When you want a simple salad to make the meal complete, this easy Spinach Salad with Asian Dressing is all you need.
Do you usually buy or make your own salad dressing? With our busy lives and wide selection of dressings on store shelves, it’s difficult to resist them in the supermarket. However, the homemade dressing does taste much better than store bought dressings and much healthier too. If you are not familiar with making your own dressing, don’t worry, I’ll show you how. It’s all about knowing the simple rules of thumb and experimenting!
I’ll show you the basics of making salad dressing and share an easy Asian salad dressing that goes really well with Spinach Salad or any kinds of leafy salad!
Watch How To Make Spinach Salad with Asian Salad Dressing ほうれん草サラダとドレッシングの作り方
Refreshing spinach salad with navel orange and drizzled in a irresistible Asian salad dressing.
Oil vs. Vinegar Ratio for Salad Dressing
For salad dressing, oil and acidity are 2 very important components. You just have to remember the standard ratios for oil : acids ranges from 2 : 1 to 3 : 1 ratio. I recommend starting from 2 : 1 ratio. For example, you can combine 4 Tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and 2 Tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice.
Oil of Your Choice
Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is most commonly used for western style salad dressing. However, for Japanese salad dressing, neutral flavored oil like vegetable oil and canola oil are usually used.
Acids of Your Choice
Any kinds of citrus juice like lemon, lime, orange is the simplest acids you could use. Or you could use vinegar as well. For western dressing, balsamic vinegar, white/red wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, and cider vinegar are commonly used while for Japanese salad dressing we use rice vinegar.
By the way, some people call rice vinegar “rice WINE vinegar” but they are actually the same thing. The rice vinegar is rice wine that has been turned into vinegar.
Don’t be afraid to mix both citrus juice and vinegar, or two kinds of vinegars for your own secret recipe. It’s all about experimenting.
Variations for Salad Dressings
Now you’ve got oil and acid components in the dressing. What’s next? Add other ingredients and experiment to discover what flavors work best for you! The different combination yields all kinds of different flavors in the dressings! You will definitely go through some trial and errors, but without experimenting, you don’t know what type of dressings you might like!
Here are some suggestions of ingredients you could put in your dressing mixture:
- Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper is a MUST: Adding a bit of salt brings out the true flavor of the food, just like a magic. Instead of adding more seasonings, add a pinch of salt to adjust. If you are using salty ingredients like soy sauce, remember to reduce the amount of salt added.
- Fresh Ingredients: Chop garlic, ginger, shallots, chives, parsley and scallions into fine pieces and add them into the dressing.
- Seasonings: Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, soy sauce, ponzu, miso, tahini, red pepper flakes, ground sesame seeds, etc… You can add almost anything!
- Sweeteners: Don’t be afraid to sweeten if the acid component is too strong. You can add honey, sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, agave nectar, etc.
- Fresh or Dried Herbs: Choose one of herbs like basil, oregano, marjoram, mint, dill, etc to add more flavors.
- Sprinkles: Sprinkle sesame seeds, walnuts, almonds, pine nuts, pecans, cashews to add texture to the dressing and salad!
Equipment for Salad Dressing
You really don’t need anything special to make salad dressings at home, but I have 2 kitchen items are that are “helpful” if you have them.
- Flat whisk
SOOOOOO many people had asked me about this flat whisk that I often use in my recipe and YouTube videos. Unlike a regular whisk, this flat whisk is perfect when you have small amount of liquid on the bottom of the mixing bowl. You get a nice whip out of the dressing or mixture you have in the mixing bowl.
- Mason jar (or really, any type of jar)
You don’t need a whisk if you can use a jar. Just close the lid and shake it up. But the best part is that you can store in the refrigerator directly from the table. As I usually make small portions of dressing at a time and only keep it for several days in the fridge since I don’t sterilize the jars beforehand.
Wait, still don’t know where to start? Try this, memorize the following recipes: 2 Tbsp. EVOO, 1 Tbsp. lemon juice or balsamic vinegar, a big pinch of salt, and freshly ground black pepper! It’s one of the best tasting dressing and also the easiest. Here are other dressings that my family love below:
Japanese Salad Dressings on Just One Cookbook
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- 3 Tbsp walnuts (3 Tbsp = 23 g/0.8 oz)
- ¼ red onion
- 1 navel orange
- 3 oz baby spinach (3 oz = 85 g)
- 3 Tbsp neutral flavor oil (vegetable, canola, etc)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1½ Tbsp rice vinegar (or white wine vinegar)
- ¼ tsp ginger (grated)
- ¼ tsp sugar
- ½ Tbsp white sesame seeds (roasted/toasted)
- Freshly ground pepper
- salt (kosher or sea salt; use half if using table salt)
- To make the dressing, in a small bowl, whisk together 3 Tbsp. canola oil, 2 Tbsp. soy sauce, 1½ Tbsp. white wine vinegar, ¼ tsp. grated ginger, ¼ tsp. sugar, and ½ Tbsp. sesame seeds. Set aside.
- Heat a frying pan over medium high heat and toast the walnuts, stirring frequently until fragrant. Transfer the walnuts to a plate and set aside.
