This Lime Ginger Dressing comes together in just a couple of minutes and is so flavorful! Fresh lime juice combined with spicy ginger, toasted sesame oil and sweet soy sauce. It makes a perfect salad dressing for crunchy cabbage salads, or it can also be used as a dipping sauce or marinade. Just a few simple ingredients is truly all you need to make a delicious dressing!
While store-bought dressings from the grocery store have their place in my pantry, as a dietitian I prefer to make my own salad dressings when I have a couple extra minutes! It's always worth the time. 😊
This recipe was inspired by my Sesame Ginger Dressing. I wanted something a little bit lighter for summertime and love this dressing on a Crunchy Asian Salad with added chicken or crispy tofu. I hope it becomes a favorite for you, too! 😊
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Key Ingredients and Substitutions
This Ginger Lime Dressing is made with simple ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes. Be sure to check the printable recipe card at the bottom for exact ingredient measurements and full recipe.
- Fresh Lime Juice - using fresh lime juice instead of lime juice from a bottle makes a big difference in the taste.
- Olive Oil - extra virgin olive oil balances out the stronger sesame oil. You can substitute with avocado oil if you prefer! Both avocado oil and olive oil contain heart-healthy fats that are also good for brain health and hormone health.
- Toasted Sesame Oil - using toasted sesame oil has a depth of flavor that adds a nuttiness to this dressing. I use Oi! brand or La Tourangelle brand. You can use regular sesame oil if it's what's accessible.
- Rice Wine Vinegar - also known simply as rice vinegar. It's a bit sweeter than other vinegars but you can substitute with white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar if you want! I use Marukan brand for this recipe.
- Low Sodium Soy Sauce - to make this recipe gluten-free, you can substitute soy sauce with coconut aminos.
- Maple Syrup - adding a sweetener like maple syrup balances out the citrus flavor in this dressing. Feel free to use honey, agave, or your sweetener of choice. I find maple syrup compliments the other flavors the best.
- Fresh Ginger Root - freshly grated ginger root is an easy way to add zest and a bit of spice. Ginger also helps support a healthy gut. Ginger contains antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties.
- Garlic - a clove of garlic adds an herbaceous component.
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes - to add a little kick
- Optional: black pepper
How to Make Ginger Lime Dressing
*Below are the instructions for how to make this Lime Ginger Dressing with some visuals that I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
- Step 1 - Grate the fresh ginger root and finely mince garlic.
- Step 2 - Add the ingredients to a small bowl or container like a mason jar. Whisk the ingredients until emulsified.
Hint: for the best results, finely mince your garlic and ginger so they mix evenly with the other ingredients. I finely grate my ginger root using a citrus zester.
Alternative Method #1 -Shake it up: skip the bowl and whisk and make this Ginger Lime Dressing in a mason jar by adding all of the ingredients, securing the lid, and shaking it until everything is well combined.
Alternative Method #2 -Blend it Up: use a food processor or blender instead. Simply add the ingredients until blended (30-60 seconds or until smooth).
Variations
One of the great things about making your own salad dressing is you can customize it to your liking. Below are some suggestions for variations of Ginger Lime Dressing, but feel free to get creative and put your own spin on it.
- Spicy - add chili pepper flakes or a bit of hot sauce or sriracha sauce to kick up the heat a notch.
- Sweet Flavor - double up on the maple syrup or add a tablespoon of peanut butter to sweeten it up if you like your dressings on the sweeter side.
- Sesame Dressing - amp up the sesame flavor by throwing in another tablespoon sesame oil.
- Double Ginger - for my ginger lovers out there, satisfy your taste buds by doubling up on the amount of ginger or adding a teaspoon of ginger powder!
Storage
Refrigerator: Store Ginger Lime Dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Ideas for Serving Ginger Lime Dressing
Now that you have a batch of this tangy homemade dressing, enjoy it on a variety of different dishes! Here are some ideas:
- On a Side Salad - one of my favorite ways to use this dressing is to make a Crunchy Asian Salad and serve it as a side salad or add some chicken or crunchy tofu to make it a meal.
