Japanese Ginger Dressing l Okinawa Hai!

CONTRIBUTED BY KELLY GILLOTTI

Japanese Ginger Dressing l Okinawa Hai!

If you’ve ever been to a Japanese Teppanyaki restaurant in the states, then you’ve had a taste of this dressing, atop a small bowl of iceberg lettuce, right next to your miso soup. I haven’t been to one here to know if it’s the same. Did you know that carrots are the key ingredient? I sure didn’t. This dressing had me baffled for years. Why don’t they call it carrot-ginger dressing? Give a girl a break.

Japanese Ginger Dressing l Okinawa Hai!

The recipe:

  • 2 peeled carrots or ninjin (ニンジン)
  • ¼ of a large onion
  • 1 ½ inch hunk of ginger or shouga (ショウガ)
  • 1 tbsp miso paste (みそ)
  • 4 tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil or gomaabura (ごまあぶら)
  • 4 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • Black pepper to taste

Add the ingredients to a blender and blend for a minute or two for a smooth dressing. You’ll have enough for two large salads. I poured this over a simple green salad with cucumber, and it got rave reviews.

Japanese Ginger Dressing l Okinawa Hai!

1 COMMENT

  1. Thanks for the exciting new”well new to me” recipes, I’ve been on the island for 2wks and is already bored with the commissary….where do you shop for these island delights? I’ve been asking to get off base and go shopping at local stores…thanks again