Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (2024)

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Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (1)

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Sesame Dressing is a mayo based dressing with a burst of sesame flavor that is popular for salad in Japan. It has more calories than soy sauce based dressings, but it tastes so good. There are a lot of bottled sesame dressings at Japanese supermarkets, but it is very easy to make at home.

Sesame Dressing of course goes very well with green salad, but it’s also great on meat, like our picture here. We used the dressing for boiled thinly sliced pork and thinly sliced cucumber. To cook the meat, we dipped the pork in hot water for a few seconds until cooked through (do not over cook). Steamed vegetables are good too. And you may also like it on cold noodles.

You can use ground sesame seeds, but if you would like to have maximum sesame flavor, grind your own sesame seeds.

Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (2)

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5 from 1 vote

Sesame Dressing

Creamy sesame flavored dressing perfect for salad and cooked fish and meat

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: Japanese

Keyword: dressing

*Links may contain ad. #CommissionsEarned

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Place all the ingredients In a bowl, and mix well.

Video


dressingSaladsesame sauce

November 5, 2013 By JapaneseCooking101

Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (4)

About JapaneseCooking101

Noriko and Yuko, the authors of this site, are both from Japan but now live in California. They love cooking and eating great food, and share a similar passion for home cooking using fresh ingredients.Noriko and Yuko plan and develop recipes together for Japanese Cooking 101. They cook and shoot photos/videos at their home kitchen(s.)

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  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (8)

    Lewis

    December 11, 2013 at 6:00 pm

    Thanks for the recipe! I feel like I can never find a sesame dressing recipe that reminds me of Japan, but this one is PERFECT! Oishi!

    • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (9)

      Noriko

      December 16, 2013 at 9:08 am

      Lewis,
      thanks for your comment! Glad you liked the recipe!

  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (10)

    Hector Calderas

    February 5, 2014 at 1:19 pm

    thanks, for the recipe is ecxelent, my memory go back trouhg your home town i believe, i just to be in osaka for allittle while so congratulations.

    • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (11)

      Noriko

      February 10, 2014 at 9:04 am

      Hector,
      glad you liked it!

  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (12)

    Ana

    February 15, 2014 at 2:46 am

    Hi Noriko, thanks for the recipe. How long can I keep it in the refrigerator for later use?

    • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (13)

      Noriko

      February 23, 2014 at 6:06 pm

      Ana,
      I would finish using it in a week or so.

  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (14)

    Glenn

    February 28, 2014 at 2:32 pm

    Hi Noriko,

    Thank you for sharing this simple-to-make Sesame dressing. I will definitely try this one. 🙂

    And i have one question, just in case i cant find any rice vinegar, is there an alternative ingredient for that, or any kind of vinegar will do?

    Thanks and keep up the good work 🙂

    • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (15)

      Noriko

      March 2, 2014 at 11:37 pm

      Glenn,
      use a less distinctive flavored vinegar like white vinegar.

      • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (16)

        Glenn

        March 8, 2014 at 12:18 am

        Thanks Noriko. 🙂

  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (17)

    cesar ramirez

    March 6, 2014 at 8:03 pm

    my favorite dressing

  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (18)

    Elle

    March 31, 2014 at 10:07 pm

    I love this recipe! I got addicted to this dressing while living in Japan!~ Now I can make it myself! It tastes great!

    • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (19)

      Noriko

      September 14, 2014 at 4:31 pm

      Elle,

      That’s awesome! We love it too!

  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (20)

    evelyn

    April 28, 2014 at 2:04 am

    Do you use regular mayonnaise or japanese mayonnaise? Would it make a difference if you use one from the other?

    • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (21)

      Noriko

      April 28, 2014 at 9:55 pm

      evelyn,
      we use Japanese mayo. It tastes totally different. If you’re going to use American mayo, add lemon juice and salt to it.

      • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (22)

        evelyn

        April 29, 2014 at 4:24 am

        I’ve made it and it takes good and yummy. It’s just like the commercial roasted sesame dressing that I buy. If the dressing is too thick, what can I add to make it a little bit thin or syrupy?

        • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (23)

          Noriko

          May 3, 2014 at 5:16 pm

          evelyn,
          milk would be good to dilute, but adjust seasonings.

  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (24)

    evelyn

    May 3, 2014 at 2:22 pm

    Thanks for the recipe. I made it and my family loved it. It was quite thick so how can I make it thinner? What ingredient should I add? Thank you.

  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (25)

    Nobuchan

    June 10, 2014 at 6:08 pm

    I toasted the sesame seeds in a pan, then used the suribachi to grind them into a paste. I used regular mayo. Salad of spring mix baby greens, sliced tomato and sliced avocado. Delicious! Thank you!

    • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (26)

      Noriko

      September 14, 2014 at 1:21 pm

      Nobuchan,
      thanks for trying our Sesame Dressing recipe! We have many salad recipes so come back soon!

  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (27)

    Jennifer Thompson

    July 12, 2014 at 7:31 pm

    Delicious! Made with subs: american veganaise, lime, brown sugar, and tahini. Amazing!

    • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (28)

      Noriko

      September 13, 2014 at 5:27 pm

      Jennifer,
      glad you liked the Sesame Dressing recipe with your substitutions!

  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (29)

    Jo

    October 4, 2014 at 10:01 pm

    Thanks for this recipe – this dressing is delicious. I have pretty much just been eating this on steamed greens since finding it a week or so ago! Great site too – so many yummy dishes I want to try!

    • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (30)

      Noriko

      October 11, 2014 at 4:46 pm

      Jo,
      glad you liked our Sesame Dressing. We’ll have a new recipe of Carrot Ginger Dressing very soon, and try that too!

  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (31)

    Sarah Carpio

    February 3, 2016 at 3:11 am

    Can I instead use coconut vinegar instead of rice vinegar?
    Thanks!

    • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (32)

      Noriko

      February 5, 2016 at 1:15 pm

      Sarah,
      Never tried before… Let us know if you make it!

  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (33)

    Tam

    March 6, 2016 at 5:19 pm

    Thanks for including substitution for Japanese mayonnaise. Getting Japanese mayonnaise costs as much around here as just buying the dressing, though it probably rounds up to more.

  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (34)

    Cyn H.

    March 12, 2016 at 9:12 pm

    This turned out great with the ingredients shown but I felt like it was a tiny bit different from my local sushi restaurants. So I added some grated white onion and about 2 tsp of ketchup and I think I nalied the taste I was going for! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. ✌

  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (35)

    Hannah

    April 7, 2016 at 11:02 am

    Just got back from Japan and was craving the sesame dressing I enjoyed while visiting. Whipped this up yesterday and was brought right back. Sooo tasty and right on point with what I was craving. Thanks so much for posting!

  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (36)

    Noor

    July 31, 2016 at 11:17 pm

    Hi there thank you for this recipe.i try it it’s really good. I love it…. I have try many of your recipe already…..,, amazing…

  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (37)

    Jenny Sophorn

    September 18, 2016 at 6:02 am

    Hi, thanks for posting this. It’s my favorite dressing ever, especially with cold noodle. I’m very curious of the detail about Mayonnaise, is it a specific one for Japanese cooking? Would you mind to show a video of how to do mayo (Japanese way)?

    Regards,

  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (38)

    Shena

    September 24, 2016 at 5:51 am

    Hi there – if using american mayo – how much lemon & salt would you add – thanks!

  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (39)

    Veronica

    October 4, 2016 at 1:16 pm

    Thanks for this recipe. I’ve been experimenting on this dressing because it’s so difficult to find it here in Scotland. I loved it when we were in Japan. Now I can make my own. Thanks. By the way I used sushi vinegar because I have it handy. Do you think it makes a difference? Or should I look for rice vinegar only?

  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (40)

    Marci

    December 11, 2016 at 7:01 pm

    This sauce was so tasty. Its exactly what i was looking for to eat on grilled ahi or as a salad dressing.

  • Sesame Dressing Recipe – Japanese Cooking 101 (2024)

    FAQs

    What is Japanese dressing made of? ›

    This popular simple salad dressing is called Wafu, which means “Japanese-style dressing”. It's similar to a vinaigrette and comes in many different variations but always contains the three key ingredients soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and sugar. Both rice vinegar and soy sauce are staples of Japanese cooking.

    What is sesame dressing made of? ›

    Perhaps no other salad dressing is as versatile as sesame dressing. The simple mixture of sesame seeds, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and brown sugar has the ideal balance of nutty, salty, tart, and lightly sweet.

    What are the ingredients in Kewpie sesame dressing? ›

    Ingredients: Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Water, Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt), Brown Sugar, Sesame Seeds, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Yeast Extract, Natural Flavors, Egg Yolk, Xanthan Gum.

    What are the rules for dressing in Japan? ›

    Men usually wear a shirt and casual blazer or a jacket, and trousers. Ties are not required. Choose subdued colours such as black, white, navy or beige, or if you wear patterns, make sure they are subtle, such as stripes or dots. Women usually wear a shirt and cardigan or jacket, knee-length skirt or trousers.

