Sometimes when I’m testing a recipe I want it to be one thing and it turns out to be another. Almost like it has a mind of its own.
Such was the case with this dressing, which was originally supposed to be cashew butter hummus. Sounds good (and weird), right? Well, it turned out to be more weird than good, and then after a series of adjustments it somehow morphed into this seriously delicious miso tahini dressing — and I’m not mad about it.
This is the perfect creamy dressing for kale salads, Asian-inspired dishes, bowl meals, and beyond. Let me show you how it’s done!
What is Tahini?
The star of this show is tahini, which is made by grinding sesame seeds into a smooth paste. Sometimes the sesame seeds are hulled, sometimes they’re left unhulled; sometimes roasted, sometimes raw.
Origin of Tahini
Tahini is an Arabic name for ground sesame seeds. However, its origins are thought to have been in Persia, where it was called “ardeh.” Tahini later found its way to other countries and was held as a delicacy as sesame seeds were rather expensive to procure. In some cultures, tahini was even used as currency. (source)
Origin of Miso Paste
The other star ingredient? Miso paste.
Miso was believed to have originated in China and later introduced to Japan more than 1,300 years ago by Buddhist priests. It was made with fermented mixtures of salt, grains, and soybeans and used as a way to preserve food during warmer months.
Miso has since become a staple in Japanese cuisine, and is made with a variety of ingredients including: Rice in the north, sweet white miso near the capitol of Kyoto, soy in the central Aichi prefecture, and barley in the south. (source)
Miso is rich in minerals like zinc, copper, and manganese, as well as various B vitamins and vitamin K. Soy miso also contains phytonutrient antioxidants (source). And as a fermented food it also provides beneficial bacteria for the gut.
This 10-minute, 1-bowl dressing is easy to make, starting with fresh tahini. If you don’t have tahini, you can sub cashew butter for a similar effect!
Start by adding miso paste, fresh grated ginger, and garlic to create the base flavor. Next add coconut aminos or tamari for saltiness, rice vinegar for acidity, maple syrup for a bit of sweetness, and sesame oil for a bit more creaminess, but mostly added flavor.
Sesame oil adds such a rich, nutty flavor to this dressing, so I highly recommend adding it in! You want dressings to be quite flavorful so they add plenty of life to your dish, so don’t be shy and always taste and adjust flavor as needed!
I typically add more acidity (vinegar), saltiness (tamari), and sweetness (maple syrup) at this point. After a quick mix, just add water until it’s creamy and you’re good to go!
We hope you LOVE this dressing! It’s:
- Creamy
- Gingery
- Salty-sweet
- Versatile
- Quick & easy to make
- & Seriously delicious
This would make the perfect dressing for a quick, Asian-inspired salad, such as the one below. Simply massage kale with sesame oil and top with shredded carrot, cabbage, green onion, and crushed cashews or peanuts.
It would also be lovely paired with a grain bowl (recipe coming soon!). Check out a few of our other favorite easy dressings: 5-Minute Caesar Dressing, Oil-Free Vegan Ranch Dressing, How to Make Tahini Dressing, Tahini Green Curry Dressing, Rosemary Tahini Dressing, and Cashew-Chili Garlic Dressing.
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
Quick Ginger Garlic Miso Tahini Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup tahini (sesame seed paste — raw or roasted // or sub cashew butter)
- 1 heaping Tbsp freshly peeled grated ginger (or very finely minced)
- 2 cloves finely minced garlic (scrape minced garlic across the cutting board with a knife to make more of a paste for bolder flavor)
- 1 heaping tsp yellow or white miso paste (use chickpea miso for soy-free — we like Miso Master brand)
- 1 Tbsp coconut aminos (plus more to taste)
- 1 Tbsp rice vinegar*
- 1 tsp toasted or untoasted sesame oil (if oil-free, sub water — flavor will be affected)
- 2 tsp maple syrup (plus more to taste)
- 2-3 Tbsp water (plus more to taste)
- 1 pinch sea salt (optional)
FOR SERVING optional
- 3-4 cups chopped green kale (massage with a dash of sesame oil for softer texture)
- 1 cup grated / ribboned carrot
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onion
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced red cabbage
- 1/2 cup roasted salted cashews (or peanuts), roughly chopped
Instructions
- To a medium mixing bowl add tahini, fresh ginger, garlic, miso paste, coconut aminos, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and maple syrup and whisk to combine.