- On Green Salads - pour a Tablespoon or two over your favorite salad greens. Lime Ginger Dressing goes great on crunchy chopped salads!
- Cold Noodle Salads or Pasta Salads- use Lime Ginger dressing in a pasta salad or cold noodles. Or add it to a stir fry with fresh herbs, your favorite vegetables, and noodles.
- Grain Bowl or Vegetarian Bowl - make a grain bowl with brown rice or quinoa, leafy greens, pickled red onion or shallot, napa cabbage, hummus, tomatoes and chicken salad, shrimp, or tofu tossed with lime ginger dressing and goat cheese.
- Over Roasted Vegetables - drizzle a couple of Tablespoons on top of warm roasted veggies like these Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots. Brussels sprouts, potatoes, or other root vegetables go great with this dressing too. For even more flavor, add fresh herbs on top like parsley, dill, or cilantro.
- As a Dipping Sauce - use it as a dipping sauce for spring rolls or egg rolls.
Expert Advice
- Use freshly squeezed lime juice for best results.
- Make ginger easier to grate by peeling it and freezing it first. Frozen ginger will grate easier.
- Adjust the Lime Ginger Dressing to your taste by adding extra soy sauce for more saltiness, maple syrup for more sweetness, and ginger for more spice.
Dietitian tip
Making homemade salad dressing recipes can feel intimidating! But it's as easy as mixing a few ingredients together. Not only does making your own dressing at home taste amazingly fresh, but it also gives you more control over the ingredients and the flavor. And while store-bought dressings have preservatives, there's no need for that with a simple homemade dressing. You got this!
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, this Ginger Lime Dressing is a nutrient-dense option. It is high in heart-healthy fats that also support hormone health, brain health, and gut health. It also contains fresh garlic and ginger, both of which provide antioxidants that are important for overall health.
It's a fair question! While I do use store-bought dressings like the ones from Primal Kitchen, using a homemade dressing is a great way to get more fresh ingredients and less preservatives. Plus, in my opinion making dressing at home tastes so much better!
This recipe for Lime Ginger Dressing is not gluten-free because it contains soy sauce. If you want to make it gluten-free, you can easily do so by substituting soy sauce with coconut aminos.
Yes, this Lime Ginger Dressing is vegan.
You certainly can, but I would't recommend it as this recipe won't be as fresh and flavorful! If you do use ground spices, use ⅓ of the amount.
Related
Looking for other dietitian recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Lime Ginger Dressing:
Want to Learn More About Nutrition?
Here are some nutrition education articles from a dietitian:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram....I LOVE knowing there’s people out there trying out my recipes! 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Easy Ginger Lime Salad Dressing Recipe (with Sesame)
Equipment
- 1 citrus zester optional but suggested for grating fresh ginger
- 1 small mixing bowl or mason jar
Ingredients
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice about 2 limes (60 ml)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil (15 ml)
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil (15 ml)
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (15 ml)
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (15 ml)
- 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos (22 ml)
- ½ tablespoon grated fresh ginger root about 1 inch of ginger root
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes more to taste
- ⅙ teaspoon black pepper optional
Instructions
- Grate the fresh ginger root and finely mince the garlic.
- Add the ingredients to a small bowl or container like a mason jar. Whisk the ingredients until emulsified
- Hint: for the best results, finely mince your garlic and ginger so they mix evenly with the other ingredients. I finely grate my ginger root using a citrus zester.
- Alternative Method #1 -Shake it up: skip the bowl and whisk and make this Ginger Lime Dressing in a mason jar by adding all of the ingredients, securing the lid, and shaking it until everything is well combined.
- Alternative Method #2 -Blend it Up: use a food processor or blender instead. Simply add the ingredients until blended (30-60 seconds or until smooth).
Notes
- Use freshly squeezed lime juice for best results.
- Make ginger easier to grate by peeling it and freezing it first.
- Adjust the Lime Ginger Dressing to your taste by adding extra soy sauce for more saltiness, maple syrup for more sweetness, and ginger for more spice.
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