Creamy and nutty Japanese sesame dressing is an easy addition to make any salad feel rich and exciting! It's called goma dressing in Japan, and is a popular dressing made with toasted sesame seeds, rice vinegar, and a few kitchen staples. This homemade dressing has a savory, tangy flavor with a touch of sweetness.
This recipe is made with maple syrup for a subtle sweetness to make it sugar-free. It's simple to make and tastes fresher than store-bought.
Goma dressing is so nostalgic to me, as I love it grew up in Japan! It only requires 5 ingredients to recreate the flavor I remember. It's so versatile, so drizzle over simple green salads or one of my fun salads like Crispy Rice Salad and Spring Roll Noodle Salad!
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What Is Japanese Sesame Dressing?
Japanese sesame dressing, often called goma dressing (ごまドレッシング), is a creamy dressing made with sesame seeds, mayonnaise, soy sauce, vinegar, and a touch of sweetener.
It's a classic and popular dressing in Japan, much like ranch dressing in the United States. It's a staple in home kitchens and at restaurant salad bars.
Compared to vinaigrettes, Japanese sesame dressing is richer, creamier, and has more savory depth.
I created this recipe to recreate the nostalgic flavor I love and grew up with, a creamy, savory dressing that makes a simple salad feel so special!
I use maple syrup to add a subtle sweetness to make it refined sugar-free. Drizzle it over a simple green salad, wakame seaweed salad, soba noodle salad, or grilled protein like chicken or tofu.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Creamy and flavorful with a rich toasted sesame taste.
- Naturally sweetened with maple syrup.
- Easy to make with simple ingredients.
- Better than store-bought with fresher flavor.
- Versatile for salads, vegetables, bowls, and noodles.
- Ready in minutes.
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients, and you might already have them!
- Sesame seeds: Use white sesame seeds for this recipe, as it has milder flavor compared to black sesame seeds that pair well with the savory umami of this dressing.
- Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise is the base of this recipe and makes this dressing so creamy. I highly recommend using Kewpie mayonnaise for this recipe! Its savory, umami flavor makes this dressing so irresistible.
- Rice vinegar: brighten up this dressing.
- Maple syrup: Maple syrup adds gentle sweetness and adds depth to the taste. You can also use granulated sugar.
- Soy sauce: adds savory umami and depth to the dressing.
See recipe card for the measurement.
How to Make Japanese Sesame Dressing
- In a dry skillet, add sesame seeds and toast over medium-low heat until fragrant, for 2-3 minutes, stirring or gently tossing the pan continuously. Let cool completely.
- Transfer the sesame seeds to a grinder. I use a Japanese-style mortar and pestle (suribachi and surikogi). You can also use a spice grinder. Grind until coarsely ground and fragrant.
- In a jar, combine the ground sesame seeds, mayonnaise, rice vinegar, maple syrup, soy sauce, and a pinch of salt. Close the lid and shake well to combine. You can alternatively whisk them together in a bowl. Taste and adjust the taste with salt.
Why Do You Toast Sesame Seeds?
Most sesame seeds on the market are ready to eat, but toasting them before use brings out so much more flavor.
Toasted sesame seeds create the rich, nutty flavor Japanese sesame dressing is known for. Untoasted sesame seeds taste milder and less aromatic.
Sesame seeds can burn quickly, so keep the pan moving by tossing in a back-and-forth motion to evenly toast the sesame seeds.
What Does It Taste Like?
Japanese sesame dressing is creamy, nutty, and savory with a hint of sweetness.
The toasted sesame gives it a tasty, nutty flavor to the iconic Kewpie mayo. Then rice vinegar brightens up the dressing while soy sauce adds umami, creating a rich dressing that pairs especially well with simple salads and vegetables.
Japanese Sesame Dressing vs Store-Bought
Homemade Japanese sesame dressing tastes fresher! And you can adjust the sweetness, saltiness, and thickness to your liking. Many bottled versions often are sweeter or use stabilizers, while homemade has a bolder sesame flavor, thanks to freshly toasted sesame seeds.
