Name: The Best Carrot Ginger Dressing I've Tasted
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 medium carrots (, peeled and cut into chunks); 2 inches fresh ginger; 1 small shallot (, cut into chunks); ¼ cup apple cider vinegar; 2 tablespoons honey; 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil; ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil; ¼ cup water; ½ teaspoon salt

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If you’ve ever wondered how to make carrot ginger dressing like the kind you’d get at a Japanese restaurant, this recipe is for you. It comes together quickly in a blender and tastes downright delectable.

Every time I have a batch of this in the fridge, I find myself making more salads just so I can use it again.

The key is using fresh carrots and ginger, so make sure you have both before you start. I’ve kept the oil to a minimum, so it also feels like a light and refreshing option over veggies, but it’s also warming from the ginger.

carrot ginger dressing in a glass jar stirred with a spoon.

What is Japanese Salad Dressing Made of?

This carrot ginger dressing requires just a few basic ingredients.

Carrots
Ginger
Onion (or shallot)
Honey (or maple syrup, for vegans)
Toasted sesame oil
Apple cider vinegar (or rice vinegar, if you have it)
Olive oil

I’ve left out the miso and soy sauce that can sometimes be used in this dressing, because I don’t always have them on hand. The flavor is still fantastic!

How to Make It

Just toss everything in the blender, and you’ll have a flavorful sauce that you’ll want to pour on everything. I could even just drink it straight from the blender!

What I love about this carrot ginger dressing, is that you can taste as you go. If you think it’s too sweet, add an extra splash of vinegar, or a pinch of salt.

carrot ginger dressing in blender and poured out

If it’s not sweet enough, you can add an extra squeeze of honey, or a touch of maple syrup. The flavor is totally up to you!

I make this in my Vitamix blender, which has a narrow base and is great for making small batches of dressing. You can probably also make this in a smaller single-serving blender.

I have not tested making this in a food processor yet, but I imagine you’d need a larger quantity in that case, to get everything blended.

How to Use Carrot Ginger Dressing

The recipe below is the smallest batch I can make in my blender, since you’ll need a minimum amount to get everything blending smoothly. So, here’s how you can use the leftovers if you need some ideas.

Drizzle it on a buddha bowl, loaded with grains and crunchy veggies.
Pour it over roasted cauliflower.
Use it on a side salad, served with a bowl of Miso Soup.
Serve it with a Vegan Sushi Bowl.
Use it as a dip for Garden Vegetable Rolls.

However you use it up, I hope you’ll enjoy this Carrot Ginger dressing as much as I do!

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carrot ginger dressing in a glass jar near a salad.

The Best Carrot Ginger Dressing I’ve Tasted

5 from 15 votes

Once you taste this carrot ginger dressing, you might be tempted to drink it straight from the blender. It tastes like the kind you'd get at a Japanese restaurant, but it's super-simple to make at home. All you need are a few ingredients to get started! I've kept the oil as low as possible, but what I think you'll really love is the flavor. It will have you craving more salads all week long!

prep10 mins cook0 mins total10 mins

Servings:10

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Ingredients

2 medium carrots , peeled and cut into chunks
2 inches fresh ginger
1 small shallot , cut into chunks
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup water
½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

In a high-speed blender, combine the carrots, ginger, shallot, vinegar, honey, toasted sesame oil, olive oil, water, and salt. Secure the lid and blend until smooth.

This batch size blends best in a personal-sized blender or a larger one with a narrow base, like this Vitamix model. If you have a blender with a wider base, you might want to double the recipe for easier blending.

Once the dressing is smooth, adjust the flavoring to taste. Add more honey for a sweeter dressing, or an extra splash of vinegar for a tangier flavor. It's ready to serve right away over your favorite salad greens.

Notes

Nutrition information is for approximately 2 tablespoons of salad dressing, but this may vary based on the size of the carrots you use each time. This is automatically calculated using an online ingredient database, so it’s just an estimate, not a guarantee.

Nutrition

Author: Megan Gilmore

Course: Salad

Cuisine: Japanese

Keyword: Carrot Ginger Dressing

More Healthy Salad Dressing Recipes

If you need more salad dressing inspiration, try one of my other favorites below!

If you try this Carrot Ginger dressing recipe, please leave a comment below and let me know what you think. And if you make any modifications, I’d love to hear about those, too! We can all benefit from your experience.

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