Sweet Sesame Dressing – Barefeet in the Kitchen

This tangy, subtle, umami delivering sweet sesame dressing is a chameleon in the kitchen. Whether you toss it with greens, drizzle it over roasted vegetables, use it as a marinade for meats, or as a base for more complex dressings, you’re going to want to have this on hand all the time.

Sesame Dressing

This Asian sesame dressing is seriously versatile. Poppyseed dressing gets all the love in the seedy dressing category, but I think this dressing should get more attention!

Because while poppyseed dressing is delightful on a salad, its usefulness ends there. This dressing, on the other hand, is just warming up with the salads where it is -admittedly- quite good.

Today’s sesame salad dressing can do it all! It’s a delightfully gentle marinade for fish, chicken, and pork, lending a subtle sweet yet tangy flavor, and a nutty umami that only sesame can provide.

It’s also the bees-knees drizzled over roasted or steamed asparagus, green beans, and potatoes. If you have a jar of this in the refrigerator, you’re able to deliver a gentle pop of flavor to so many things!

Sesame Dressing Recipe

To make today’s sesame dressing recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• agave syrup
• apple cider vinegar
• tamari sauce*
• sunflower oil
• toasted sesame oil

*Tamari sauce, while similar to soy sauce, has its own distinct flavor and characteristics. It is stronger in flavor, less salty, packs more umami, and is a little thicker than soy sauce. It is also often gluten-free, if that is a concern for you.

If you cannot find tamari sauce in your local store and don’t want to order it online, you can substitute soy sauce. Just remember it will likely be slightly saltier and less concentrated in flavor.

Sesame Syrup

The base of this dressing is a sweet sesame syrup. It brings the tangy sweetness to the finished product. You’ll likely have a little bit of it left over when you make the dressing; hang onto it! You can add that to marinades or pot roast liquid!

In a small saucepan, combine the agave and vinegar. Over medium heat, whisking well, bring the mixture to a simmer.

Remove from the heat and continue to whisk until the liquids are well blended. Stir in the tamari. Set aside until ready to use.

Pour the sunflower oil, toasted sesame oil, and Sweet Sesame Syrup into a bowl and whisk well to thoroughly combine.

Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use. This dressing will keep nicely in the refrigerator for at least a week.

recipe shared, with thanks, from Mandy’s Gourmet Salads