This Easy Mustard Soy Ginger Dressing Recipe is your new go-to for jazzing up everything from leafy greens to grain bowls. With its perfect balance of salty, sweet, and tangy, this dressing transforms everyday ingredients into something crave-worthy. And the best part? It comes together in minutes with pantry staples—ideal for busy weeks when you need easy dinner ideas fast.
Why You’ll Love This Soy Ginger Dressing
This soy ginger dressing is bright, bold, and incredibly versatile—it’s just as good on roasted veggies as on a soba noodle salad. Use it on dishes inspired by Japanese steakhouses or as a lighter option for poke bowls. If you opt for tamari, it’s also gluten-free.
It keeps well in a small jar in the fridge for up to a week, making it perfect for healthy and simple recipes. This ginger soy dressing is made entirely with whole food ingredients—nothing weird from the grocery store!
As a professional recipe tester, I’m all about sharing easy recipes that bring a lot of flavor. One way to do that is to use more sauces, from dressings to vinaigrettes. This recipe is rooted in Asian flavors, but it is by no means a classic Japanese vinaigrette. Thanks to the addition of lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil, it’s loaded with California flavor.
Recipe Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this Easy Mustard Soy Ginger Dressing Recipe and what each ingredient brings to the table:
- Extra virgin olive oil adds richness and helps emulsify the dressing. You could use sesame oil if you want it to have a more distinct Asian flavor.
- Lemon juice: Delivers brightness and acidity for balance. If you made this lemon oil, use some of it here for a burst of citrus flavor. You could also use apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, or rice wine vinegar, if that is what you have.
- Low-sodium soy sauce: Brings salty umami flavor and depth. Use tamari to make it gluten-free.
- Dijon mustard: Acts as an emulsifier and adds tangy complexity.
- Maple syrup: Balances the acidity and adds natural sweetness. You could use honey in place of maple syrup. Some recipes call for brown sugar, but I like to keep it healthier with the maple syrup or honey.
- Toasted sesame seeds: Lend a nutty texture and a subtle crunch.
- Grated fresh ginger: The star flavor—pungent, peppery, and aromatic. If you’re out, ground ginger works in a pinch.
Optional: Minced garlic cloves or thinly sliced green onions for extra flavor layers.
How to Make This Recipe
Making this soy ginger dressing couldn’t be easier—you make your own dressing by combining all the ingredients in a small jar, screwing on the lid, and giving it a vigorous shake. The mustard helps emulsify everything into a creamy, pourable consistency. Taste and adjust—add more lemon juice or rice vinegar for brightness or more maple syrup for sweetness.
Want this salad dressing even smoother? Blend it in a food processor to incorporate the toasted sesame seeds more fully, but it’s dreamy just as it is. You can make it up to five days ahead of time. Store it refrigerated in a small jar and reshake as needed to reincorporate everything.
What to Serve With This
This dressing is as versatile as they come. We originally made it to go with this Crunchy Romaine Salad.
But you could use it in a slew of healthy recipes like dressing kale or Brussels sprouts slaw, drizzled over grilled chicken, tofu, or a rice bowl, or toss with soba noodles and veggies. It’s equally at home in a cucumber salad, salmon salad, or even just tossed with whatever greens you have from your last grocery store haul. However you use it, this sesame ginger vinaigrette is a flavor-packed solution for busy weeks and beyond.
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Easy Mustard Soy Ginger Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice or apple cider vinegar or rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce or gluten-free tamari
- 2 tablespoons Dijon Mustard
- 2 tablespoons Pure maple syrup or honey
- 1 1/2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger peeled and grated
Instructions
- Combine all in a mason jar, screw on the lid, then shake to combine.
1 thought on “Easy Mustard Soy Ginger Dressing Recipe”
A very good dressing, with many uses in other dishes. And I had all the ingredients.👍