Wafu Dressing

This easy Japanese Wafu salad dressing takes just 10 minutes to prepare and offers the perfect balance of savoury, tangy, and sweet flavours. A hint of warmth and zing from chopped shallots and ginger makes it truly special. A versatile dressing that’s perfect for everyday use.

Why You’ll Love Our Japanese-style Wafu Dressing

Our 10-minute wafu dressing recipe is a total game-changer—quick, versatile, and packed with that irresistible umami flavour we all love. 

This easy Japanese salad dressing has the perfect balance of savoury, tangy, and just a touch of sweetness. You can drizzle it over salads, toss it with veggies, or even use with noodles; it adds flavour without overpowering your dish.

The combination of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame seeds gives it a deep, savoury base with a hint of nuttiness, while a pinch of sugar brings out just enough sweetness. And then there’s the ginger and shallot—these little additions add warmth and a subtle zing that make each bite extra special. 

This homemade salad dressing is light yet bold, bringing excitement to any meal. The perfect dressing to have on hand for daily use!

What is Wafu Dressing?

“Wafu” simply means “Japanese-style,” and wafu dressing is all about classic Japanese flavours. This Japanese salad dressing always starts with soy sauce, rice vinegar, and a hint of sugar for that perfect savoury-sweet-tangy balance.

From there, you can get creative with flavours. For our recipe, I’ve added finely chopped shallot, ginger, and sesame seeds. The shallot gives a soft oniony kick, ginger adds warmth and freshness, and those toasted sesame seeds? They bring in a nice nuttiness that rounds everything out. 

This dressing is so simple to whip up bringing familiar flavours you love from your favourite Japanese restaurant right to your table.

If you love Asian salad dressings, you also have to try our miso mayo dressing, yuzu dressing, plum ginger dressing and chilli soy dressing. Versatile recipes and so easy to make at home!

Ingredients

These are the ingredients you need for Wafu Dressing:

Shallot: Mild and slightly sweet, shallots bring a subtle onion aroma that complements the tangy dressing.

Ginger: Grated ginger adds warmth and a hint of spice to the dressing, enhancing the overall savoury flavour.

Neutral oil: Use a mild-flavoured oil, such as avocado or grapeseed oil, to blend the dressing without overpowering other ingredients.

Soy Sauce/Rice vinegar/Sugar: These balance the saltiness, acidity, and sweetness in the dressing.

Toasted sesame seeds: Nutty and aromatic, sesame seeds add a rich flavour and a bit of crunch to the salad.

Variations and Substitutions

Shallot variation: You can use grated white onion in place of finely chopped shallot. 

Gluten free option: Switch soy sauce with tamari for a gluten free dressing. 

Alternative to rice vinegar: You can substitute it with apple cider vinegar or white vinegar if you don’t have it readily available. 

Sesame oil: If you want a bolder flavour, switch 3 tbsp neutral oil with 1 tbsp sesame oil. 

Instructions

Step by step instructions for how to make Wafu Dressing:

Finely chop shallot and grate ginger.

Mix together in a small bowl, neutral oil, rice vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce. Whisk together.

Add chopped shallot, grated ginger and toasted sesame seeds.

Mix together until combined. You can use a mason jar as well and give everything a good shake.

How to Store

Store any leftover wafu dressing in an airtight container or mason jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. Shake well before each use to recombine the ingredients.

What to Serve with Wafu Dressing

Wakame Salad

This versatile dressing pairs beautifully with a variety of dishes. Drizzle it over a fresh green salad, toss it with steamed vegetables, or use it for cold noodle salads. Try it with Wakame Salad for an authentic Japanese side salad.

Frequently Asked Questions