Toasted Sesame Asian Salad Dressing
Whenever we go to our favourite Japanese restaurant, Isabel always starts off her meal with the salad and their delicious house dressing...I think she would rather order their dressing with a side of vegetables instead though! I decided to try my hand at recreating this tasty condiment so we could enjoy it at home as much as we do at Teriyaki Town!
To make this toasted sesame vinaigrette, you will need: fresh ginger & garlic, sesame seeds, 1-2 small green onions, honey, rice vinegar, soy sauce (preferably low sodium), grapeseed oil and sesame oil.
Start by toasting about 1-1/2 tbsp.'s of sesame seeds in a dry skillet set over medium heat. Stir with a wooden spoon often to avoid scorching the seeds...toast for about 3-4 minutes or until seeds are golden brown and they start to pop...remove pan from heat and set aside.
Next, thinly slice the green onions halfway up the stem and discard the dark green tops...set aside.
In a blender or food processor add 2 tsp.'s of minced fresh ginger and 1-1/2 tsp.'s of fresh garlic (about 1 large clove)...
...a 1/4 cup plus 3 tbsp.'s of rice vinegar...
...a 1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp. of low sodium soy sauce,
...and 3 tbsp.'s of liquid honey.
Pulse in your food processor until the ginger and garlic are pureed.
In a small bowl or measuring pitcher, add 3/4 cups of grapeseed oil (you can also use olive oil),
...and a 1/4 cup of sesame oil.
Next, slowly pour the oil mixture into the chute of the food processor while it's running on low speed...I stress low speed because I wasn't paying attention to the motor speed and got a face full of vinegar and soy sauce!
Pour dressing into a medium sized mason jar...
...then add the toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onion.
Put the lid on and give it a shake...
..and there you have it...toasted sesame Asian salad dressing! Let it sit for about an hour before using or store in the fridge until ready to use.
Use this dressing as a marinade for chicken and pork...
...or drizzle over fresh greens with thinly sliced or spiralized vegetables.
Toasted Sesame Asian Salad Dressing
1-1/2 tbsp.'s of sesame seeds
1-2 small green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp. of soy sauce, preferably low sodium
1/4 cup plus 3 tbsp.'s of rice vinegar
2 tsp.'s of fresh ginger, minced
1-1/2 tsp.'s of fresh garlic, minced
3 tbsp.'s of liquid honey
3/4 cup grapeseed oil
1/4 cup of sesame oil
1. Toast sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes or until golden brown and seeds begin to pop (stir often to avoid scorching)...set aside.
2. Next, in a blender or food processor, add in the soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, minced garlic and ginger. Pulse blender or food processor until garlic and ginger are pureed.
3. Next, very slowly, pour in the sesame and grape seed oils in a steady stream into your blender or food processor bowl while it is running on low. Blend until all is incorporated and emulsified.
4. Next, pour the dressing into a medium mason jar, add the toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions...put the lid on and give it a shake. Use as a marinade for chicken and pork or drizzle over fresh greens and spiralized vegetables...enjoy!
* makes about 2 cups of dressing
...AND speaking of spiralized vegetables, I am giving one lucky winner a "Benriner" vegetable spiralizer (manufactured and shipped from Japan) along with the New York Time's Best Selling cookbook "Inspiralized"! (this contest is now closed)
If you have no idea what a spiralizer is, it is a contraption traditionally used in Japan (but quite common among today's chefs), to turn fresh vegetables into fine shreds or vegetable noodles! Many people that are intolerant to gluten or are just trying to stay away from carbs, find this device handy to create dishes using fresh vegetables instead of pasta! Along with the "Benriner" vegetable spiralizer", I am giving away Ali Maffucci's New York Time's Best Selling cookbook "Inspiralized"!
This book is loaded with health conscious recipes from Zucchini Linguine with Garlic Clam Sauce to Chocolate Chip Sweet potato Muffins!
The spiralizer is great for turning hard root vegetables into delicate, palatable creations!
Simply, wash and peel vegetables (I only peel the root vegetables),
...secure the blade of your choice, place a vegetable onto the holding pin and spiralize away...the spiralizer comes with 3 blades of various sizes...each blade creating 3 different widths of "noodles".
...and the set, straight blade will transform your vegetables into perfectly thin ribbons every time!
To enter this giveaway, follow the rules below! (* This giveaway is now closed....Winner Monique D.)
Giveaway Rules
1. Simply type in your first name and your email address (with or without a comment) in the spaces provided in the "comments" section at the bottom of this page. Your email address will not be made public...only I can see it, **providing that you don't add your email address to the box where your name or comment goes...there is a separate box for your email address**
2. If you do not enter an email address, your entry will not be considered as it is necessary for me to contact the winner.
3. You do not need to be a subscriber to win, anyone may enter.
4. The winner will be randomly drawn on Sunday, July 17, 2016...the winner will be contacted by email for further shipping details.
5. Only one entry per person, thanks! :)
6. Good luck!!
* This promotion is subject to the Laws of the Province of Ontario and the Federal Laws of Canada as applicable. The selected entrant will be required to correctly answer a (very easy) skill testing question to qualify for the prize.
Official Rules and Regulations
1. This contest is sponsored by The Rustic Wife
2. The chance of being selected in the prize draw is dependent on the number of entries entered during the contest period.
3. All contest entries are the property of The Rustic Wife and none will be returned. Entries which have been obtained or made through fraudulent means or which are illegible, altered, reproduced, mutilated, or irregular, are subject to disqualification. The Rustic Wife will not be responsible for entries lost, destroyed, misdirected or delayed for any reason whatsoever, or for any incorrect or inaccurate capture of information, technical malfunctions, human or technical error, visual or printing errors, or garbled data or transmission, omission, interruption, deletion, defect or failures of any telephone, computer line or network, computer equipment, software or any combination of thereof. All decisions with respect to this contest are final. The Rustic Wife does not accept any responsibility, in whole or in part for loss, damage or injury how so ever caused in connection with the prize or the conduct of the "Benriner Spiralizer" and "Inspiralized" cookbook Giveaway.
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5. These Official Rules and Regulations govern this promotion and must be followed, and by agreeing to participate in the promotion, all entrants agree to comply with, and be bound by these Official Rules and Regulations.
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