- Add water until a creamy, pourable sauce is achieved. Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more vinegar for tanginess, maple syrup for sweetness, miso for strong miso flavor, garlic or ginger for zing, or salt or coconut aminos for saltiness.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 5-7 days. Freezer friendly up to 1 month, though best when fresh.
Video
Notes
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated without optional ingredients.
Dena says
This was beyond delicious!! I paired it with salmon, rice, and green beans……we are a family of three and it was gone it was that good. And my family is a little adverse to tahini so we were all really happy! I made it as directed and then adjusted as I tasted it.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad it was a hit with even those who don’t usually enjoy tahini. Thank you for the lovely review, Dena! xo
Laura Bates says
I really liked the flavor until I added the sesame oil and maple syrup. Next time I will make it without them.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Bummer! Sorry you didn’t love those flavors, Laura.
Lisa Z says
My advice? Double the recipe, you’re going to want more!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
:) We’re so glad you love this one, Lisa! xoxo
Stephanie says
There’s a popular vegetarian cafe in my area that makes a lot grain bowls with various dressings and I’ve been searching for a versatile dressing to recreate similar bowls at home. Made this today and it’s perfect for bowls! Love it, thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! We’re so glad you enjoy this sauce. Thank you for sharing, Stephanie! xo
Sara Noone says
DELICIOUS! I used this dressing for a veggie bowl and wow, it was so good. I used organic raw honey instead of maple syrup and Tamari instead of Coconut Aminos.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Sara! Thank you for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications! xo
Lisa says
Wowzer! This was AMAZING! So delicious and flavor packed. I accidently put 1 Tbsp (instead of 1 tsp) of sesame oil and it still turned out fantastic. I put in a little more rice vinegar and some lemon juice to my taste and threw everything into a blender so that the sauce would be silky smooth. This sauce can be used in so many ways. Thank you so much for this wonderful receipe. This is the first receipe I tried and I cant wait to try your other ones.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you’re enjoying it, Lisa! Thanks so much for sharing. xo
Linda Hobbet says
Would this dressing go well with falafels?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We think it would, yes!
C says
I made this using cashew butter as you suggested, and it was delicious! It will definitely become one of my go-to dressings.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad to hear it! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Daria says
We had a ginger tahini sauce at a restaurant and enjoyed it so much that I searched online for a similar recipe and came across this one. This was just as tasty as what we had. Now I need to make another batch for all our leftover veggies. Will try your other sauces as well. 🤤😋
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Daria. Thank you for sharing! xo
Yosef Stanton says
I used brown miso and it was more mud-looking but tasted so mind blowingly good. The dressings on this website are so good!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy our dressing recipes, Yosef! Thank you for sharing!
Lee says
This dressing is delicious! I added a bit more ginger to balance out the saltiness.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Lovely! Thank you for sharing, Lee!
Laura says
Thank you for my new favourite dressing ever!! So delicious and perfect with Sweet Potatoes and slaw/ basically anything really :-)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Laura! Thank you for sharing! xo
Daisyheadfayzie says
I made this last night and served over kale salad(after I massaged with a little olive oil) with carrot ribbons, red cabbage, and scallions. It was DELICIOUS! I am always confused when it comes to sesame oil because there is a huge difference between them. I used sesame seed oil and only used a little because of the strong flavor.
Thanks for such a fantastic recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sounds delish! Thanks so much for the great review!
Jean says
Absolutely delicious. I added a squeeze of lime which elevated it even more.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Love that! Thank you for sharing, Jean! xo
Jess says
I don’t think I’ve reviewed this yet and it deserves a review! I’ve made this many times and it is incredibly delicious. It also gets my husband to eat veggies, which is an added bonus lol. I like to double the garlic and ginger for an extra zing. Highly recommend.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woohoo! Thanks so much for the great review and for sharing your modifications, Jess!
