Sesame Dressing Recipe
Sesame Dressing is a mayonnaise-based dressing bursting with the rich, nutty flavor of sesame seeds. A staple in Japan, this creamy and flavorful dressing pairs perfectly with simple green salads, fresh raw vegetables, and even plainly cooked meat and fish. It is one of the most popular salad dressings in Japan today, and you’ll find countless bottled varieties at Japanese supermarkets. The good news is that it’s incredibly easy to make at home with just a handful of ingredients, and the homemade version is just as delicious—if not better—than store-bought!
What’s Sesame Dressing?
Sesame Dressing, known as Goma dressing, is one of the most popular salad dressings in Japan today. Creamy, nutty, and rich with the aroma of toasted sesame seeds, it has become a staple in many households thanks to ready to use bottled Sesame Dressings. Surprisingly, however, sesame dressing is a relatively modern addition to the Japanese table.
As Japanese eating habits became more Westernized after World War II, salads became increasingly common, and the market for bottled dressings expanded rapidly. During the late 20th century, food manufacturers began developing new flavors that combined Western-style salads with familiar Japanese ingredients. Before the 1990s, however, most Japanese salads were served with simple soy sauce-based dressings, citrusy Ponzu, or Shiso (perilla) dressing, or other western style dressings like French or southern island dressing. While sesame had long been used in traditional Japanese cooking, it was usually found in dishes such as Goma-ae (vegetables dressed with sesame sauce), Sesame tofu, or sesame dipping sauces for hot pot rather than as a bottled salad dressing.
Sesame Dressing became a nationwide favorite in the early 2000s when deep-roasted sesame dressings gained enormous popularity. Their rich, creamy texture and roasted nutty flavor made them much more than just a salad dressing. Japanese home cooks quickly discovered that sesame dressing paired beautifully with steamed vegetables, grilled or steamed chicken, pork, or fish, cold noodles, tofu, seafood, and even as a dipping sauce for shabu-shabu. Today, because of the versatility of the flavor of the dressing, many families keep a bottle in the refrigerator as an all-purpose condiment.
Tips and substitutions for Sesame Dressing
- You can use ready-to-use ground sesame seeds, but if you want to maximize the sesame flavor, grind your own sesame seeds. Simply toast sesame seeds in a frying pan until golden brown, then grind them using a mortar and pestle. This extra step takes the flavor to the next level for sure.
- Sesame Dressing is especially delicious with Cold Shabu Shabu Salad. Lightly cook thinly sliced beef or pork in boiling water, chill, and serve with a variety of fresh vegetables. This is a perfect nutritious dish for hot summer days when you may not have much of an appetite.
- Adjust the amount of each ingredient in the dressing to your personal preference. For example, if you like it a little sweeter, increase the amount of sugar. If you are using non-Japanese mayonnaise, you may want to add a little more vinegar to balance the flavor.
- Homemade dressing is easy to make and simple to adjust depending on how much you need. If you use it frequently, make a larger batch, or reduce the amount when making it for just one meal. Store it in a clean container, and it will keep well in the refrigerator for one to two weeks.
More recipes like Sesame Dressing
Video
Ingredients
- 5 Tbsp Japanese mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 1-2 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp ground sesame seeds
- 2 tsp sesame oil
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients In a bowl, and mix well.
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!
Lewis,
thanks for your comment! Glad you liked the recipe!
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.
Hector,
glad you liked it!
Hi Noriko, thanks for the recipe. How long can I keep it in the refrigerator for later use?
Ana,
I would finish using it in a week or so.
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 🙂
Glenn,
use a less distinctive flavored vinegar like white vinegar.
Thanks Noriko. 🙂
my favorite dressing
I love this recipe! I got addicted to this dressing while living in Japan!~ Now I can make it myself! It tastes great!
Elle,
That’s awesome! We love it too!
Do you use regular mayonnaise or japanese mayonnaise? Would it make a difference if you use one from the other?
evelyn,
we use Japanese mayo. It tastes totally different. If you’re going to use American mayo, add lemon juice and salt to it.
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?
evelyn,
milk would be good to dilute, but adjust seasonings.
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.
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!
Nobuchan,
thanks for trying our Sesame Dressing recipe! We have many salad recipes so come back soon!
Delicious! Made with subs: american veganaise, lime, brown sugar, and tahini. Amazing!
Jennifer,
glad you liked the Sesame Dressing recipe with your substitutions!
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!
Jo,
glad you liked our Sesame Dressing. We’ll have a new recipe of Carrot Ginger Dressing very soon, and try that too!
Can I instead use coconut vinegar instead of rice vinegar?
Thanks!
Sarah,
Never tried before… Let us know if you make it!
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.
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. ✌
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!
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…
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,
Hi there – if using american mayo – how much lemon & salt would you add – thanks!
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?
This sauce was so tasty. Its exactly what i was looking for to eat on grilled ahi or as a salad dressing.