Delicious homemade sesame vinaigrette salad dressing is ready in about 5 minutes — perfect for green salads, pasta salads, slaws, and it doubles as a flavorful marinade for grilling and roasting.
Our go-to dressings at home are simple vinaigrettes, honey mustard, and a favorite ranch, but sometimes a change is welcome. We’ve experimented with sun-dried tomato vinaigrettes and lighter takes on classic French dressings. When my daughter tasted a sesame dressing at a restaurant and loved it, she asked me to create a homemade version. I tested a few combinations and ended up with a bright, balanced sesame vinaigrette that works beautifully on Asian-style noodle salads and everyday greens.
Beyond salads, we discovered this vinaigrette makes an excellent marinade for chicken and fish. Marinating for an hour before grilling and brushing extra on during the last minutes of cooking builds a lovely caramelized coating and deep flavor.
Sesame Vinaigrette Salad Dressing & Marinade
To recreate the dressing my daughter loved, I reviewed ingredient lists from a few store-bought versions and then adjusted flavors and textures until I was happy with the result. The homemade version avoids the excess sugars and thickening agents many commercial dressings use, giving you a fresher, more pourable vinaigrette. If you prefer a thicker texture, a small amount of arrowroot, cornstarch, or potato starch will do the trick.
I tested the final version on my daughter — she loved it and gave me the seal of approval. If you like sesame-forward dressings with a gentle balance of sweet, salty, and tangy, this will likely become a staple.
Ingredient notes:
- Choose a naturally brewed soy sauce without added sugars or excessive preservatives when possible. If you avoid soy, liquid aminos are a good substitute. For gluten-free diets, tamari is usually a suitable alternative (check labels).
- If using rice vinegar, avoid the “seasoned” varieties, which include added sugar. Pure rice vinegar is mild and works well; apple cider vinegar is an acceptable substitute if needed.
- If you prefer a thicker dressing, add 1/2 teaspoon arrowroot powder, cornstarch, or potato starch. Start small and increase slightly as desired.
Sesame Vinaigrette Salad Dressing & Marinade
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup rice or apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or tamari/liquid aminos)
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 clove garlic or about 1/2 tsp minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon honey or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon arrowroot powder, cornstarch, or potato starch (optional for thickening)
- 1/3 cup olive oil
Instructions
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Combine the vinegar, soy sauce, water, sesame oil, garlic, sesame seeds, honey, and starch (if using) in a small bowl or glass measuring cup. Whisk until well blended and the starch is dissolved.
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Whisk in the olive oil until the dressing is emulsified. Transfer to a glass container for serving and storage.
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Serving ideas: Use as a dressing for green and pasta salads, slaws, or as a marinade for chicken and seafood. For marinades, reserve part of the vinaigrette, marinate proteins 2–3 hours before cooking, and brush with additional dressing during the final minutes of grilling or roasting.
Notes
Sesame-Ginger Vinaigrette: add 1 teaspoon finely grated ginger to the recipe for a bright, zippy variation.
Nutrition
Other homemade dressings you may like:
Classic Caesar Salad Dressing
Best Homemade Ranch Dressing
Note: this recipe was originally published in February 2013 and has been updated with larger photos, improved formatting, and a printable recipe. Enjoy!
Disclosure: this post originally included affiliate links. Recommendations are based on ingredients and products the author trusts.