Janice Short says
Yet another easy delicious winner, thank you very much! Was pondering what to do with a fresh large bunch of kale when I stumbled upon this recipe. Massaging the kale with sesame oil was a first, but the result was so great I now can’t imagine ever doing it any other way! Might I add a tahini suggestion to reviewers who are not happy with theirs. Soom is always fresh and creamy, never bitter, and has become a fast favorite. Available at Whole Foods and Amazon, reasonably priced. I use it to make your recipe for lemon garlic tahini dressing all the time.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your experience, Janice! So glad you enjoyed!
Donna B. says
Amazing dressing!! This is a total keeper in my household. I used the ingredients listed except I sub the rice vinegar with mirin because I was out of it. It was wonderful and I’m already imagining using the dressing for different recipes! I had all the ingredients for the kale salad and used the honey roasted peanuts (from Costco). The sweetness of the peanuts helps cut the spicy ginger taste. :)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woohoo! We’re so glad you enjoy it, Donna! Thank you for sharing! xo
Melanie says
Made as directed except I sautéed my garlic 1st and then added 4 cloves since cooked is more mild. Best tahini dressing ever!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing, Melanie! xo
Jessica W. says
My husband and I absolutely love this recipe! I add a little extra ginger and prefer to blend it up in my Nutribullet for extra creaminess.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! We’re so glad you both enjoy it, Jessica. Thank you for sharing! xo
Christine says
Wow, this is such a delicious sauce!!!! I love it with roasted sweet potato and eggplant cubes…new fave snack!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yum, that combo sounds amazing! Thank you for sharing, Christine! xo
Caroline says
This is absolutely delicious! I didn’t have miso paste nor the aminos ( only had a ration of ponzu sauce lol) but it still tasted delicious! I can’t wait to go to the grocery store to get the two ingredients I was missing. I also used honey instead of maple syrup because that’s what I had on hand. Now I want to get a cute glass jar to store this in and make every week! My husband loves Asian dishes so Im sure he’ll love this when he gets home later. Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing, Caroline! xo
Debra says
Currently drinking this sauce instead of refrigerating it for my mom’s birthday party, IT IS RIDICULOUSLY AMAZING
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woohoo! We’re so glad you enjoy it, Debra. Thank you for sharing! xo
Ouie Unique says
This was OMG to me, and waay too spicy for a dinner guest. It still gets full points. I added juice of half a lemon and replaced salt with soy sauce. It was waay too spicy for he and OMG for me. This recipe is also an extremely effective natural boost to your immune system to fight against viruses.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing! xo
Pat says
Okay… I want to start out by saying I am not a lover of miso. I have decided, however, that our taste buds must soul sisters so I have come to trust your recommendations and recipes. This is absolutely delicious! I love how all the subtle flavors come through! Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, love that, Pat! Thanks for giving it a try and for the lovely review! xo
Melissa says
THIS IS THE BEST SAUCE I HAVE EVER MADE I WANT TO PUT IT ON EVERYTHING!!!!!!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woohoo!! Thank you for the lovely review, Melissa! xoxo
Kiki says
Thank you so much for this! It was great on the salad and worked out really well with the side of leftover oven-veggie pan we still had.
I did not have coconut aminos or maple syrup in the pantry, so I took some soy sauce and agave syrup instead. It tasted delicious and it seems to have worked out well, too. Will definitely try again :) thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Kiki! Those modifications sound perfect too. Thanks for sharing! xo
ekn says
So easy but very sophisticated. I never buy bottled dressing. Always liked using fresh ingredients to make a healthy/flavorful condiment (less, sugar, salt preservatives = great flavor). Using Tahini in the dressing intensifies the sesame flavor, and the melding of white miso, ginger, garlic is dynamic!
