If you enjoy the refreshing salads served at Japanese restaurants, this delicious Carrot-Ginger Dressing recipe is for you. Made with carrot, ginger, and miso, the sweet-tangy dressing will zest up your salad! It’s light, refreshing & healthy too!
Many Japanese restaurants in the U.S. serve a salad with either Sesame Dressing or Carrot Ginger Dressing (にんじんドレッシング). While sesame dressing is more creamy and mild, this carrot ginger dressing is light and refreshing with a kick of ginger.
Watch How to Make Carrot Ginger Dressing にんじんドレッシングの作り方
Quick and refreshing Carrot-Ginger Salad Dressing that is as good as restaurants.
The recipe is really simple and takes just 10 minutes to prepare, but you need to have a food processor or blender to achieve nice smooth texture for the dressing. For the authentic taste, try to use rice vinegar because it is much milder in flavor than other vinegars. I used white miso in this dressing, not red miso or awase miso (combination of white and red miso), because white miso is also more mild and doesn’t overwhelm the other flavors in the dressing.
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- 1 carrot (1 carrot = 50 g or 1.8 oz) (coarsely chopped)
- 1/16 onion (1/16 onion = 28 g or 1 oz or about 1 Tbsp when minced) (sliced)
- 3/4 inch ginger (¾" ginger = 8 g or 0.3 oz) (preferably young/spring ginger, see Notes, peeled and sliced)
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 2 Tbsp neutral flavor oil (vegetable, canola, etc)
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp miso (I use white miso)
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- salt (kosher or sea salt; use half if using table salt) (to taste)
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Gather all the ingredients.
- Put all the ingredients in a food processor.
- Puree until carrot, onion, and ginger are minced and blend until smooth. If you prefer the dressing to be lighter, add water (I don’t usually add any water).
- Store the dressing in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Ginger: Young/spring ginger tastes milder than regular ginger. If you can only find regular ginger, adjust accordingly.
Recipe by Namiko Chen of Just One Cookbook. All images and content on this site are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without my permission. If you’d like to share this recipe on your site, please re-write the recipe and link to this post as the original source. Thank you.
The dressing sounds so fresh and delicious Nami, wishing you a great week ahead 😉
Oh Nami thank you so much for this. I’ve looked atound and haven’t found a recipe. This is perfect and just what I’ve been looking for. You’re a gem! Hope you had a great weekend. Looking forward to seeing your new backdrop.
The dressing looks glamorous Nami, and I am sure it tastes divine too. Simple method too! Thanks so much!
Oh my, I have been wanting to know how to make this Carrot Ginger Dressing for so long. I finally found the right recipe. I’m sure this will be great on all the salads for spring and summer. Thanks for sharing the video and the recipe, Nami. Have a good week ahead!
爽やかな味だそうですね。是非試したいのでレシピを保存しました。
美しいモントレーをごゆっくり楽しんで下さい。
THANK YOU! This is my FAVORITE dressing and I always ask for extra at Asian restuarants and seriously DROWN my salad in it. Now I can make it at home, and I know it’s somewhat healthy, too 🙂
Thanks for sharing this beautiful and healthy dressing. I can imagine the combination of sweetness from the carrot and the special flavour and zest from the ginger. Definitely makes a great salad dressing.
Already tested it out for dinner tonight. The freshness makes it even better than what you eat at restaurant. Thanks so much!
Hi Yui! So fast! Thank you so much for trying out this recipe already. I’m very happy to hear you enjoyed it. THANK YOU! 🙂
I’ve always wondered about this dressing that so many restaurants serve with their salads. Thanks for sharing the recipe! It looks super convenient to make, and the color is gorgeous. I’m definitely sending this recipe to my mom, who happens to love this kind of dressing flavor. =)
Hi Kimmi! Thank you! I hope your mom will like this dressing. It requires basic ingredients/condiments, so yeah it’s pretty convenient. Thank you for your comment! 🙂 xo
Wow, this sounds really delicious. Really healthy too!
Both Sonia and Jessie also recently made Japanese salad dressing, I was planning to make it this week too! Will draw inspiration from you all 😀
Simple, Easy, and delicious! Perfect dressing and I love the ingredients! Awesome video!
The flavours in the dressing sound delicious though I think I’d just add 1/2 of a grated carrot to the rest of the dressing as I like a thinner dressing on my salads.
New to me and I cannot wait to make and try 🙂 !
Thank you Eha! Now I wonder – maybe this dressing is only popular in Japanese restaurants in the U.S. (we have this in Japan too). 😉
What a wonderfully fresh tasting dressing! This sounds so delish, and such a great idea. Looking forward to seeing that new backdrop!
Your videos are awesome! So easy to follow! I’m very happy to have come across your site.
