looking for more salad dressings? Give these favs a try:

• Greek Yogurt Blue Cheese
• 3 Easy DIY Salad Dressings
• Beet Salad Dressing
• Apple Cider Vinaigrette
• Basic Vinaigrette Recipe

Thanks so much for reading! If you make this recipe I would love for you to give it a ★ rating below.  And be sure to follow me on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook for more healthy food inspiration. Cheers!