Made with freshly grated ginger, this sweet and tangy Ginger Dressing adds lively flavor to all your favorite salads. The recipe is a family favorite, from my grandma’s kitchen, and I know you’re going to love it too!
My Grandma Renelt’s fresh Ginger Dressing has been passed around our family table for decades. I like to drizzle it over my salads any time of year – its light body and bright flavor are so nice for spring and summer, and that zippy ginger flavor makes apples, pears, and other fall and winter salad ingredients pop. (Try it with my Winter Apple Salad!)
Why This Ginger Dressing Is My Family Tradition
Growing up, I always loved my grandma’s homemade ginger dressing. And when I asked her for the recipe when I was all grown up, she laughed that vivacious laugh of hers and replied, “Recipe?! I don’t have a recipe!” So I asked if we could make it together, so I could take note of ingredients and measurements – and of course, she loved that. Here’s why this beloved recipe is a favorite around here:
- Fresh ginger for awesome flavor. Fresh ginger is pungent and warm and zippy, and it makes this homemade dressing sing.
- A multitasker. This ginger dressing lends itself well to Asian-inspired salads, but it’s also quite good with salads that include fruit. You can use it as a dipping sauce for Wonton Chips too!
- Easy to make. Regular readers know that I am a firm believer in making your own salad dressing. It’s easy to do and tastes so good – the results are so worth it. (Need more evidence? See my Balsamic Vinaigrette and Greek Salad Dressing!)
What You’ll Need
Aside from the ginger, everything you’ll need is a pantry staple. Scroll down to the printable recipe card to find the exact ingredient quantities and full recipe instructions.
- Extra-virgin olive oil – EVOO is more flavorful than the olive oil you use for cooking.
- Rice vinegar – Use plain rice vinegar, not “seasoned”, which has additional flavorings.
- Honey – Grandma always used sugar, but I think she’d agree that the honey adds a nice sweetness, along with a little body.
- Dijon mustard – This adds depth to the dressing.
- Fresh ginger – Use a microplane zester to grate it very finely so it’s evenly distributed throughout the dressing.
- Sea salt – I use fine sea salt.
- Black pepper – Fresh, finely ground black pepper is best.
How to Make Ginger Dressing
Making this ginger dressing is a cinch! Here’s what you’ll need to do.
- Combine. Add all the ingredients to a jar or bowl.
- Mix. Seal the jar and shake until the dressing emulsifies, or use a whisk to combine.
- Use. You can use the dressing right away or refrigerate it in the jar for later.
Tips & Variations
Here are a few more notes on this ginger dressing.
- Make it extra gingery. I often add more ginger when I make this dressing, because I love its spicy zing. I enjoy it full-throttle! But the recipe I’m sharing below is how I most commonly make it, as I know most people don’t appreciate that much ginger.
- Give it some more warmth. And if you really love the kick of ginger, you can add a small pinch of cayenne to add some extra heat. It helps emphasize that gingery warmth.
- Use an immersion blender for the smoothest dressing. If you want a very smooth dressing, where the grated ginger is completely blended in, use an immersion blender. This also makes the dressing slightly thicker.
My Favorite Ways to Use This Ginger Dressing
I often make a simple Asian-inspired salad to accompany dishes like Coconut Beef Satay or Yaki Udon. I combine fresh greens, shredded carrots, and edamame in individual salad bowls and serve the dressing on the side.
For a heartier salad, add fresh greens, herbs, and tomatoes to a salad bowl, then top it with sliced chicken breast or Grilled Salmon.
You can also swap this ginger dressing for the dressings in my Strawberry Salad or Grilled Peach Salad.
How to Store
Refrigerate this ginger dressing in a jar or other airtight container for up to 10 days. Shake before using or, if the oil solidifies, let the jar sit on the counter until the oil liquifies, then shake and use.
More Homemade Salad Dressings
Ginger Dressing
Ingredients
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup plain rice vinegar (not "seasoned")
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon finely grated, loosely packed, fresh ginger (Use a microplane zester to grate very finely.)
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon finely ground black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a pint jar and shake vigorously to combine and emulsify. (If you like a perfectly smooth and blended dressing, use an immersion blender to quickly blitz everything together.)
- Store in a pint jar in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Shake vigorously before each use. If the oil solidifies in the fridge, place the jar on the counter 20-25 minutes prior to serving, then shake to combine.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
While I was growing up, our family traveled to stay with my Grandma and Grandpa Renelt in Florida several times over the years, and those visits produced loads and loads of happy memories for me.
Grandma definitely knew her way around every corner of the kitchen, but I especially loved our Florida breakfasts together where she treated us to fresh-squeezed orange juice. And not the “fresh-squeezed” kind from the store. No, Grandma squeezed every one of those sweet Florida oranges with her own two hands, no electric gizmos involved. I think that must be how you know someone loves you.
This post was originally published in 2012, then updated in 2025.
I can’t wait to try this one. Ginger dressing? Yes, please! Family recipes are the best. You can taste the love!
Hi Angela! So very lovely to hear from you. Will you be at TECHmunch on 06.02?
I cannot wait to try this recipe. Grandmas recipes are the best, always. Love the pic of your grandparents!
Oh, ginger dressing is one of my faves! Happy to see your rendition – or your grandma’s! I love those recipes that are close to our hearts – it makes eating them so much more of a sweet treat!
This dressing sounds perfect for summer salads!
What a sweet, happy post, Brenda. I love trips down memory lane. :)
I doubt anything makes food more tasty than the memories connected to it.
Thank you for sharing an awesome recipe! I will most definitely have to try this soon!
This sounds absolutely delightful! Yum!
Is there anything better than our memories of food and family? Thank you for sharing. The dressing looks delicious!
I love a good homemade dressing and a cherished family recipe! This dressing looks like it would be good on just about any salad. Lovely ingredients!
This sounds like a wonderful topping for a fresh summer salad. Love that your grandmother never had a recipe and just went with her heart when making this. I think that trait has been passed on. What great memories of your childhood vacations spent in Florida. Lovely picture of your grandparents.
This sounds so refreshing, Brenda. I love hearing these stories too. Just lovely!
Is there anything better than fresh-squeezed (by hand) orange juice? Yum! And this dressing? Oh my goodness does it sound delicious!
Thanks for sharing this yummy recipe, Brenda, and the story that goes along with it. It made my heart sing to see that picture of Mom and Dad with those big grins on their faces. Perfect! Just the way I think about them, and all those wonderful memories we made with them in Florida.
Over here from Add A Pinch. I love old family recipes and this sounds delicious. Your photos look delicious, too!
Love this dressing! I can’t wait to try it on my salads this summer!
Ginger is one of my favorite flavors. I love ginger water, ginger candy…I can even eat crystallized ginger by the handful. This sounds amazing!
I will definitely try it, I love all things ginger!
thank you for sharing this recipe – i’m a ginger FREAK.
Sounds delightful. Ginger is one of my favorite flavors. To a fault almost.