I have a lot of white miso and tahini sitting in the back of my fridge, so I googled the two ingredients and came upon your website. I’m excited to check out other recipes , based on the stellar results of this one.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Agreed – fresh dressings are best! Thanks for taking the time to write your review! xo
Sonali says
THIS IS IN-FREAKING-CREDIBLE. I used red miso (because that’s all I had) and it turned out to be just a truckload of Umami that hit me in the face in the best way possible. You are the Flavour Queen, and I am happy to be your subject!!!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amaziiing, we love to hear this Sonali! Thanks for the lovely review. xo
Claire says
Wow! Yummy. I am doing a gut cleanse at the moment so am eating a very restricted diet and this (made without the maple syrup) is clean enough to add flavour to all the mounds of veg I eat in a day. It is gorgeous. Thanks!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
amazing!
Toree says
Holy deliciousness!! This dressing is the definition of YUM. We use it all on all kinds of Buddha bowl style dishes. Make this && you won’t regret it!
** have subbed soy sauce in a pinch when out of coconut aminos and its just as amazing
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! We’re so glad you enjoy it, Toree. Thanks for sharing! xo
Sarah says
My favourite dressing, EVER!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
haha same! xo
Alli says
Love this! I drizzled it on our dinner rice bowls – rice, roasted delicata squash, baked tofu and sauteed brocoli and garlic. Yum. Had it all again for lunch at work today and I day-dreamed about making the dressing forever!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
xoxo!
Veronica says
Where did you get the wooden spoon and measuring spoon? I love the shapes!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
We don’t recall, sorry!
Valerie says
This dressing was so easy to make! I decided to make this miso tahini last minute while my broccoli was roasting in the oven. I made a yummy bowl with the miso tahini dressing over rice and broccoli and furikake.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sounds like an amazing meal! Thanks so much for sharing, Valerie! xo
Kortneii Mackenzie says
Oh ma gawd! This is the most creamy yum ever! I served it on salad (tomato, avocado, snow peas, radishes, pea shoots, red leaf lettuce topped with roasted yam and crispy lentils! So good. Everything you put out is good tho! Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, thanks Kortneii! We’re so glad you enjoy our recipes! xo
Natalie says
Omg, this is such a divine recipe. I’m enjoying it with a chicken salad. Thanks for your amazing recipes.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, yay! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Natalie! xo
Rosalia Agioutanti says
This dressing is AMAZING!! I was so shocked by the result, I couldn’t believe that I actually made something that tasted soo good :) Thank you so much for this recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Rosalia! xo
Lee Wilson says
I just made this for dinner – it is DELICIOUS! Made it exactly as the recipe is written. I recommend giving it a try. A nice change from “the usual” salad dressings.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re glad you enjoyed it, Lee! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Natasha says
I’ve been looking for a miso dressing recipe and this looks great! Was just wondering if I could use brown rice miso instead?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
That should work! Let us know how it goes!
Tricia says
Yum! It took a great deal of will power to back away from this dressing and wait for the salad it was intended for! I confess to eyeballing all ingredients but let the proportions guide me, tasting until I was happy. Very very happy! Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Love it, Tricia! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Meera says
Made the dressing tonight for a kale salad and the dressing was DELICIOUS. (I did not follow the exact kale salad in this post – I used kale, cherry tomatoes, Persian cucumbers, and canned white beans). The sesame oil really adds the perfect touch to this dressing so don’t leave it out! I also used maybe only a teaspoon of the maple syrup b/c I’m not a fan of sweetness in dressings. 10/10 recommend this dressing!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad it turned out well! Thanks so much for sharing, Meera!
Amanda says
So delicious! I made it as is. Just wondering if the serving size is right? I only end up with about a half cup of dressing but it says it makes 12 2tbsp servings (3 cups!)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for letting us know about the error, Amanda! It should make ~2/3 cup or ~12 1-Tbsp servings. We’ll update it!
Jeannie Le says
Made this today for an Asian inspired salad and it was delicious! A little thicker than I ‘d like it to be but that’s easily fixed by adding more water to thin it out a bit. The dressing was flavorful and I recommend it. It’s easy to make as well. I used low sodium soy sauce instead of coconut amino.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re glad you enjoyed it, Jeannie! Thanks for sharing!