- Slice the red onion thinly. Cut the navel orange into 8 wedges. Slice off the peel and pith. Cut each wedge into 3 pieces.
- Add the spinach, the navel orange, and walnuts in a large bowl. Pour as much dressing as you like and toss gently to coat thoroughly. Serve immediately.
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 in your own words and link to this post as the original source. Thank you.
Thank you for the lesson on dressings. I rarely make my own dressings though when I have done so, they’ve never disappointed. One of my favourites is a grated ginger and sesame dressing that’s light and flavourful.
PS: I’m curious why for a while now, all the links to the newest post on your blog lead to the Tofu Pizza post. I always have to click on the HOME link to actually read the new post.
Hope you try this simple dressing! It’s very easy and delicious!
Thank you for letting me know about the issue. Which link do you click? I usually test all the links (I’ve made many mistakes before…) but I haven’t caught this one you’re talking about.
I have link to the post on the picture of the recipe as well as “read more”. Do you click somewhere else?
Great reference article. I totally agree with you on the part about homemade dressing being better tasting.
What a lovely salad! I also made a spinach salad recipe today. 🙂 I must try your Asian salad dressing for sure… I know I will love it. 🙂
Ummm..spinach and orange, what a great combination, and nuts…and onion…and the dressing!!!
Each day I visit your web site… Each day I find something new…
I am enjoying my experimenting with Japanese cooking, thanks to your site… :O)
Thank you so much, RossC! I hope you enjoy cooking and eating Japanese food! 🙂
So you have lived almost half your lifetime in California . . . was it College or University which brought you across the Pacific . . and what did you study? Won’t embarrass you by asking what your ‘beauty secrets’ are ’cause thought you quite a bit younger!!! But congratulations on having achieved a wonderful lifestyle . . . the spinach recipe is coming just at the right moment ’cause my online shopping got things ‘wrong’ and I am absolutely ‘swimming’ in the stuff!! And checking up on all your information 🙂 ! And smiling at you on the video: more please!!!!
Hi Eha! Yes, 18 years, and in 2 years, I spend the same amount of time in California and Japan. OMG! Looking young than actual age is actually hereditary from my mom’s side. I can never look “matured” or “sexy” with this face and I didn’t like it till mid 30s. I can finally appreciate it as I close to 40… =P Thank you as always for cheering me up!
Well, be lucky that you do not look ‘mature’ but Milady no guy reading this and looking at your photo would say you are not ‘sexy’ . . . . Oh methinks you are one every sane and sensible guy would just love to marry – lucky Mr JOC . . . big hug . . .
Oh Eha, you’re too kind… 🙂 Big hug back to you! xo
Nice salad.. orange, spinach and walnuts sounds yummy!
This is another great tutorial, Nami! I remember buying the Asian dressings from Mitsuwa but it’s been years. I now make my own but it’s usually very plain – oil, acid, dijon maybe. I’m starting to use sherry vinegar lately…but I need to change it up and I can use many of your techniques and tips. Particularly like the Japanese dressing recipes – you have everything we need! : ) And a good dressing goes a long way to making us crave salads, which is a very good thing.
I use the Mason jar method quite often when I make a salad dressing. Love being able to make more, and store it in the refrigerator. Anyway, really excellent tutorial! Loads of great info — thanks so much.
This salad is so pretty, Nami! I love homemade dressing and this Asian dressing sounds perfect! This is such a great tutorial, thanks for sharing all the great step-by-step pics too 🙂
Nami, you know the way to my hearty girl :).; I love a good salad. This looks amazing.
Kay of Pure & Complex
http://www.purecomplex.com
1. This is yet another excellent recipe that I’ll be adding to my files.
2. Is there any chance of you creating a Just One Cookbook app?
Hi Alex!
1. Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy this recipe (and others). 🙂
2. A lot of people requested JOC app so we looked into it. However, the cost to create an app is a bit too expensive, so it’s not in our short term plan… sorry! 🙁
I understand. 🙁 My husband and I enjoy your recipes on a regular basis. 🙂 Would you consider accepting donations towards a JOC app? I would definitely put my money where my mouth is for that. 😉
Thank you so much Alex! So happy to hear you and your husband enjoy my recipes. And you are too kind! Thank you so much for your thoughts and I appreciate it! If I were to make an app, what features do you like to be included in the app? Do you have a favorite recipe app? I’ll look into it. 🙂
Personally, I don’t have a favorite recipe app. What I’d like to see is the JOC website in app form. It’s easy to navigate and has a luscious UI. As for features, here’s what I can think of off the top of my head:
1. A vlog so that we can keep up with the amazing woman behind JOC and her family.
2. An in-app reference function that allows a user to reference other material while on a recipe page. For example: I’m ready to make kitsune udon, but I don’t know how to make udon noodles or narutomaki. Instead of clicking a hyperlink to take me to a new tab or window for the respective recipe, a type of speech box would appear with an instructional video and an ingredients list. I’d never have to leave the kitsune udon recipe page.