If you already enjoy store-bought goma dressing, making it at home is an easy upgrade.
How to Use Japanese Sesame Dressing
This dressing is so versatile and makes anything rich and fun. Here are some ideas you can drizzle or toss your homemade dressing with.
- Green salad - I love simple green salad with wakame seaweed for extra nutrition! And this dressing makes it instantly so exciting.
- Cucumber Salad - massage sliced cucumbers or spiral cucumbers with salt, then squeeze excess moisture. Then toss with the dressing to make a crunchy salad. Cucumber and wakame salad is also a great base for this dressing.
- Steamed broccoli or green beans - toss the veggies to make a simple yet flavorful side.
- Crunchy salad - if you like crunchy salad like my Beet and Carrot Salad, toss this dressing with shredded carrot, radish, and/or cabbage, creating a rich sesame slaw.
- Cold Soba Noodle Salad - You can make noodle salad even more hearty with goma dressing.
- Cold Ramen Noodle Salad - Did you know you can make a salad with ramen noodles? Think of it as an Asian version of pasta salad, making the salad satiating.
- Grain bowl - you can jazz up a simple bowl of grains, veggies, and proteins like chicken, salmon, or tofu.
- Udon noodles - dip udon noodles for an easy meal.
Storage
Store Japanese sesame dressing in a jar or an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Stir or shake before serving, as sesame seeds can sink to the bottom.
Tip for the Best Flavor
- Toast the sesame seeds for a deeper flavor.
- Keep the pan moving by tossing in a back-and-forth motion to prevent burning.
- Grind the seeds to bring out the flavor.
- Use Kewpie mayo for the classic goma dressing taste.
- Adjust thickness with water as needed.
- Taste before serving and rebalance if needed.
FAQ
Yes! Goma means sesame in Japanese, so goma dressing refers to sesame dressing. This recipe is my recreation of the taste that I love and grew up with.
Yes. Most mayonnaise is naturally dairy-free, though it's always best to check the label. You can also use a vegan mayonnaise.
Yes. You can easily make this dressing vegan by using vegan mayonnaise. Luckily, Kewpie has vegan mayo, too! So you can make a vegan version of this recipe while keeping its iconic flavor.
I highly recommend using mayo, especially Kewpie, to create the iconic flavor.
Japanese Sesame Dressing (Creamy Goma Dressing Recipe)
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons sesame seeds
- ¼ cup mayonnaise Kewpie preferred
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- Pinch salt
Instructions
- In a dry skillet, add sesame seeds and toast over medium-low heat until fragrant, for 2-3 minutes, stirring or gently tossing the pan continuously. Let cool completely.
- Transfer the sesame seeds to a grinder. I use a Japanese-style mortar and pestle (suribachi and surikogi). You can also use a spice grinder. Grind until coarsely ground and fragrant.
- In a jar, combine the ground sesame seeds, mayonnaise, rice vinegar, maple syrup, soy sauce, and a pinch of salt. Close the lid and shake well to combine. Taste and adjust the taste with salt.
Notes
- Green salad - I love simple green salad with wakame seaweed for extra nutrition! And this dressing makes it instantly so exciting.
- Cucumber Salad - massage sliced cucumbers or spiral cucumbers with salt, then squeeze excess moisture. Then toss with the dressing to make a crunchy salad. Cucumber and wakame salad is also a great base for this dressing.
- Steamed broccoli or green beans - toss the veggies to make a simple yet flavorful sides.
- Crunchy salad - if you like crunchy salad like my Beet and Carrot Salad, toss this dressing with shredded carrot, radish, or/and/or cabbage, creating a rich sesame slaw.
- Cold Soba Noodle Salad - You can make noodle salad even more hearty with goma dressing.
- Cold Ramen Noodle Salad - Did you know you can make a salad with ramen noodles? Think of it as Asian version of pasta salad, making the salad satiating.
- Grain bowl - you can jazz up a simple bowl of grains, veggies, and proteins like chicken, salmon, or tofu.
- Udon noodles - dip udon noodles for an easy meal.
Nutrition
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