    What are some traditional Japanese ingredients? ›

    The Main Ingredients in Japan
    • Udon and Soba. Udon noodles. Udon and soba are noodles; udon made from wheat flour and soba from buckwheat flour. ...
    • Soy Sauce. Soy sauce. ...
    • Wasabi. Daiyo Wasabi Farm in Nagano. ...
    • Curry. Curry and rice. ...
    • Tofu. Tofu. ...
    • Katsuoboshi. Hanakatsuo. ...
    • Tempura. Tempura. ...
    • Mochi. Dango made from mochi.
    Dec 12, 2021

    How do you thicken sesame dressing? ›

    By grinding the sesame seeds with a pestle and mortar (or with a clean coffee grinder), it releases the seed oil and the toasted sesame fragrance. Grinned sesame seeds also help thicken the salad dressing.

    Is sesame dressing the same as tahini? ›

    Tahini is sometimes listed as a substitute for sesame paste, but to me, the two aren't interchangeable. Though tahini is also made from white sesame seeds, those seeds are usually untoasted or lightly toasted. By comparison, toasted sesame paste is more assertive and aromatic and also thicker in texture.

    What are the ingredients in Kikkoman sesame dressing? ›

    Kikkoman Sesame Dressing
    • Water, Rapeseed oil, Sugar, Soy sauce (Water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt), Spirit vinegar, Sesame (6.5%), Sesame oil (6.0%), Yeast extract, Salt, Caramelised sugar syrup, Spices (contains mustard), Thickener: Xanthan gum.
    • Energy. 1,658 kJ / 401 kcal. Fat. 36 g. of which saturates. 3.6 g. Carbohydrates. 13 g.

    What makes Kewpie taste different? ›

    Kewpie is made with egg yolks so it's richer.

    For starters, Kewpie mayonnaise — which is made with egg yolks and not whole eggs — has a richer, more velvety texture than regular store-bought mayo. It is not surprising, since they use a high proportion of yolks, which give it an egg-forward flavor.

    Should Kewpie dressing be refrigerated? ›

    Product Info: Kewpie Dressings

    Yes, we suggest refrigerating them after opening. When did Kewpie launch its award winning Deep Roasted Sesame Dressings & Marinade? In 2000, the flavorful, bold, and rich Deep Roasted Sesame Dressing & Marinade was launched and won an award in 2016.

    Does sesame dressing have MSG? ›

    This nutty, creamy dressing can be used in a variety of ways from salad to meat dishes or even for steamboat. No added MSG.

    What seasoning do hibachi chefs use? ›

    We asked our local hibachi chef and here is what is actually on the cart. The shakers are salt, pepper, sesame seeds, and garlic powder or garlic salt. The squirt bottles are sesame oil, soy sauce, and Japanese barbecue sauce (like Mr. Yoshido brand or the brand name “Japanese Barbecue Sauce”).

    What sauce does Japanese hibachi use? ›

    Yum yum sauce is most often used for Japanese steakhouse style recipes like Hibachi Veggies, Hibachi Fried Rice, and Hibachi Steak. But there are plenty of other ways to use this delicious sauce! Try it as a dip for cold veggies like carrots, celery, and snap peas (<<my personal fav).

    What is Yum Yum Sauce made of hibachi? ›

    Yum Yum Sauce is made of mayonnaise, ketchup, vinegar, garlic, sugar, paprika and water to thin the sauce out. That's it! It's really just a matter of the right ratios of ingredients to get the flavor you want!

    Is kewpie dressing mayonnaise? ›

    Kewpie is Japan's most trusted and beloved mayonnaise and salad dressing brand. People trust us to bring them great flavor, and our products have been a staple of Asian cuisine since we introduced mayonnaise to the Japanese kitchen in 1925.

    What is miso dressing made of? ›

    Similarly, this homemade miso dressing is made of simple Asian pantry items such as miso, rice vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, and fresh ginger. A little bit of grated ginger lends a refreshing zing and a kick to this savory dressing. Miso (味噌), a salty-savory Japanese condiment, is fermented soybean paste.

    What are summer Japanese ingredients? ›

    Summer Ingredients in Japan
    • Summer Vegetables. Eggplant, Bell pepper, Bitter melon/Goya, Cucumber, Edamame, Lettuce, Myoga/Japanese ginger, Okra, Shiso, Tomato. ...
    • Summer Fruits. ...
    • Summer Seafood. ...
    • Summer Food in Japan. ...
    • Somen. ...
    • Zaru Soba/ Zaru Udon. ...
    • Unagi. ...
    • Hiyashi chuka.
    Oct 20, 2022

    How many calories are in Japanese salad dressing? ›

    Hibachi Japanese Salad Dressing (1 tbs) contains 2g total carbs, 2g net carbs, 6g fat, 0g protein, and 70 calories.

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