Hi Natalia! I’m happy that you checked out the video. Thank you so much! We work harder to improve our videos… 🙂 Thank you for finding my site and following! 🙂
I was looking for a Japanese dressing to go with my simple meal of salad, spam musubi and gyoza. Just happened to see your post for the carrot dressing and decided to try it out. I don’t have a food scale, so I just used a medium carrot, a quarter of a regular white onion and fresh ginger and followed your recipe for the dry and wet ingredients.
My dressing came out looking a bit thicker than I anticipated. Perhaps due to the larger carrot or too much onion. I saw your note to include water for a lighter dressing, but opted to add a little bit of vinegar and oil and it came out perfect.
This salad dressing recipe is very unique and do look forward to use it in salads when pairing with Asian entrees.
Thanks again for posting these recipes that are simply delicious and easy to prepare.
Hi Mae! What a coincidence! I think 2/3 of medium carrot would be good. It was hard for me to say how big is the carrot so I put the weight just in case. 🙂 But I’m glad you figured out and adjusted at the end! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it! Thank you for writing feedback, I really appreciate it! 🙂
Hubby and I love that dressing. I have been looking for homemade dressing recipes, instead of enjoying store bought dressings. This is going on the must enjoy list for sure. Your recipe sounds hearty and so delicious! Hugs, Terra
This dressing is my fave at Japanese restaurants – who knew it was this easy to make? I’ll definitely have to try it soon now that it’s almost salad season again (still chilly in NY)! 😉
What a colour! I am simply in love with what this could do to a plain cos salad. Thank once again for a brilliant staple recipe
Such salad I had only in restaurants..
Hi Nami! Last weekend, I went to a humble Japanese cafe in Melbourne, Australia with great set meals (teishoku). Their salad had this dressing, which was flavoursome. My friend asked what the dressing was and I said that I had never had it before or seen it when I lived in Japan. I’m so glad to know the secret ingredients to such a delicious dressing! It is always so good to learn more about Japanese food, even when I think I’ve eaten most Japanese dishes.
Hi Maybelle! Ohhh so glad to hear it’s popular in Australia too! We do have it in Japan; but considering the popularity, sesame dressing is WAY more popular. Carrot dressing is considered as one of “healthy” dressings. 🙂
I’ve had sesame dressing, but never a carrot ginger dressing. I’ll enjoy pretty much anything with ginger, so I’m guessing this will be delicious! I love how it brightens up the salad too. Beautiful. Have a wonderful week Nami!
That is one fantastic dressing. I bet that ginger gives it such a punch!
Hi Nami
This a healthy and fresh salad. I Iike the combination of miso and sesame oil.
Chantal
Original, healthy and delicious!
Cheers,
Rosa
This looks like a nice and light salad dressing
Salad sauces are such an infinite category… Even without thinking of specific recipes, I’m sure that we all make at least five different versions. I have already heard somewhere about this dressing but have never tried it. It does look very unusual and original. Is it also popular in Japan? (On the other hand in Japan few people eat leaf salads with a dressing, the way we do in the West, or maybe I’m wrong?). Anyway, it looks delicious and I’m sure it would be fantastic if made with young ginger AND young carrots we already have here.
Congratulations for the table!
Hi Sissi! Compared to the popularity for Wafu Dressing (Japanese dressing) and Sesame Dressing, this is not as popular. But we do have it, and some people make it at home, or buy the bottled ones. It’s rare to see this dressing over the salad in restaurants in Japan, I think. 🙂
Thank you about the table! I have to drive 1.5 hour (each way) again to pick up that table soon… 😀
I like that dressing. Looks like it’s very flavorful and mixed in a very refreshing salad. Nice video Nami. 🙂
Oh Nami this recipie makes me so excited! I love the carrot ginger dressing on salads at Japanese restaurants and can’t wait to make it at home.
Hi Alexandra! I hope you enjoy this recipe! 🙂
Such a fresh and delicious idea for a dressing 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Ooooh I don’t think I’ve ever had this dressing. I always get the sesame dressing. I love how refreshing this sounds. It just screams spring! Can’t wait to try it 🙂
I have never even seen a dressing like this before. It looks so fresh and delicious and the ginger would give it some extra zing! YUM
I love that you shared this recipe with us. You are so right…it is on so many salads at Japanese restaurants. Now I can make it at home!
I never made a dressing like that, but I found it very interesting, having carrots IN the dressing is so clever.
I’m all over this one Nami! I love making my own salad dressing and I love the simple sesame dressing that dress the salads at Japanese restaurant. I don’t remember having had this dressing, but I will shortly. It would be hard to use much more than lettuce as the salad. I wouldn’t want the salad ingredients to compete with this dressing. Thanks for sharing this!
