Carrot Ginger Miso Dressing (Oil-Free!)

A fresh and easy Carrot Ginger Miso Salad Dressing inspired by the ones found in a Japanese-style steakhouse restaurant. This version is oil-free, vegan, and gluten-free but full of refreshing flavor and depth.

Have you ever tasted that bright, flavorful carrot ginger dressing over a fresh, crisp salad from a Japanese-style steakhouse restaurant?

I haven't had it in years, but the flavor still rings strong in my memory.

So I used that inspiration to create this tasty oil-free version.

It's so refreshing and a great way to perk up a simple salad.

Ingredients for Carrot Ginger Dressing

You will need a blender or food processor for this recipe. The main base ingredients are:

• Carrot: You will need about two medium carrots for this recipe.
• Fresh ginger
• Tamari: This adds depth and umami flavor. If you don't have tamari, you can substitute with soy sauce, but I use tamari for gluten free. Be sure to use low-sodium if desired.
• Rice vinegar: I use unseasoned rice vinegar. (Seasoned rice vinegar includes added sugar and salt.)
• Water: To thin to desired consistency.

Start with those, then add these other flavors as desired:

• White miso paste: This adds a really nice salty, savory taste.
• Tahini: This is a thick and creamy condiment made from toasted ground sesame seeds. Be sure to find a good quality tahini that's smooth and not too bitter. (It should have a strong, earthy, nutty flavor.)
• Onion: I blend in white onion or yellow onion. But you could also substitute shallot if desired.
• Pure maple syrup: This is a fantastic natural sweetener. But feel free to use your own favorite sweetener instead.

Customizing

This is a forgiving and versatile recipe. (So don't worry if you don't have one of the ingredients on hand.) For my personal preference, I really enjoy the all the additional flavors of miso, tahini, onion, and maple syrup.

Sesame oil: This dressing typically includes sesame oil, but I opted for creamy tahini instead. However feel to include toasted sesame oil to the mixture while you puree it in the blender.

Serving

This dressing is great on a simple green salad. Drizzle it over iceberg lettuce, kale, romaine lettuce, mixed greens, etc.

You can also add your favorite veggies or a protein like chickpeas, quinoa, edamame, pumpkin seeds, or baked tofu.

Storing

We find this homemade dressing keeps for about 4-5 days. Simply store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

For more inspiration, browse all oil-free salad dressings or carrot recipes.

Carrot Ginger Miso Dressing

A Japanese-style steakhouse copycat recipe that is full of refreshing flavor and depth. Fresh, easy, and oil-free!

4.91 from 10 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Comment

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Author: Kaitlin - The Garden Grazer

Course: Dressing

Cuisine: Gluten-Free, Japanese-Inspired, Oil-Free, Vegan

Servings: 6 (1/4-cup servings)

US CustomaryMetric

Ingredients

• 2 medium carrots (about 1 1/3 cups chopped)
• 1 Tbsp. grated ginger (about a 1-inch piece)
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. tamari (or soy sauce)
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. rice vinegar (or white vinegar)
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/4 cup onion (white or yellow)
• 1 Tbsp. tahini
• 1 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
• 1 Tbsp. white miso

Instructions

• Peel and roughly chop carrots. Peel ginger.
• Add all ingredients to a food processor (or high-powered blender) and blend/pulse until smooth.
• Adjust flavors as necessary and salt to taste if desired.

Notes

Yield: Recipe makes about 1 1/2 cups. Store covered in the fridge for 4-5 days.

Customize: Feel free to start with the base ingredients (carrot, ginger, tamari, rice vinegar, and water) then continue with the other additions from there. I enjoy all the extra flavors but you can cut back as desired. It's a versatile recipe.

Serving: Enjoy it on salads or as a fresh veggie dip.

For gluten-free: Use tamari.

Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)

Nutrition Facts

Carrot Ginger Miso Dressing

Amount per Serving

Calories

41

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

2

g

3

%

Saturated Fat

 

1

g

6

%

Potassium

 

94

mg

3

%

Carbohydrates

 

6

g

2

%

Fiber

 

1

g

4

%

Sugar

 

3

g

3

%

Protein

 

1

g

2

%

Vitamin A

 

3397

IU

68

%

Vitamin C

 

2

mg

2

%

Calcium

 

13

mg

1

%

Iron

 

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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If you are enjoying this vegan Japanese steakhouse-inspired Carrot Ginger Miso Dressing recipe, also check out:

• Roasted Red Pepper Dressing
• Asian Kale Salad with Peanut Dressing
• Creamy Garden Herb Dressing
• Garlic Basil Balsamic Dressing

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