Erin says
Just made this last night, without ginger or coconut aminos as I had neither on hand. It was delicious without these so I can only imagine it will be better with them!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad it turned out well! Let us know if you try it with the ginger and coconut aminos =)
Lesley says
5 stars! Better than a restaurant! This dressing is amazing. I just added it to all suggested salad ingredients. I’m going to add this one into the rotation with all my other favorite MB salad recipes.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! Thanks so much, Lesley! xo
Cat says
Absolutely delicious! Use this as my go to recipe for my “bowls!” It dresses up a simple grain and vegetable bowl beautifully
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Cat!
Lesley says
Better than a restaurant! This dressing is amazing. I just added it to all suggested salad ingredients. I’m going to add this one into the rotation with all my other favorite MB salad recipes.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Lesley. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Laura Jones says
Ok, this was amazing. Made a Buddha bowl and added this dressing to it and wow! Boyfriend claimed he could drink it he liked it so much lol.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you both enjoyed it =) Thanks for sharing, Laura!
Debra J Reese says
Outstanding! This is the dressing I’ve been looking for all my life! Your starter is spot on, and when you say add the following items to enhance the flavor, that’s when there was a home run! I made it according to my taste buds. It’s super! Been trying to duplicate a miso dressing I had on a Hale Caesar! Salad in a restaurant that rocked my world, well, this is the closest I’ve had! Thank you so much for posting! I will continue to make this and perfect it according to my flavor preference!! Cheers!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Debra! Thanks so much for sharing!
Sarah says
I’ll admit to not being the biggest tahini fan but I always have some on hand for recipes like this. This recipe is a game changer. I’m so glad I made extra to use for the next few days!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Sarah! Thanks so much for sharing!
shan says
I have so many sesame seeds and no tahini, so i made this in the blender. After toasting 1/3 cup sesame seeds and adding all other ingredients + a couple extra tablespoons water, I added extra miso and a touch more maple syrup. It was super delicious! I had it with roasted squash, cauliflower and sauteed dandelion greens over wild rice, topped with roasted hazelnuts. BEST dressing to move your veggie/grain bowl into gourmet lunch territory!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Shan! Thanks so much for sharing!
Mel says
This is so.freaking.good. The perfect asian inspired dressing (except I definitely put it on all types of salads).
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoy it, Mel! xo
Marie says
Is the wooden spoon holding the sesame seeds made by Earlywood? I really like the design and size. Thanks.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We can’t remember where it’s from!
Nicole says
This is totally delicious!! I halved the amount of ginger (I’m pretty sensitive to spice) and used soy sauce instead of coconut aminos as it’s what I had on hand. Will be making again and again!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Nicole! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
LYNETTE N RAAP says
This is a proportionally excellent recipe. And, as others note, very forgiving ( substitutions friendly) and expandable ( cumin, sumac etc. for example. I rarely print.. today I did!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Lynette! Thanks so much for sharing!
Charlotte says
So delicious! I increased the amount of miso to a tbsp and used 3 tbsp of water. Used soy sauce instead of coconut aminos as it’s all I had in. This is my favorite buddha bowl dressing, over quinoa and roasted veggies.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Charlotte! Thanks for sharing!
April L Mancuso says
I am thoroughly, positively addicted to this dressing. It’s what my food dreams are made of! I’ve made a double batch I think 4 or 5 times in a row. I absolutely cannot be without this dressing in my daily life now!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoy it, April! xo
Renae says
I was looking for a dressing to add to a veggie sandwich I made for lunch to have with your slaw recipe. This was so easy and delicious. Black eyed peas with spinach and tomatoes in a pita. Does that sound weird? Haha. It was great.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Lacey says
I love all your recipes and use your recipe book weekly! I’m excited to try this one. I am wondering if I can use red miso paste? I have a big container in my fridge that I would like to use before buying another . Thanks so much.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
That should work! Let us know how it goes!
Elizabeth says
I am wildly in love with this dressing. I made it last week for our crispy chick pea bowls…and again tonight for my greens. It’s lick the bowl clean good!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! Thanks for sharing, Elizabeth!
