Chilli Soy Dressing

Zesty and bold, our chilli soy dressing combines the umami richness of soy sauce with a hint of heat from chilli flakes. Ready in minutes, it’s a salad dressing recipe that uses simple ingredients with a big impact!

small jar of chilli soy dressing with whole garlic cloves with a bowl of chilli flakes and whole garlic bulbs on the side

Why You’ll Love This Salad Dressing with Soy Sauce

Asian salad dressings are some of the best recipes you can make for such a variety of salads. A good soy sauce dressing recipe is bold, flavourful and umami-packed. It always adds a savoury and rich taste that can elevate simple salad ingredients and bring them to new heights.

This homemade soy sauce dressing is yet another classic example of a recipe using pantry staples, which makes it a convenient option when you are time-poor. Learning to make this Asian dressing will open so many other possibilities for future salads and vegetables.

It is quick and easy to make and come together in a short period of time. 

It is also incredibly versatile in use. Not only is it a great salad dressing, but you can also use it as a marinade for grilled meats, drizzle it over roasted vegetables or even add it to a simple stir fry.

By making it yourself at home, you can customise the recipe to your liking to suit its use.

We also love that this umami salad dressing works for meal prep, requires no cooking and tastes so darn good!

If you like the sound of this dressing, you should also try out our salty tamarind dressing and ponzu dressing.

What Are the Different Types of Soy Sauce?

Do you ever stand in front of the soy sauce shelf in the supermarket, especially in the Asian supermarkets and wonder which soy sauce you should get?

Like many condiments that have been around for a very long time, you can appreciate that soy sauce has different qualities, and for the ultimate connoisseur, there is a vast difference between them all. 

If you’re wanting to make a salad dressing with soy sauce, it pays to know the different variations:

Natural vs. chemical: Made from soybeans, water, wheat and salt, natural soy sauces are fermented for over 2 years. Yup, just like a good wine or cheese. Its flavours are quite complex, and much like wine, they all differ in their tastes based on the soy sauce maker.

Chemically produced soy sauces are manipulated with lots of different additives so it’s made in just a few days for mass production. It has the same consistent salty flavour across the board.

Chinese vs. Japanese: Chinese soy sauce was originally made without wheat, but the modern-day process includes wheat flour, which gives it a slightly thicker consistency.

Japanese soy sauce uses roasted wheat and the flavours are more robust and sweeter than the Chinese version.

Light vs. dark: The difference between light and dark soy is dictated by the aging process. The longer it’s aged, the darker it becomes.

Most Japanese soy sauces are considered dark, while most Chinese soy sauces are light. However, to confuse you even more, you can get specific Chinese dark soy sauces, too!

For this salad dressing with soy sauce recipe, I used the Chinese soy sauce as I wanted a lighter and saltier finish.

Ingredients

These are the ingredients you need for chilli soy dressing:

Individually labelled ingredients for chilli soy dressing
  • Rice wine vinegar: Be sure that you have purchased rice wine vinegar and not just rice wine. 2 very different products and will make a very salad dressing if only wine is poured in! If you have ever come across Shaoxing, mirin, or sake, these are wines only. No bacteria have been added to the fermentation process to turn the alcohol into acid.
  • Soy sauce: Avoid using dark soy sauce for this dressing as the flavours are too strong and the consistency won’t be right. You can use light soy sauce or normal soy sauce. If you need this to be gluten free, substitute with tamari.
  • Fish sauce: Add some pungent fish sauce to the mix to really elevate the flavours.
  • Chilli flakes: I wanted to add some heat to the dressing without using a flavoured chilli sauce. I also didn’t want to use fresh chilli so I could control how spicy this would be. Fresh chillies are unpredictable in terms of how spicy they are. So, using chilli flakes means there are no surprises and is always consistent.
  • Garlic: Can’t have an Asian salad dressing without garlic. For this recipe we need time for the garlic to really permeate the dressing.
  • Lime: A fresh citrusy addition makes this dressing more delicious.

Variations and Substitutions

Lime substitute: If you’re not a fan of lime or it’s not in season, so it’s not affordable, lemon or even orange would work well.

Rice wine vinegar options: If you don’t have rice wine vinegar, substitute white wine vinegar or even a touch of apple cider vinegar. The flavour profile might differ slightly, but it will still be delicious.

