Wasabi Dressing

Bored of the same old creamy dressing? Give your next salad some character with this bright and sharp wasabi dressing. Made with only 6 ingredients, it can be served fresh in under 5 minutes.

I have a homemade all-purpose vinaigrette that I love so much I use it on 95% of my salads. But once in a while I find myself craving something a little creamy and decadent. That’s when I turn to this wasabi dressing because it’s the perfect marriage of richness from the mayonnaise, and lightness from the lemon juice.

Making wasabi dressing is a no brainer, and it tastes so much better than any store-bought dressing. What makes whisking your own dressing at home better isn’t just in the health aspect (all natural, no preservatives), it’s also fun because you get to adjust the flavor until it tastes just right for you. Taste is so subjective and personal that I like to make my own sauces and seasonings if I can. I would describe this particular dressing as thin yet creamy, full of citrus flavor, some savory and umami, and a subtle kick of grass and heat (similar to ginger).

Wasabi Dressing Ingredients

• Mayonnaise: Preferably kewpie mayonnaise because of its eggy and fruity taste. Kewpie mayonnaise hails from Japan and has more depth of flavor than the average regular mayonnaise. If you cannot find it, I have a kewpie mayonnaise recipe you can follow here.
• Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice for a bright, refreshing, and citrusy taste.
• Wasabi paste: Wasabi paste comes in a tube and can be found in most supermarkets or Asian grocery stores. I recommend using one that contains some real wasabi as the overall taste is more complex. Most commercial wasabi paste is made with horseradish and has a simple grassy and spicy taste.
• Soy sauce: Regular soy sauce adds umami and an earthy taste to the dressing.
• Salt and pepper: Adjust the taste of the wasabi dressing to your liking by seasoning with a little salt and pepper.

How to Make Wasabi Dressing

There is only one step needed to make this wasabi dressing – whisk the ingredients until the dressing is smooth and creamy. That’s it! I suggest seasoning it with a little salt and pepper until you are happy with the taste and to serve it in a pretty glass jar or bowl.

Storing it: Keep it in a glass jar, salad dressing shaker, or other storage container, and refrigerate for up to 1 week.

How to Use Wasabi Dressing

This wasabi dressing recipe is full of bright and tangy flavors, so it can be a lot of fun to pair it with different dishes. Here are some of my favorites:

• With this tomato and smoked salmon salad. The combination of fruity tomatoes and salty smoked salmon pairs beautifully with the citrus and grassy notes of the dressing.
• With a nicoise salad. The creaminess of the dressing complements the classic egg, tuna, anchovy, and olive combination of this popular French salad.
• With this broccoli salad. Swap the honey mustard dressing for a wasabi dressing at your next barbecue or pot luck!
• With my Hawaiian macaroni salad. Swapping the mayonnaise for this dressing adds a little heat and fruitiness to the macaroni salad.
• As a dipping sauce for these air fryer french fries. The classic pairing of french fries and mayonnaise with an added flair.
• As a dipping sauce for my Korean sticky chicken. The spicy and sweet flavors of the Korean sticky chicken blend perfectly with this creamy and tangy dressing.
• As a spread for this tempeh katsu sandwich. I often like to use this wasabi dressing as a spread for a plant based katsu sandwich. I find that it balances the heaviness of the breading, making the sandwich feel lighter.
• As a spread for my cucumber sandwiches. Tzaziki is delicious with cucumber sandwiches, but so is wasabi dressing!
• As a sauce for these spicy tuna rolls. Instead of using plain mayonnaise I like to change things up by using this dressing. Its keeps the palate guessing and the whole experience of eating a spicy tuna roll, more fun.

Other tasty homemade dressing you might like to try: Shiso dressing, miso dressing, coleslaw dressing, Japanese carrot ginger dressing, Japanese sesame dressing, creamy tofu ginger dressing.

Did you like this recipe? Are there changes you made that you would like to share? Share your tips and recommendations in the comments section below!

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