Andrea T. says
I believe there is an error in the recipe. It should say ONE serving. Okay, I confess. I kept looking for veggies to dip in this dressing and ended up having to make a second batch for my lunch salads at work this week. I also made a batch using peanut butter as one person suggested. Outstanding flavor. Thank you.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Ha! We’re so glad you enjoy it, Andrea! Thanks for sharing! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Andrea T. says
Oh no… My 5 star rating did not appear on my recipe comment. So I will try again.
Sherryn Adair says
WOW!!! Is that good!!!!! The ginger miso tahini combo is killer! Thank you!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks, Sherryn!
Julia Milton (the one in BC) says
Last night I made this for the first time. So easy yet so delicious! We enjoyed it on a mixed kale salad, plus we also used it as a dip with baby carrots later on, as a wholesome TV-watching snack. While the recipe says to finish it within 5-7 days, I honestly doubt there’ll be any left by then! I’m looking forward to trying it with a lot of other foods.
I substituted low-sodium tamari (in place of coconut aminos), store-bought minced ginger and garlic in place of freshly chopped. I may have used more of those last two than strictly necessary ;) Also, I omitted the salt but added a dollop of Marmite for some extra umami. No such thing as too much umami, right? Next time I’ll use fresh ginger & garlic and try tweaking the recipe elsewhere for fun — I can see adding more heat in the form of tabasco or habanero sauce, and balancing that with additional maple syrup so that my husband will still eat it :)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
What a great snack idea! Thanks for sharing, Julia! We’re so glad you enjoyed it! xo
calgal says
I’ve made this so many times and love it! I never make it the same way twice because I always seem to be missing an ingredient or just want to sub something, but the recipe is very flexible and forgiving. I’ve subbed peanut butter for tahini, tamari for coconut aminos, honey for maple syrup, and I always leave out the oil because I’m oil-free. I’ve used powdered ginger and garlic for fresh. All of these subs have resulted in a different but just as tasty sauce!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing your changes! So glad you enjoy it.
Rebecca says
SO. DELICIOUS.
Only comment is that I need to add more maple syrup than suggested as my tahini is quite strongly flavoured.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Great! Thanks for sharing, Rebecca!
Anna says
I loved this dressing! So flavorful. I did need to add several tablespoons of water to get my desired thickness but overall excellent flavor.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Anna!
Veganmeister says
There are no leftovers because it is soooo amazing! I added the dressing to an autumn salad that consisted of cubed red kuri squash, beets and broccoli.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yum! Sounds amazing! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Anne says
Delicious! My salad achieved another level of goodness thanks to this dressing :)!! Thank you! I will for sure make it many more times!
Worked great with the following salad: kale, lettuce, cucumber, steamed yam, red cabbage, red onion, tofu and a tiny bit of dried tomatoes ;). (I massaged the kale first with a tiny bit of salt, lemon juice and olive oil).
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
SMART. Thanks for sharing, Anne!
Siuwai Man says
I made the dressing tonight and it’s delicious! So easy and so many different layers of flavors. Will definitely make this again. Very soon!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Massie says
So, I made this the other night and I’m using it on just about everything! Simply delicious.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! So glad you and so many others are loving this dressing! xoxo
Laura says
Delicious- made exactly as directed, used tamari(vs.coconut amines). Very flavorful!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! Thanks for sharing, Laura!
Massie says
So delicious! I didn’t have coconut aminos so I subbed it with tumeric paste. Love this recipe! I will use this on a grilled romaine salad.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
So great! Thanks for sharing, Massie. Next time would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers! xo
Karen Smith says
Love, love, love your stuff! Although I’ve tried many of your dishes this is the first one I want to comment on , because, I want to add a word of caution.
I made the dressing exactly as the recipe outlines and it was WONDERFUL. I chose the recipe because I love everything in it, however, it is an intense and heavy dressing and really needs to be over something substantial like kale, cruciferous veggies or pasta (as suggested in the recipe).