Ginger addition: Adding ginger to a soy sauce salad dressing is a marriage made in heaven as it infuses a warm, aromatic flavour. Just grate a small knob into the dressing. Try our ginger soy dressing recipe or for something a little sweeter, our plum and ginger dressing.

Sesame oil addition: This quick soy sauce dressing is oil free however it would work well with a teaspoon of sesame oil. This just enhances the nutty flavour profile.

Gluten free option: For a gluten-free salad dressing, substitute soy sauce with tamari or try our tamari lime dressing.

Vegan option: For a vegan salad dressing version, replace fish sauce with a splash of coconut aminos or vegan Worcestershire sauce. Achieves a similar umami flavour without animal products.

Fresh herbs: Herbs are always welcome in salad dressings. To elevate the recipe with vibrant green flavours, try adding Asian-friendly herbs such as cilantro, Thai basil, or mint.

Chilli flakes alternative: This recipe would work with fresh bird’s eye chilli. Remove the seeds to tame the spice levels. Otherwise, just chop them up and add them to the dressing. Let it sit for 10 minutes for the heat to infuse into the liquid.

Alternatively, some Asian hot sauce such as sriracha, sambal oelek and Lao Gan Ma chilli oil would set this recipe on fire too!

Instructions

Step by step instructions for how to make chilli soy dressing:

For this salad dressing with soy sauce, make it before you start your salad. You need to let the garlic do its work and allow it time to infuse with the rest of the ingredients.

Crush one garlic clove to release its pungent aromas.

Adding whole garlic cloves into a clear bowl
Adding soy sauce into a bowl of garlic and lime juice

Add the crushed garlic in the mixing bowl. Add rice wine vinegar, lime juice, fish sauce and soy sauce.

Adding chilli flakes to chilli soy dressing in a clear mixing bowl
Mixing ingredients for chilli soy dressing in a clear mixing bowl

Then add the chilli flakes and mix until well combined.

Leave it for a minimum of 30 minutes. You can always make this ahead of time and leave it overnight.

How To Make This Dressing Perfectly [Expert Tips]

Use fresh ingredients: Use fresh garlic and lime for the best flavour. Garlic powder won’t infuse the dressing with its pungent flavours, while freshly squeezed lime juice will provide a brighter, more vibrant flavour compared to bottled juice.

High quality soy sauce and fish sauce also make a difference and are well worth the investment. You can use these sauces for a myriad of cooking adventures.

Marinate the garlic: Crush the garlic so that it releases its oils. Allow the garlic to marinate in the dressing for at least 30 minutes as it helps infuse the flavours and mellows out the sharpness of the garlic.

Infuse fresh chilli: If you have opted to use fresh chilli, allow it to infuse into the dressing too. 

Chill before serving: For the best flavour, refrigerate the dressing for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavours to meld together.

How to Store

Store this salad dressing with soy sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Shake well before using, as the ingredients may separate. 

Best Salad for This Dressing

Rainbow Vermicelli Salad with Soy Dressing

A celebration of colours, this Asian Vermicelli Salad delivers on flavour and presentation. Mixed through with aromatic Vietnamese mint, crunchy sugar snap peas and pungent fish sauce, this salad will soon become a dinner party favourite!

3 serves of Rainbow Vermicelli Salad with Soy Dressing with dressing on the side
small jar of chilli soy dressing with whole garlic cloves with a bowl of chilli flakes and whole garlic bulbs on the side

FEED YOUR FOMO! For more sides and salads, subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to get our latest updates.

small jar of chilli soy dressing with whole garlic cloves with a bowl of chilli flakes and whole garlic bulbs on the side
Print Recipe
4.99 from 82 votes

Chilli Soy Dressing

Zesty and bold, our chilli soy dressing combines the umami richness of soy sauce with a hint of heat from chilli flakes. Ready in minutes, it's a salad dressing recipe that uses simple ingredients with a big impact!
Prep Time4 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Salad Dressing
Cuisine: Asian
Suitable for Diet: Low Fat
Additional Dietary: Dairy Free, Egg Free, Nut Free, Pescatarian
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 12.06kcal
Author: Amy Chung

Ingredients

Click on the toggle below for conversion to US Cooking Units.

