Japanese Steakhouse Copycat Ginger Salad Dressing

Delicious and flavorful Japanese steakhouse style ginger salad dressing! You can’t get anything like this in a bottle. This ginger salad dressing recipe uses fresh ingredients and tastes just like the kind the Japanese steakhouses use.

I’ve always loved the ginger salad dressing served at Japanese steakhouses. Back when I used to go more often, that little side salad was honestly one of my favorite parts of the meal. I remember trying bottle after bottle from the grocery store, hoping to find something similar, and always being disappointed. Nothing ever came close. They were either too sweet, too flat, or missing that fresh ginger bite that makes the restaurant version so good.

Years ago, I learned a simple base recipe that relied on fresh vegetables and oil rather than preservatives or fillers. Over time, I modified it to really let the fresh ginger shine. I wanted that bold, slightly spicy, aromatic flavor to be front and center. Once I realized how easy this recipe actually is, it became a staple in my kitchen. I make it often, and it never lasts long around the house.

One of the best things about this dressing is how customizable it is. If you prefer a sweeter dressing, you can easily add more sweetener to taste. If you don’t want to use regular sugar, maple syrup, agave, stevia, or another sugar replacement all work well. If you are following a zero sugar or very low sugar diet, you can replace the ketchup with 1/2 teaspoon of tomato paste or 1 tablespoon of tomato sauce and simply add an extra 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of your preferred sweetener. I personally like to stick with whole food sweeteners when possible, such as maple syrup.

I love using this dressing on salads, especially crisp iceberg or romaine with shredded carrots and cucumber, just like at a steakhouse. It also makes an amazing dip for raw or lightly steamed vegetables. I often spoon it over baked or grilled chicken, drizzle it over rice bowls, or toss it with cold noodles. You can even use it as a light marinade for chicken or tofu, or brush it onto roasted vegetables near the end of cooking. It’s incredibly versatile and adds so much flavor with very little effort.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This ginger dressing comes together with simple, fresh ingredients that create that classic Japanese steakhouse flavor.

• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 2 tablespoons diced celery
• 1 tablespoon diced carrot
• 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon sugar or other sweetener
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 3 tablespoons white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon filtered water
• 1/3 cup avocado oil, light olive oil, or another neutral tasting oil

How to Make Japanese Steakhouse Ginger Dressing

Add the onion, celery, carrot, fresh ginger, sweetener, soy sauce, lemon juice, ketchup, white vinegar, water, and oil to a blender. Blend until the mixture is mostly liquified, but not completely smooth. A bit of texture is key to achieving that authentic steakhouse style ginger dressing.

Transfer the dressing to an airtight container or a glass bowl covered tightly. Refrigerate for at least three hours so the flavors have time to fully come together.

Before serving, give the dressing a good shake or stir, as it may naturally separate after sitting in the refrigerator.

Notes

This dressing will keep for about four to five days in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container. Be sure to shake or stir before each use.

Taste the final blend and adjust sweetness if desired. Maple syrup, agave, or other sugar alternatives can be used in place of sugar.

One serving size is around two tablespoons.

Print Recipe

Ginger Salad Dressing Japanese Steakhouse Copycat

Delicious and flavorful Japanese steakhouse style ginger salad dressing! You can't get anything like this in a bottle. This ginger salad dressing recipe uses fresh ingredients and tastes just like the kind the Japanese steakhouses use.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time0 minutes mins

0 minutes mins

Course: dressing, Salad, salad dressing, Side Dish

Cuisine: Japanese

Keyword: ginger salad dressing, ginger salad dressing from japanese steakhouse recipe, ginger salad dressing with real ginger, japanese steakhouse copycat ginger dressing, japanese steakhouse ginger dressing

Servings: 10

Calories: 75kcal

Author: Jane Kella

Equipment

• 1 Blender

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Onion, Diced
• 2 tbsp Celery, Diced
• 1 tbsp Carrot, Diced
• 2 tbsp Fresh Ginger, Finely Chopped
• 1 tsp Sugar or other sweetener
• 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
• 2 tsp Lemon Juice
• 1 tbsp Ketchup
• 3 tbsp White Vinegar
• 1 tbsp Water, filtered
• 1/3 cup Avocado Oil or Light Olive Oil (or any neutral tasting oil)

Instructions

• Place all ingredients into the blender, Blend until mostly liquified, do not blend until totally liquified so that some texture remains.
• Store in refrigerator in airtight container or glass bowl with plastic wrap. Let sit at least 3 hours so flavors combine.

Notes

This dressing will last at least 4 or 5 days in refrigerator, be sure to shake or stir before using as it does tend to separate some on day 2.

Taste the final blend and add more sugar or sweetener if desired.

You can use maple syrup or agave instead of sugar, or any replacement for sugar.

One serving size is around 2 tbsp.