My word of caution is to NOT pour this over your typical Romaine or leaf lettuce salad, because it simply overpowers it, both in taste and texture.
Definitely making this recipe again and I wouldn’t change a thing.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing your experience, Karen! We agree – it’s best to pair this with heartier dishes. Which is why we recommend it as an (optional) extra sauce to the new Miso Chickpea Bowls!
Patsy says
Outstanding! My husband and I have “bowl night” once a week – he makes his, I make mine – and this was my dressing last night. Yummy! I can picture making it sweeter or more citrusy or more umami (more coconut aminos/soy) or playing with it in lots of ways.
I wanted heat in mine last night, so I added a little Mongolian Fire Oil and chili-garlic paste. Yum!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Agreed! Those additions sound lovely, Patsy. Thanks for sharing!
Lynn M says
Was delighted to see you share this on IG as I had everything on hand and was looking for a sauce for a veggie and rice meal I was planning. Made as directed tho I upped the amounts of garlic and ginger as I’m probably to do. Excellent and easy, many thanks.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Great – thank you, Lynn!
Ellen Joubert says
Wow! This is incredible. Our household is very keen on a whole food plant based diet and in this journey we found two main challenges. The first is to have enough dressing / sauce ideas to add levels of flavour to dishes and the second is to have an array of really flavourful dishes to make when we have visitors over. My parents came over for supper on short notice. We made pasta because that is a kind of level playing field for all kinds of eaters, but then I made this kale salad with dressing to add colour to the plate and make sure we have enough food for everyone. My dad ended up eating this dressing even on his pasta and I think if he did not have such good manners, he would have licked the bowl. I thought I made enough to last for the next few days – no chance! If we could drink it we would!
If you need something to add multiple layers of flavour – this is it. If you need something to distract someone from not finding meat in their meal – this is certainly a game changer!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
haha, that’s amazing. Thanks for the lovely review and kind words, Ellen! So glad you and your family enjoyed it. xoxo!
Karly says
Wow this is addictively yummy! Even with all my subbing! Braggs soy sauce for the aminos, raw honey for the maple syrup and ACV for the rice vinegar. Still turned out a total killer dressing.. Thanks Dana!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Karly!!
Betsy says
Yep. I made a totally mediocre, clear out the fridge tempeh bowl and this made it seem like an actual recipe! It’s always in the sauce. Thanks for another great one.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Betsy!!
Ann says
OMG! Seriously delicious….. made according to recipe & am using it to make kale chips….. YUM!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing, Ann!
Melanie says
Please use gra ms not ml in your metric since I am using a scale. many thanks!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Melanie, you can toggle back and forth between metric and standard measurements using the tool just above the ingredients list! Glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Tasha says
Tahini is actually a new ingredient for me to use, so I was excited to try this recipe. I had the Kevala brand of Tahini, which I chose because there are no nuts in the Kevala sesame manufacturing facility and we have anaphylactic nut allergies in our household. Well, I tried this recipe and I think the tahini ruined it as the dressing had a bitter aftertaste. I tried adding more maple syrup, but the lingering bitter aftertaste was still there. In the end, I gave up, skipped on having kale salad for dinner and just had a different veg instead. I’m sure this recipe is amazing as the other reviewers commented, but I think my brand of tahini wasn’t great. Do you know of other brands of tahini that don’t have the potential for nut cross contamination and aren’t bitter? Thanks!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Tasha, thanks for the feedback! We’re actually plotting to do a tahini brands review as there can be such varied quality. Stay tuned! Our favorite brands are 365 (Whole Foods) and Alexis.
Caroline says
….And this is how I almost ate an entire bunch of kale myself! OMG – this dressing is amazing! I started off thinking I would half the recipe and then I said to myself, this is one of Dana’s recipe, it’s sure to be amazing! And it is!!! I am so glad I made the full recipe, especially since it tastes equally good straight off the spoon, as it does in my salad!!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Caroline!!
Hannah says
Can this qualify as a smoothie? Because I could actually drink it. #lickingthebowl
For future reference, if I don’t have fresh ginger on hand is there a equivalent that you use or know of for fresh-to-powdered ginger?
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
haha thanks, Hannah! I’d say start with 1/4 tsp ground ginger and work your way up from there!
Also, next time would you mind adding a rating to your review? It’s super helpful to us and other readers! xoxo
Hannah says
Made this last night. So far i can vouch for it being the perfect dip/dressing on salads, noodles, tofu, and chicken. It’s a perfect mock of a dressing at my favorite vegan restaurant in Detroit. So. Good. Seriously. Dip your finger in it when no ones looking good.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Lovely!! Thanks for sharing, Hannah!
Alaina says
This was delicious. I made it exactly as written and used the full 3T of water to thin it. I served it with the kale and scallions, carrot ribbons etc. on top of quinoa with some cubed sautéed tofu. My husband was crazy for this sauce. Thank you! It will definitely be a regular for us.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Alaina!! Your pairing sounds like perfection! xoxo
Marie says
So good! I Like the change of no lemon juice or nutritional yeast (from my go-to tahini dressing). Would suggest using an immersion blender if you don’t like little garlic/ginger chunks (will do that next time)
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Love that suggestion, Marie! Thanks for the lovely review. xoxo
Bella says
This dressing is beyond amazing!! It’s light and fresh and so tasty!!! Thanks for sharing!!! Love it!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Bella!
Ludmilla says
When #minimalisticbaker says easy she means it. Made it yesterday right after I saw the post on Instagram and in no time I prepared fabulous salad dressing for our lunch salad. And in the evening I topped refried beans with it. I know weird but I’m weird that way :)
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
So kind! Thanks for sharing, Ludmilla! Beautiful name, btw ;D
Helen says
You make becoming more plant based so much easier. So grateful to have these recipes to make the transition easier for my family and I!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
So kind! Thanks, Helen!
Danelle says
Super easy and super tasty!
I like it thin so I added double water and a wee bit more aminos = deliciousness
Thanks
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks, Danelle! So glad you enjoyed it. Next time would you mind adding a rating to your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers! xoxo
Erica says
Hello! Instead of miso paste, can we use tamari or soy sauce?
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
You can, but that will likely affect the flavor and also be more salty. So start with a small amount and work your way up to taste!
Britt B says
Okay this sounds AMAZING! I’m obsessed with miso, so I definitely need to try adding it to dressing! Cannot wait :)
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
xoxo!
Cath says
Delicious! We had it with a red cabbage slaw type salad, with roasted Brussels sprouts alongside tofu, mushroom and cabbage dumplings. I added a little lime juice. Yet another winner Dana!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing, Cath! Next time would you mind adding a rating to your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers! xoxo
Jane Ledwell says
Simple, delicious, and made with kitchen staples. Perfect on a hearty salad. Today, I will use it as a spread on a sandwich with grilled tofu.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Lovely! Thanks for sharing, Jane! Love it as a sandwich spread :D
Shannon says
This is one of my favorite dressings! The ingredients are always something I have on hand (and tbh I always just eyeball the recipe). I’ve served it with MB’s Vietnamese spring rolls & on grain bowls. I want to try it on a warm winter salad when the seasons change. DELISH!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
SMART! Lovely pairings! Thanks for sharing, Shannon!
Next time would you mind adding a rating to your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers! xoxo
Hayriye Özdemir says
Amazing, thank you so much
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing! Next time would you mind adding a rating to your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. xoxo!
Angie says
For the dressing I just put it all in my vitamin and it was amazing! Will be in my fridge rotation for a while. Soooo good.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Angie!
B says
I thinned mine with some fresh lime juice. Just amazing!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
SMART. Thanks for sharing!!
B says
SO GREAT!!! Thank you again for yet another winner!!!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! Thanks for sharing.
Hailey says
Is the Whole Foods tahini you linked bitter? I have had a bad experience with others I purchased!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
The whole foods brand is actually our go-to and we don’t find it bitter. Another great one is Alexis brand if you can find it in stores or online.
Paige Cassandra Flamm says
This looks amazing! I’m a sucker for anything tahini!