Instructions

  • For this salad dressing with soy sauce, make it before you start your salad. You need to let the garlic do its work and allow it time to infuse with the rest of the ingredients.
  • Crush one garlic clove to release its pungent aromas.
  • Add the crushed garlic in the mixing bowl. Add rice wine vinegar, lime juice, fish sauce and soy sauce.
  • Then add the chilli flakes and mix until well combined.
  • Leave it for a minimum of 30 minutes. You can always make this ahead of time and leave it overnight.

Notes

  • If you’re not a fan of lime or it’s not in season, so it’s not affordable, lemon or even orange would work well.
  • f you don’t have rice wine vinegar, substitute with white wine vinegar or even a touch of apple cider vinegar. The flavour profile might differ slightly, but it will still be delicious.
  • Adding ginger to a soy sauce salad dressing is a marriage made in heaven as it infuses a warm, aromatic flavour. Just grate a small knob into the dressing. Try our ginger soy dressing recipe.
  • This quick soy sauce dressing is oil free however it would work well with a teaspoon of sesame oil. This just enhances the nutty flavour profile.
  • For a gluten-free salad dressing, substitute soy sauce with tamari.
  • For a vegan salad dressing version, replace fish sauce with a splash of coconut aminos or vegan Worcestershire sauce. Achieves a similar umami flavour without animal products.
  • To elevate the recipe with vibrant green flavours, try adding Asian-friendly herbs such as cilantro, Thai basil, or mint.
  • This recipe would work with fresh bird’s eye chilli. Remove the seeds to tame the spice levels. Otherwise, just chop them up and add them to the dressing. Let it sit for 10 minutes for the heat to infuse into the liquid. Alternatively, some Asian hot sauce such as sriracha, sambal oelek and Lao Gan Ma chilli oil would set this recipe on fire too!
  • Use fresh ingredients for a great recipe. Use fresh garlic and lime for the best flavour. Garlic powder won’t infuse the dressing with its pungent flavours, while freshly squeezed lime juice will provide a brighter, more vibrant flavour compared to bottled juice. High quality soy sauce and fish sauce also make a difference and are well worth the investment. You can use these sauces for a myriad of cooking adventures.
  • Crush the garlic so that it releases its oils. Allow the garlic to marinate in the dressing for at least 30 minutes as it helps infuse the flavours and mellows out the sharpness of the garlic.
  • If you have opted to use fresh chilli, allow it to infuse into the dressing too.
  • For the best flavour, refrigerate the dressing for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavours to meld together.

Nutrition

Calories: 12.06kcal | Carbohydrates: 1.37g | Protein: 1.19g | Fat: 0.04g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 740.85mg | Potassium: 19.08mg | Fiber: 0.19g | Sugar: 0.36g | Vitamin A: 37.06IU | Vitamin C: 1.45mg | Iron: 0.21mg

*Disclaimer: Nutritional information provided is an estimate only and generated by an online calculator.

Tried this recipe? We’d Love To See It!Mention @thesidesmith or tag #thesidesmith!

Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.

Similar Posts

Cover of Summertime Sides & Salads eCookbook
All New Recipes page for Summertime Sides & Salads eCookbook

GRAB YOUR SUMMERTIME ECOOKBOOK NOW!

New Summertime Recipes

Be summer ready and get our new Summertime Sides & Salads eCookbook! These are all exclusive, never seen before recipes. They are all tried and tested with everyday easy to find ingredients and yet are restaurant quality in style. Get your copy today!

9 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Homemade dressing really is the way to go. This one looks exceptional!

  2. 5 stars
    Never thought to add fish sauce to a salad dressing! I will give it a try!

  3. 5 stars
    Yum! This Chilli Soy Dressing is perfect! Looks really delicious for salads.

  4. 5 stars
    It’s a delicious recipe. I love spicy dressing in my salad.

  5. 5 stars
    Just reading the ingredients made me want to make a salad to try this dressing!

  6. 5 stars
    What a great salad dressings! I get quite bored with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I will definitely try it out.

  7. 5 stars
    I’ve just started trying out soy sauce based salad dressings and love them. Thanks for adding to my collection!

  8. 5 stars
    This dressing sounds delicious and spicy. And the beautiful salad plating makes me eager to try it!

4.99 from 82 votes (73 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating