This miso citrus dressing is bright, savory, and packed with umami-rich flavor. It comes together in minutes and instantly elevates everything from simple greens to grain bowls and roasted vegetables.
If you've been following along here for a while, you know I'm serious about vegan dressings. A great dressing can take an okay meal to something you actually crave.
This dressing pairs beautifully with my Roasted Chickpea Croutons and is honestly what I reach for whenever I make a big batch of Smoked Tofu. It keeps well in the fridge and works on everything from shredded cabbage slaws to noodle salad.
If you love this one, you'll also want to try my Lemon Herb Tahini Sauce and Asian Sesame Dressing.
My guide How to Make Homemade Vegan Sauces Easy and Fast will show you exactly how I make 100's of vegan sauces.
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Why This One's on Repeat
- Quick to make: Comes together in just minutes with simple ingredients
- Versatile: Delicious on salads, grain bowls, roasted veggies, and anything that you need to sauce the bland away.
- Meal-prep friendly: Keeps well in the fridge for easy, flavorful meals all week
Shopping List
- You can find miso in the Asian foods section of most grocery stores or online, usually in refrigerated tubs. For this dressing, use white or yellow miso for a mild, slightly sweet flavor. Use up the remaining miso with Vegan Miso Soup, Orange Miso Glazed Brussels Sprouts, and Roasted Miso Cauliflower.
- Be sure to use toasted sesame oil, not plain sesame oil. Toasted has a deep, nutty, aromatic flavour that's essential to this dressing. Plain sesame oil is much milder and won't give you the same result.
See the printable recipe card for quantities and a full ingredient list.
Make It Your Own
- Blend in a spoonful of tahini
- Stir in chili flakes or a bit of sriracha
- Mix in chopped cilantro, parsley, or green onion
- Finish with sesame seeds
How To Make Miso Citrus Dressing
See the complete printable recipe card below for the details.
Step 1: Dissolve the miso in the lime juice and orange juice.
Step 2: Add the remaining ingredients and whisk until combined.
Top Tips
- Whisk or use an immersion blender: You can whisk the dressing by hand if you mince the garlic and ginger finely, or use an immersion blender (like in my Chipotle Vinaigrette) to blend everything smoothly and emulsify it perfectly for a creamy, cohesive texture.
- Use fresh citrus: Fresh juice makes a big difference in brightness and flavor
- Balance to taste: Adjust citrus, sweetness, and salt until it hits that perfect sweet-tangy-umami balance for you.
Serving Suggestions
- Drizzle over mixed green salads for a bright, tangy boost
- Drizzle over grain bowls like Mediterranean Grain Bowl.
- Pour over steamed or roasted vegetables for extra flavor
- Use as a marinade for tofu, tempeh, or chickpeas
- Add to noodle salads or cold pasta dishes
Recipe FAQS
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Yes. It actually tastes even better after sitting for a few hours as the flavors meld.
Drop a comment and tell me how this Miso Citrus Dressing turned out! Was it love at first bite, surprisingly edible, or a full-on yuck? And if my directions helped (or didn't), please let me know so I can keep improving these recipes for you.
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Recipe Card
Miso Citrus Dressing
Equipment
- Small Whisk or immersion blender
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons white miso paste
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger grated
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Dissolve miso: Whisk miso with orange juice and lime juice until fully dissolved.
- Combine: Add vinegar, sesame oil, olive oil, maple syrup, garlic, ginger, and salt. Whisk until glossy.*
- Adjust and Serve: Add more miso for depth, more citrus for brightness, more maple for sweetness. Use immediately or store. Shake well before each pour.
Vger says
I whisked this up in under five minutes and drizzled it over a roasted veggie grain bowl — the miso and citrus together create this perfectly balanced sweet-savory punch that had me licking the spoon. It's already in my weekly rotation.
Regi Pearce says
So happy to hear that you loved it!
Regi Pearce says
This dressing is one of my absolute favorites, and I make it on repeat! That combination of miso, citrus, and toasted sesame just works on everything. Let me know what you pour it over first!