Elevate your salads, tofu, and grain bowls with this rich, nutty, delicious, and slightly spicy Asian Sesame Dressing recipe that brings flavor to every bite! Use it as a dip, marinade, or dressing — ready in just 5 minutes.
This Asian Sesame Dressing is incredibly versatile, easy to make, and packed with bold, nutty flavors that add a delicious flavor to any dish. Plus, it’s not just for salads—use it as a dip or marinade, too!
Think of this sesame dressing as the creamy cousin to the Sweet Chili Lime Sauce that I use in my Spring Roll Salad. Both are great tossed with veggies and noodles—just depends on your mood.
For other vegan Asian dishes, try Saucy Gochujang Noodles, Orange Miso Glazed Brussels Sprouts, and 20 Minute Easy Vegan Miso Soup.
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Recipe Ingredients
To create this amazing Asian sesame dressing or sauce recipe, you’ll need a few simple ingredients. Consider these a foundation you can easily customize to suit your taste. Check the recipe card for the suggested quantities.
- Peanut Butter - Substitute the peanut butter with any nut or seed butter, including Tahini. This will slightly alter the flavor profile, but it will still be delicious.
- Toasted Sesame Seeds - You can buy pre-toasted sesame seeds or toast them yourself by adding them to a dry skillet over medium heat and stirring for 3–5 minutes, until they’re golden and fragrant.
- Garlic and Ginger - Fresh is best, but if you’re short on time, try Trader Joe’s frozen garlic and ginger cubes. They’re convenient, packed with flavor, dissolve smoothly into your sauce by whisking for a few minutes, and save you prep time without sacrificing taste.
- Lime Juice - Fresh is always best. The flavor difference of fresh ingredients in sauces that are not cooked is huge.
- Maple Syrup - If you’re out of maple syrup, you can easily substitute it with agave, which offers a similar sweetness and texture. Other options include brown rice syrup and coconut nectar. For a richer flavor, try date syrup, or dissolve brown sugar in warm water for a quick fix. Each substitute adds its own unique taste to the dressing.
Variations
- Add a handful of chopped cilantro, Thai basil, or mint for a fresh, vibrant flavor.
- Drizzle in chili oil for an extra kick of heat and flavor.
- Increase the fresh ginger and/or garlic for a more pronounced flavor.
How To Make Asian Sesame Dressing
This is an easy toasted sesame dressing to make - ready in less than 5 minutes. Just dump and stir. See the recipe card for details.
Step 1: Toss sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, maple syrup, peanut butter, toasted sesame seeds, grated fresh ginger, minced garlic, sriracha, and optional lime juice into a small bowl.
Step 2: Mix until combined. This dressing will be thin. If you want it a little thicker, add in a little more peanut butter.
Serving Suggestions
- This dressing is perfect for Asian-inspired salads like Asian Chopped Salad.
- Pour over a bowl of quinoa, brown rice, or farro, topped with roasted veggies, tofu, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
- Toss it with stir-fried veggies, tofu, or tempeh for a quick and flavorful meal.
- It is a great dipping sauce for fresh vegan summer rolls, spring rolls, or veggie sushi.
- Marinate tofu, tempeh, or veggies before grilling or roasting for an extra punch of flavor.
- Mix it into cold soba or rice noodles with fresh veggies for refreshing noodle salads.
- Dip wraps or sandwiches to add a rich, nutty layer of flavor.
Storage
- Store this Asian dressing in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator. It will keep fresh for up to a week.
- The ingredients may separate over time, which is normal since we know that oil and watery ingredients don't mix. Just shake the dressing or stir before using it again.
Sesame Dressing FAQS
To make the dressing gluten-free, use tamari or a gluten-free soy sauce instead of regular soy sauce.
More Asian-Inspired Vegan Recipes
Got a minute? I'd love for you to dive into the comments and rate this Asian Sesame Dressing recipe. Your feedback is invaluable—did you love it? Did you make any fun twists? Let me know how my directions worked so I can keep improving my recipes. Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for inspiration.
Asian Sesame Dressing
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter unsweetened
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds or black sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon ginger grated fresh
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon sriracha or other hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon lime juice optional, for a tangy twist
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, maple syrup, peanut butter, seeds, grated ginger, and minced garlic until well combined.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning with more maple syrup or sriracha if you want a bit of heat. If you prefer a tangier flavor, you can add the lime juice.
- Serve: Use the dressing immediately on your favorite salad, rice bowl, or veggie sushi. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Give it a good shake or stir before using it if stored.
Cessie says
This was delicious. I marinated an entire block of tofu for about an hour and then heated in a skillet with some corn starch.
Regi Pearce says
So glad you liked it!