Our number 1 pick for this dishCarrot Ginger Dressing 人参ドレッシング
Blend fresh carrots, ginger, and onion with miso paste and sesame oil to make a smooth, tangy Japanese salad dressing.
salad
The best salad recipes
Japanese salads lean on clean, savoury dressings rather than heavy creams. Think sesame, ponzu and miso over crisp cabbage, cucumber, or the famous carrot-ginger dressing from Japanese restaurants. Many double as quick sides (sunomono, goma-ae) that reset the palate between richer dishes.
Our number 1 pick for this dish
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Japanese Potato Salad (Video) ポテトサラダ
Creamy potatoes mixed with colorful vegetables and tangy Japanese mayonnaise. A beloved crowd-pleasing side dish that's vibrant and full of flavor.
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Japanese Spinach Salad with Sesame Dressing (Gomaae) (Video) 胡麻和え
Blanched spinach tossed with a rich ground sesame sauce that's nutty and slightly sweet, a classic Japanese side.
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Soba Noodle Salad Recipe
Cold buckwheat noodles tossed with fresh vegetables and a tangy sesame-soy dressing, perfect for warm weather.
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Namasu (Daikon and Carrot Salad) 紅白なます
Julienned daikon radish and carrot pickled in vinegar with sugar, creating a crisp and bright tangy side dish.
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Sunomono (cucumber salad) Recipe
Crisp cucumber slices tossed in a tangy rice vinegar dressing with sesame seeds. A refreshing, light accompaniment.
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Japanese Smashed Cucumber Salad (Tataki Kyuri)
A light side dish of smashed cucumbers coated in a sesame-soy dressing with garlic and ginger.
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Japanese Sesame Spinach Salad (Horenso Gomaae) ほうれん草の胡麻和え
Quick Japanese side dish with blanched spinach coated in a nutty sesame dressing ready in just minutes.
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Goma-ae
A simple but flavorful Japanese spinach salad tossed with a creamy sesame dressing made from ground sesame seeds.
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Japanese Macaroni Salad
A creamy Japanese macaroni salad with ham, hard-boiled egg, and fresh vegetables in a rich Japanese mayonnaise dressing.
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Banbanji Chicken (Bang Bang Chicken) バンバンジー
Silky shredded chicken coated in creamy sesame sauce and fresh vegetables, served chilled for a refreshing side.
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Japanese Potato Salad ポテトサラダ
Creamy salad combining mashed potatoes, vegetables, eggs, and Kewpie mayo in the classic Japanese style.
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Japanese Potato Salad
Steamed potatoes and carrots are mixed with canned tuna and creamy mayo dressing for a light, refreshing side that is traditionally Japanese.
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Japanese Cucumber Salad (Sunomono) (Video) 酢の物
Crisp cucumber rounds with wakame seaweed in a tangy sweet-and-sour dressing, perfect palate refresher.
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Japanese Kani Salad カニカマサラダ
Light and refreshing salad with imitation crab, corn, and cucumber in a creamy citrus-soy dressing.
saladseafoodno cook
Harusame Salad (Japanese Glass Noodle Salad) 春雨サラダ
Silky glass noodles mixed with fresh vegetables in a savory sesame vinaigrette. Light and refreshing.
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Green Bean Gomaae (Sesame Dressing) インゲンの胡麻和え
Tender green beans coated in nutty sesame dressing, a simple vegan side dish ready in minutes.
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Okra Ohitashi (Japanese Okra Salad) オクラのおひたし
Tender blanched okra soaked in dashi-based marinade, served chilled as a refreshing side dish.
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Spinach and Chicken Salad with Sesame Sauce
Shredded poached chicken and blanched spinach tossed in a nutty sesame-soy sauce with ground toasted sesame seeds.
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Instant Ramen Salad Recipe
Chilled ramen noodles with fresh vegetables and creamy sesame dressing.
ramensaladlunch
Sashimi Salad Recipe
Crisp greens and thinly sliced raw salmon dressed with bright lemon vinaigrette, fresh and elegant.
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Sesame Dressing Recipe - Japanese Goma Dressing
A creamy sesame dressing made from sesame paste, ground sesame seeds, and pantry staples. Versatile for salads, noodles, hot pot, or grilled meats.
saladno cookvegetarian
Cucumber and Tuna Salad
Quick, refreshing salad of crisp cucumber tossed with canned tuna in a light dashi and vinegar dressing.
