This carrot ginger salad dressing tastes just like the dressing you’re served at a Japanese steakhouse restaurant. Bonus: it tastes less than 10 minutes to make!

Carrot Ginger Dressing in a jar

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Why You’ll Love This Carrot Ginger Dressing Recipe

If you’ve ever gotten salad at a Japanese restaurant, especially hibachi restaurants, then you’re most likely familiar with this type of dressing. A bright orange, zesty, and gingery Japanese dressing that tastes good on pretty much anything, and is also known as Benihana ginger dressing.

It’s so lean but so flavorful and can turn iceberg lettuce into a worthwhile experience, a feat previously reserved for the culinary muscle of blue cheese and bacon.

Drizzle this hibachi salad dressing on vegetables, serve it on salads, or even alongside some grilled chicken. You can’t go wrong.

Ingredient Notes

  • Carrot and Ginger: Peeled carrot and fresh ginger root are the main components of the recipe
  • Peanut oil: Preferably roasted, but if you’re allergic to peanut oil use a different neutral oil like avocado
  • White vinegar: Rice vinegar would do fine here too
  • Pure maple syrup: As you know, I love adding maple to my recipes, but agave nectar works too
  • Miso paste: Miso paste can often be found close to where you’d get tofu in the grocery store *see ingredient note
  • Seasonings: Salt and white pepper
pouring carrot ginger dressing onto a salad

How to Make This Carrot Ginger Dressing

When making homemade salad dressing, I like to keep things as simple as possible. To make this Japanese carrot ginger dressing, I blended shredded carrots, peanut oil, white vinegar, maple syrup, miso paste, freshly grated ginger, salt and pepper on high until smooth (it’ll take about 30 seconds).

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FAQs and Expert Tips

How do I store this homemade ginger hibachi dressing?

To store this Japanese ginger dressing, keep it in the fridge in a tightly sealed container. It should keep for up to a week and tastes delicious mixed into various salads.

What if the salad dressing hardens as it chills?

I’d recommend setting this dressing on your countertop 10-15 minutes before you plan on using it, as the oil and vinegar have a tendency to separate a bit in the fridge. Once it’s warmed up to room temperature, all you have to do is give it a shake.

Where can I find miso paste?

Miso paste is found in the refrigerated section of the supermarket with the tofu and other refrigerated Asian ingredients, such as egg roll wrappers. Often in an area of the produce section in large supermarkets. Choose a lighter-colored variety for the mildest flavor.

What if I can’t find miso paste?

If you don’t have miso paste, feel free to substitute 1 tablespoon of reduced-sodium soy sauce or wheat-free tamari, and add a pinch of salt to taste. 

More Easy Salad Dressing Recipes

At Healthy Seasonal Recipes, we specialize in cooking with fresh veggies and creating weeknight meals. Sign up HERE to get more produce-forward dinner ideas for FREE! If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought! Happy Cooking! ~Katie

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Carrot Ginger Dressing by Katie Webster on Healthy Seasonal Recipes

Carrot Ginger Dressing

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4.9 from 8 reviews

  • Author: Katie Webster
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 1 1/2 cup 1x
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Description

This carrot ginger dressing tastes just like the dressing you’re served at a Japanese restaurant. Bonus: it tastes less than 10 minutes to make!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 cup shredded peeled carrot
  • 1/2 cup peanut oil, preferably roasted
  • 3 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, dark or amber or agave nectar
  • 2 teaspoons miso paste *see ingredient note
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger root
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon white pepper

Instructions

  1. Puree all ingredients in a blender on high, until smooth, about 30 seconds.

Notes

*Ingredient note: miso paste is found in the refrigerated section of the supermarket with the tofu and other refrigerated Asian ingredients, such as egg roll wrappers. Often in an area of the produce section in large supermarkets. Choose a lighter-colored variety for the mildest flavor. If you prefer, simply substitute 1 tablespoon of reduced sodium soy sauce or wheat free tamari and add a pinch of salt to taste.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Sauce
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: Japanese

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
  • Calories: 94
  • Sugar: 3 g
  • Fat: 9 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 3 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 0 g

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carrot dressing photo collage with text