Miso Ginger Dressing

This simple but flavorful Miso Ginger Dressing elevates anything it’s drizzled over, including salads, veggies, fish and chicken.

“Such a quick and easy dressing! I quickly whipped up this dressing in 5 minutes and added some to my wrap. Turned my “meh” lunch into something I really enjoyed!”

—Athena

Ginger Miso Dressing is Fast and Flavorful

I make a batch of traditional miso dressing every few weeks, just to keep on hand. It gets drizzled over salads, salmon and chicken, roasted vegetables and just about everything else.

If I happen to have a knob of ginger hanging around, I take the flavor up a few notches with this miso ginger dressing.

There’s no cooking involved, and most of the ingredients will already be in your fridge and pantry. Every time I make a salad with this dressing for a potluck or gathering, people ask me for the recipe!

Ginger Miso Dressing Ingredients

• rice vinegar – this mild Asian white vinegar is my first choice, but white wine vinegar or lime juice is a good sub.
• white miso – my go to brand is Miso Masters, and I use their Organic Mellow White Miso paste. Bon Appetit has a nice article where you can learn about the different types of miso, if you’re curious.
• freshly grated ginger – nothing beats the flavor punch of buying a ginger root and grating it yourself.
• honey – to add a bit of sweetness. Agave nectar is a good sub.
• toasted sesame oil – adds nuttiness and big flavor.
• soy sauce – this seasons (salts) the dressing and adds big umami flavor. Tamari also works.
• sesame seeds – these add texture and extra flavor. Either white or black sesame seeds will work. Toasted sesame seeds are even better!
• canola oil – I wanted to use a neutral oil so that you can taste the miso and ginger more than the oil. The flavor of olive oil can be overpowering here.

What Does Miso Taste Like?

In a nutshell, miso tastes like a flavor explosion. If you’ve never tasted miso, it’s a little bit hard for me to fully describe the experience, because I truly want you to try it for yourself.

But if I had to put it into words, I would say that it’s salty, but in a very pleasant way. It’s a little funky, a little earthy, and a little nutty. It also has a subtle sweetness to it.

Each spoonful of miso has layers and layers of flavor, which is why it’s such a potent ingredient and goes such a long way towards making any meal more flavorful.

Is This Miso Sesame Ginger Dressing Recipe Vegan?

This particular ginger miso dressing recipe is NOT vegan because it contains honey.

However, if you sub agave nectar or maple syrup for honey, this would be completely vegan!

How Long Does Miso Ginger Salad Dressing Last?

This miso ginger salad dressing will last up to a week when kept in a sealed container or jar in the fridge.

This dressing may separate when it’s chilled. It’s no big deal. Allow it to come to room temperature for 15 minutes before shaking or whisking and serving.

What To Do With This Miso Ginger Dressing Recipe

When I make this ginger miso dressing, I usually make a double or even triple batch, because I want to eat it all week long.

The salad in these photos was made using mixed greens, rainbow carrots, radishes, cucumbers and snap peas. This is an easy side salad for my Chilean sea bass recipe, Korean meatballs or even my crab stuffed salmon.

I also love this dressing tossed with spinach or shredded cabbage.