Roasted Sesame Dressing with Tahini and Miso

If you’ve ever been to Japan, you’ve probably seen those little packets labeled “Roasted Sesame Dressing” in the refrigerated section next to the salads at a convenience store. In Japan, this creamy salad dressing is called Goma Dressing (goma simply means sesame) and it has that perfect balance of salty, sweet, tangy and umami, all in one.

Unfortunately, Goma Dressing almost always contains mayo or other animal ingredients, which don’t even need to be declared in small quantities in Japan. My Japanese roasted sesame dressing with tahini and miso is made completely without mayo, instead, I use tahini and lemon juice, roasted sesame oil, soy sauce, maple syrup, savory miso and fresh ginger. It’s ready in three minutes, easily made gluten-free and goes with pretty much any salad you’d want an Asian dressing for, and it works great with bowls too.

What do you need for the roasted sesame dressing?

This delicious dressing is basically made entirely of superfoods:

Roasted sesame oil Intensely flavored, rich in unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E. Make sure to use roasted sesame oil specifically, it’s incredibly aromatic and one of the main reasons this dressing tastes so good.

Tahini Ground sesame paste is an underrated source of calcium, especially relevant for anyone who doesn’t eat dairy. Also rich in zinc, iron and healthy fats. Look for tahini made from 100% sesame with no additives, ideally from whole, unhulled sesame seeds, which have more nutrients.

Soy sauce / Tamari Tamari is the gluten-free option and often has a slightly rounder flavor. Both deliver umami, but they’re salty, so no extra pinch of salt needed. Go for organic and as few additives as possible.

Maple syrup The clean choice as a sweetener: contains trace minerals like manganese and zinc – more than white sugar. Not a substitute for vegetables, but a better option by comparison. Grade A dark has more depth of flavor.

Lemon juice Freshly squeezed makes a real difference here. The vitamin C helps improve iron absorption from plant-based sources – combined with tahini, a little nutritive dream team in my roasted sesame dressing.

Fresh ginger Anti-inflammatory, good for digestion, and it brings the whole dressing to life. The bioactive compound gingerol is what gives it those anti-inflammatory properties. You can grate it if you’re mixing the dressing by hand, or slice it and throw it straight into the blender.

Genmai miso / Shiro miso Fermented soy paste: a probiotic and umami boost in one. Genmai miso (made with brown rice) is slightly more robust and nutrient-dense; shiro miso is milder and a little sweeter. Either works perfectly here.

Black pepper The piperine in black pepper increases the bioavailability of other nutrients. Freshly ground is more aromatic.

You don’t necessarily need a blender for the roasted sesame dressing. You can whisk it into a creamy consistency by hand, but a blender definitely makes it easier.

What goes well with the Japanese roasted sesame dressing?

My favorite salad to pair with this salad dressing is my kale salad with smoked tofu, chickpeas and pomegranate seeds.