3. Standard cooks’ tools like a conversion chart, timer, etc.
4. Tips and tricks section for quick reference.
5. An inventory of your kitchen with links to buy your favored tools, utensils, and vessels.
6. A section for Fish For Sushi!
Hi Alex! First of all, thank you so much for the helpful information! They are all in details, and as a user of JOC myself, I definitely want an app like that. 😉 App and website are different, but I’m currently workign with a designer to create more user-friendly website. I’d love to have these features to appear on the site. They are all great ideas! Thank you so much!!! p.s. and thanks about #6. 🙂
My pleasure! 🙂 I can’t imagine the JOC site being improved even more; I love it the way it is! 😉 I’m not at all programming savvy, so I don’t know what’s involved in creating an app, or what the differences are between an app and a website. However, I DO know that I want to see the “soul” of the website distilled and created as an app.
P.S. You’re welcome. 😉
P.P.S. (lol) If you posted about your idea to create an app and provided a PayPal link, I’m sure you’d have the funds from us loyal followers in no time! 🙂
Thank you for your sweet words, Alex! JOC app will be the next big thing for sure. You’re very generous and kind about the funds. I’m truly thankful for my readers to visit my site and that’s more than enough for me. I’ll work harder! 😉
This is perfect for spring and summer! Thanks for explaining the differences in salad dressing ingredients. It’s so helpful and I may just quote you if anyone asks me, too. Thanks for sharing, Nami.
Makes my mouth water. Plus your use of acid, like citrus, is necessary to absorb the iron from the spinach,
Hi John! That’s very true! 🙂 Thank you for your feedback!
Looks really delicious and healthy!Im like Popeye thesailor,I love spinach!
Thank you for sharing!
I’ve been out of the loop for awhile and so sorry to hear about your accident. When it comes to salad dressings I usually take the quick and convenient way out. Your tips will make it easier for me to nix the premade ones. Thank you!
I much prefer to make my own salads. What a pretty salad and it’s so simple. We’re still waiting for our citrus season to begin. The good news is, that in Sydney we don’t have an extremely cold winter so it is possible to eat salads right through the colder months xx
Love your delightful salad. I love simple salad like this, especially when I’m fixing lunch for myself only during the day. 😉 Can’t wait to try the dressing, sound so delicious. 😛
Enjoying the handy shake up method instead of the traditional tossing. Nonetheless, we love our salads and greens. EVOO, and all components are always in our kitchens, so we prefer DIY dressings 🙂
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
P.S. Would love to see you visit our site when you have time 😉
I love this, light and citrusy.
Thanks for the dressing tips!
What a beautiful spring salad, Nami! It seems we are both in spinach mood 🙂
I must say proudly I’ve never bought a salad dressing in my whole life. It didn’t exist for a big part of my life and, like many ready-to-use dishes, it’s not as popular in some European countries, as it is in the US for example. My mum would never touch the stuff even when she worked full time 😉
Anyway, I’m always looking for new dressing ideas, so thank you so much for inspiration (and for reminding me that I haven’t made the ginger and carrot dressing yet, even though I have it pinned on a piece of paper next to my desk…).
This salad looks so healthy, I wouldn’t eat spinach if they weren’t here! 😉
That sounds like a wonderfully light and refreshing salad.
Nami, even for a simple salad, I love how you take us through an Asian-style dressing compared to European. I kept saying in the past that I’m so inspired by your Japanese dishes that we’re now looking into finally making it to Japan this summer. Thank you for all your inspiration!
You are! I’ll be in Japan in June and July too! Maybe we can meet in Japan!!! 😀 I’m so excited that you’re going to Japan!!! Now I wish I can go to France… 🙂
Now this is exciting! Will email you, Nami x
this one looks so delicious and healthy.
i can’t remember the last time I actually bought a bottle of salad dressing. Once I learned how to make them at home, there was no need to buy. Oh the possibilities for different flavors are endless! You’ve presented a new one to me with this salad. I’ve never added soy sauce to a salad dressing and I can’t for the life of me can think of why not. Rice vinegar I’ve use (which I love!), but never soy. What a wonderful Asian Salad dressing you’ve given us. Can’t waiit to give it a try.
Hiya! I’ve tried this recipy, and i’ve tried it with apple instead of the orange. (I didnt have oranges in my pantry at that time) And i must say apple and the mild soy sauce flavor really go well together!!
I love this!
Lots of Love
Skye
Hi Skye!! Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback! Apple and spinach goes well, but I haven’t tried it with this dressing before. Glad to know we can enjoy it with apple. Thank you!! xo
If you ever in Honolulu, Hawaii. Have to try this Orange Spinach Salad.
Just love it. Let me know and will take you there. Long as you can come with the recipe.
Hi Charles! I’d love to visit Hawaii and try it! 🙂
Aloha Nami,
I made this salad for a potluck tonight and it was a big hit! Even a spinach avoider, my daughter, enjoyed it and wanted more after the party. When I told my husband that it was another one of your recipes, he said “Wow, Nami’s recipes really matches our tastebuds!” So true! Thank you for sharing a simple and satisfying dish. Hope you have a good week! ????????????
Aloha Amy! Aww! So happy to hear your daughter enjoyed this recipe! 🙂 And I’m happy to know our tastebuds are similar too. xoxo