What a lovely and healthy dressing! Never thought you can use carrot into a dressing and it adds robust color. 🙂
this dressing sounds like it is perfect on the salad but could be useful in so many other types of dishes like drizzled over bruschetta or in pasta or in a coleslaw or something. it looks divine
Hi Nami,
So into salads these days, going to make this one for sure. Will keep you posted on how it turns out. Thanks so much for sharing
Beautiful pictures Nami! This looks so yummy and easy!
Thanks so much Vivi! 🙂 xo
This is soo easy and makes a prefect dressing. I will try it for my next salad.
Love the freshness of the carrot and ginger Nami! This is one delicious dressing for the spring and we are looking forward to try it soon. Have a lovely week:)
What an excellent dressing. It’s fresh, great to look at and I’m sure it’s delicious too. I’ve got to give it a try.
I recently came across a recipe similar and I so wanted to try it. Now seeing your recipe… it looks even better to me. I am trying to eat my salads so I’m in search of tasty dressings. 🙂
Hi. Thanks for sharing this recipe. Like to seek yr advice.
I have awase miso which I use for miso soup. I don’t want to buy white miso just like to try this recipe.
Can I use awase miso to replace white miso. And do I use the samr porpotion?
Thanks!
HI Sarah! I understand. 🙂 Each brand of miso tastes differently (especially salt level), so please adjust according to your miso and use awase miso for this recipe. Try adding 1 tsp. at a time. It adds complexity and bold flavor. Hope you enjoy! 🙂
I know this dressing sure good because I made the similar dressing earlier, but you added ginger, sound good too.
Ohh…so this is what is served on my salads! I can never tell what it is! Whenever I get a salad in a Japanese restaurant and it`s served with this dressing, I never knew the name even though I always love it! I love how simple refreshing this dressing is, Nami!
I’ve just about had it with store bought dressings, thank you so much for this!
healthy and refreshing. i love to have that for breakfast after my gym.
Dear Nami-san, this is a great little recipe so easy and quick and perfect timing for the start of spring. I can usually find both regular and spring ginger here in HK, so that is a very good thing. I just visited your sesame dressing recipe too as my boys really that as well. Have a super weekend. BAM
I’ve always wondered how to make this dressing every time we try it – I’m so excited that you shared with us how to make it at home 🙂 I love the refreshing flavors in here – can’t wait to try this 🙂
Your carrot ginger dressing looks and sounds refreshing and beyond yummy….I would love to try this in a kale salad or perhaps shaved brussels sprout/fennel dish. This is a perfect summery dressing and definitely a keeper! Thanks Namiko!!!!
I always have a salad everyday for lunch. I’m getting tired of the same old store-bought Ranch dressing- so I’ll have to give this recipe a try!!
I have this dressing in a bottle but once it is done I will so do my own. So simple and it really is delicious!
Hi Nami,
Been admiring your new website layout and your wonderful recipes, photos and videos. Saw this carrot ginger dressing recipe and thought it’s what I’ve been looking for. Hope to try this out soon, thanks!
Aww thanks so much for your kind words, Fern! I hope you enjoy this dressing. 🙂
I love sesame dressing but I’ve never tried this carrot and ginger dressing. I must give this a go Nami! 😀
This dressing wounds wonderful – refreshing and just the thing for warmer weather! Thanks!
Nami, this looks so good – perfect for the spring salads we’ll soon be enjoying! Thanks for another great recipe!
I LOVE the dressings they use in Japanese restaurants! I’ve been looking for a recipe and this sounds perfect. Thank you!
Hey Nami! Tried this today since I had a bunch of carrots at home and it turned out really well. By the way, I passed by this restaurant here in Toronto called Nami – made me think of you :). I’ve yet to try it out, but looks like a pretty nice authentic Japanese place.
Hi Divya! Thank you so much for trying this recipe, and I’m glad it turned out well. 🙂
Oh, you didn’t know that I have a restaurant in Toronto? He he… just kidding! That’s so funny you found a Japanese restaurant that’s my name! It’s not super common, but Nami is one of common girls name. Thank you for thinking of me! xo
Thank you Nami this is exactly what I am looking for! Tried it today finally and it turned out great! Very yummy and very much like the ones I had at the restaurant. Thanks for sharing your great recipes! Very enjoy your website and have tried a number of your recipes already. They are very easy to follow and tasty! Hope you will release an app soon because I’d love to buy it! 🙂
Hi Miu Miu! So glad to hear you liked the dressing, and thank you so much for writing feedback on this post! I’m also happy to hear you enjoy my recipes! Thank you for following my blog and for your support! xo 🙂
I tried this recipe last week, and it is delicious. Thank you!
Hi Susi! Thank you so much for letting me know! I’m so happy to hear you liked it! 🙂
Thank you for the recipe for this awesome dressing. I could not unravel the ingredients and just came home from my favorite sushi restaurant with a quart of their carrot ginger dressing. I am going to be so happy to be able to make my own. We love the clean taste on veggies.
Devon
Hi Devon! Each restaurant makes it slightly different, but I hope this dressing is similar to the one you like! Thank you so much for the comment! 🙂
Hi Nami, can I just know the brand of the food processor that you used for this recipe? I currently have different blenders for various types of paste and they are definately taking up too much space in the kitchen. Yours looks like a all-in-one, which is awesome!
Anyways, this recipe taste great, tried it over a dinner and everyone loved it!
Thanks in advance~
Hi Jo! I’m happy to hear you and your family enjoyed this recipe! Thanks for your kind feedback. My food processor/blender is from Cuisinart (http://amzn.to/1AQErk5). I am okay with it, but I am looking for a bigger food processor since this one is a bit too small for some of the food I make. 🙂 But I’ve been using this for the last 10 years! 🙂
Is the carrot cooked or raw?
It’s a raw carrot. If it’s cooked, it’ll be mushy. 🙂
Dear Nami, thank you so much for this awesome recipe! I’ve just made the first batch of your carrot ginger dressing and I’m already addicted to it! So fresh and balanced taste!
I want to say all your recipes are so beautiful and easy to follow and I’ve started to read back in your recipe archive and I enjoy your blog so much!
And also, as I’m learning japanese language, it is really fantastic to read all the background details of the japanese food and tradition, and to learn new japanese words, and last but not least, your incredible inspiring posts about japanese culture, history and all these beautiful places I hope I can visit someday, too… Your blog is really essential to me!!! Thank you so much!
Hi Genus! I’m so happy to hear you enjoy this dressing! It’s simple and healthy dressing and we love it too! Thank you so much for taking your time to go through my archive posts! It’s wonderful that you are learning Japanese. Hope I can introduce more about Japan and its culture on my blog. Hope you get to visit Japan one day. Japan is waiting for you! 🙂
Thanks again for your kind feedback and sweet words about my blog!
Thank you Nami for sharing this recipe! I love this dressing and can’t wait to try it out at home 🙂 But if I omit the white miso, would it affect the taste of the dressing completely? And is there a substitute for it? Thanks!
Hi Anna! Miso is very important umami flavor here so excluding it definitely affects the final result. Miso is an unique ingredient so I can’t substitute with anything else. Hope this helps!
Just whipped this together and it’s EXACTLY what I was hoping for. My only carrot was a purple one, which yielded a a delightful pink color, like pickled gari! Thank you Nami!
Hi Ian! Aww I’m super happy to hear that! Haha I love the “purple” carrot dressing. I should surprise my kids with it. 😉 Thanks for your kind feedback! xo
Nami,
Is it totally blasphemous to substitute carrot for orange pepper? I have already prepared this(and nearly every other dish on your blog :^_^) with carrot and it was perfect.
Hi Mara! Hmmm you know, carrot has natural sweet taste to it while orange pepper is not the same kind of flavor. You could give it a try, but I’m afraid it won’t work (at least for my taste). 😀 Thank you for trying many of my recipes! 🙂
i like the look of the dressing
Thank you Keisis!
I followed the recipe exactly and this dressing came out perfect!
Hi Randi! Ohhh I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for your kind feedback! 🙂
Hi,
May I know can I puree the dressing using blender instead of food processor?
Hi Ben! Sure, you can do that. 🙂
Can I parboil the carros or shouldn’t I? Thank you
Hi Catarina! You don’t have you – if you boil it, it gets mushy…. 🙂
What is the 4th ingredient that you added? Before you added the sugar and after you added the ginger? It almost looks like peanut butter.
Hi Melissa! Oh, it is miso paste. 🙂
This looks super healthy, but I am supposed to stay away from sugar. Would you I substitute orange juice or maybe oranges for sugar?
Hi Alex! Sure you can do that. I have never tried it so I’m not sure how much do you need it… let us know how it goes! 🙂
I made this today and it came out great. I am very impressed with myself but I owe everything to you, Nami. This tasted just like the Japanese salad dressing I get when I have Japanese salads, which I love. Thank you so much for such a delicious recipe. Your recipes never disappoint. Sooooo gooood.
Hi Kazy! I’m glad to hear yours came out well! Thank you so much for your kind feedback and sweet words. I’m just happy that you now can make it at home! 🙂
Nami, thank you! I’ve always loved the dressing at japanese restaurants and had absolutely no clue what was in it and how to make it. I actually went and bought a food processor just so I can make this at home.
Hi Agnes! Wahh! You bought a food processor for this recipe! YESSS! FP is helpful, although I don’t use it often for cooking Japanese food. Hope you enjoy this recipe!