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Creamy Carrot Salad (Tofu Cream Dressing, 3 Ways)
Tender shredded carrots and boiled eggs coated in silky tofu dressing available in three flavor variations: sesame, gochujang, or parmesan.
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Cold Somen Noodles with Tomato and Avocado
Fresh, vibrant cold noodles topped with juicy tomato and creamy avocado, dressed with lemon and oil.
saladvegetarianno cook
Green Beans with Tofu Dressing (Shira-ae)
Blanched green beans tossed in a creamy tofu and sesame dressing for a refreshing vegetarian side.
tofuvegetariansalad
Japanese Macaroni Salad マカロニサラダ
Tender pasta coated in creamy Japanese mayonnaise is combined with vegetables, ham, and boiled egg for a satisfying cold salad.
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Spicy Bean Sprout Salad (Video) ホットもやし
A quick spicy salad of bean sprouts dressed in sesame oil and Japanese seven spice. Perfect as a simple side dish or topper for ramen noodles.
saladvegetarianside
Asparagus with Miso Dressing (Karashi Sumisoae) アスパラガスの辛子酢味噌和え
Crisp blanched asparagus tossed with tangy miso-mustard dressing, a fresh and simple springtime side.
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Broccolini Gomaae (Video) ブロッコリーニの胡麻和え
Tender broccolini coated in a rich sesame sauce for an elegant and nutritious side dish.
saladsidevegetarian
Wafu Dressing (Japanese Salad Dressing) 和風ドレッシング
Simple Japanese vinaigrette made with soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame seeds to dress salads.
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Spicy Japanese Pickled Cucumbers ピリ辛きゅうりの浅漬け
Crisp cucumber slices marinated in a tangy, spicy soy and sesame sauce for a refreshing Japanese side dish.
picklessidesalad
Hiyayakko (Cold Tofu Salad) 3 Ways
Chilled tofu with your choice of tuna, crispy anchovies, or cucumber and plum toppings.
tofusaladno cook
Spinach Salad with Sesame Sauce Recipe (Gomaae)
Blanched spinach coated in a creamy sesame-soy sauce, a classic light side dish that's nutritious and quick.
saladvegetarianside
Spinach Ohitashi (Japanese Spinach Salad) ほうれん草のお浸し
Blanched spinach soaked in delicate dashi broth with sesame for a classic Japanese side. Comes together quickly but tastes elegant and refined.
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Instant Pot Potato Salad ポテトサラダ (圧力鍋)
Creamy Japanese potato salad made quick with pressure cooker, combining potatoes, eggs, ham and Kewpie mayo.
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Japanese Vermicelli Salad (Harusame Salad)
A refreshing chilled noodle salad with julienned vegetables, ham, and wakame in a tangy sesame-vinegar dressing.
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Celery Sunomono Recipe
A refreshing celery salad with a light, tangy rice vinegar dressing and a subtle chili heat that develops during chilling.
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Cucumber with Sesame Seeds
Refreshingly crunchy broken cucumber tossed with sesame and oil, a quick, nutty side dish ready in moments.
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Spinach Ohitashi Recipe
A chilled spinach salad dressed with bonito-flavored dashi and a hint of sweetness, served as a light refreshing side.
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Gobo Salad Recipe
Crisp burdock root and carrot tossed with creamy mayo and sesame in a tangy vinegar dressing.
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Kabocha Salad Recipe
A refreshing salad of roasted kabocha pumpkin and cucumber in creamy Japanese mayo, served chilled.
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Potato Salad Recipe
Creamy Kewpie mayo coats tender potatoes, vegetables, and ham in a rich Japanese-style salad.
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Okra Salad Recipe
Tender boiled okra coated in salty soy dressing and umami-rich bonito flakes for a side dish that's light, refreshing, and deeply flavorful.
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Common questions about salad
What is goma-ae?
Goma-ae is a side of blanched vegetables (often spinach or green beans) dressed with a sweet-savoury ground sesame sauce. It is one of the most common Japanese salad-style dishes.
What is the orange dressing at Japanese restaurants?
That is the carrot-ginger dressing: puréed carrot, fresh ginger, onion, rice vinegar and oil. Several recipes here recreate it at home.
What is sunomono?
Sunomono is a lightly pickled 'vinegared' salad, usually thinly sliced cucumber in a sweet rice-vinegar dressing, sometimes with wakame or seafood. It is refreshing and served cold.