Name: Goma Dressing (Creamy Japanese Sesame Salad Dressing)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 Tbsp raw or toasted white sesame seeds ((Ground sesame seeds or sesame paste can be used for easier preparation.)); 1 Tbsp untoasted sesame oil ((substitute with toasted sesame oil or neutral oil)); 1 tsp Japanese Mayonnaise ((such as Kewpie Mayo. For a homemade version, please refer to the linked article.)); ¼ tsp sugar; ½ tsp rice vinegar; 1 tsp soy sauce

Goma Dressing is a staple salad dressing in Japan that allows you to enjoy the rich taste and aroma of sesame seeds. It is also highly nutritious, and once you try it, you will become addicted to its flavor.

↓ Step-by-Step Recipe

Goma Dressing (Japanese sesame salad dressing)

Jump to:

What is Goma Dressing?
Health benefits of sesame seeds
Toasting sesame seeds to enhance flavor
Grinding toasted sesame seeds
📋Step-by-step recipe
Tips on how to make
Recipe card

What is Goma Dressing?

Goma Dressing is a Japanese salad dressing that incorporates ground sesame seeds or sesame paste into oil and vinegar. "Goma" means sesame seeds. The sesame seeds are ground before use, resulting in a creamy texture. For an even creamier texture, Japanese mayonnaise is often included as an ingredient.

While there are many different salad dressings available in Japan, this dressing is known as one of the staple choices. It can be prepared quickly and easily using commercially available ground sesame seeds or sesame paste. Alternatively, by adding the step of toasting and grinding sesame seeds yourself, you can fully enjoy their savory, nutty flavor.

Health benefits of sesame seeds

The main ingredient in goma dressing, sesame seeds, is not only known for their delightful flavor but also for their high nutritional value. They contain sesame lignans, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, calcium, iron, and magnesium, all packed into each seed. These nutrients can help lower bad cholesterol, improve liver function, and promote youthfulness.

Therefore, sesame seeds are a healthy food that you should actively include in your daily diet. Since they are better absorbed into the body when ground, goma dressing that uses ground seeds is an ideal way to enjoy the nutritional benefits of sesame seeds in a delicious way.

Toasting sesame seeds to enhance flavor

This dressing can be easily made by simply mixing ground sesame seeds with other ingredients. If you want to enjoy it quickly, I recommend doing so. However, I believe it truly shines when sesame seeds are toasted.

Whether using raw or toasted sesame seeds, try toasting (or retoasting) them in a pot or pan. Just a short time of toasting significantly enhances their flavor. It is important to stop toasting once you smell the savory aroma, as sesame seeds easily burn, and if they do, they can become bitter.

After toasting, to prevent burning from residual heat, immediately transfer them to a mortar or a food processor for the next step.

Grinding toasted sesame seeds

After toasting sesame seeds, it is necessary to grind them to achieve a smooth texture for goma dressing. The flavor varies greatly depending on how much you grind the sesame seeds.

Leaving them coarsely ground allows you to enjoy the crunchy texture of the sesame seeds, but their richness is not as pronounced. By thoroughly grinding the sesame seeds, their flavor intensifies. As you continue to grind them further, the color of the ground sesame darkens, approaching the texture of sesame paste.

I recommend grinding them to this stage. The flavor of goma dressing made with finely ground sesame seeds, until it reaches a smooth texture, is exceptional.

📋Step-by-step recipe

Equipment

a mortar and pestle (or a food processor)

Ingredients

Servings: (THE PHOTO IS FOR 3 PORTIONS)

US Customary - Metric

▢ 1 Tbsp raw or toasted white sesame seeds (Ground sesame seeds or sesame paste can be used for easier preparation.)
▢ 1 Tbsp untoasted sesame oil (substitute with toasted sesame oil or neutral oil)
▢ 1 tsp Japanese Mayonnaise (such as Kewpie Mayo. For a homemade version, please refer to the linked article.)
▢ ¼ tsp sugar
▢ ½ tsp rice vinegar
▢ 1 tsp soy sauce

Instructions

🕒 Total: 10

When using ground sesame seeds or sesame paste instead of raw or toasted ones, it is very easy and quick to make, although the flavor diminishes. In that case, start from step 3.

Step 1
(When using raw sesame seeds) Put sesame seeds in a pot or pan and toast them over low heat. Shake the pot (or pan) constantly to prevent burning until a few sesame seeds start to pop, which should take 5-10 minutes.

(When using toasted sesame seeds) Put sesame seeds in a pot or pan and toast them over very low heat. Shake the pot (or pan) constantly to prevent burning until you smell a savory aroma, which should take about 2 minutes.

Step 2
Grind the toasted sesame seeds with a mortar and pestle (or a food processor) until they darken slightly in color, approaching the texture of sesame paste.

Step 3
Thoroughly mix the ground sesame seeds with all the other ingredients (sesame oil, Japanese mayonnaise, sugar, rice vinegar, and soy sauce) in a bowl.

To Store

You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Tips on how to make

When toasting sesame seeds, avoid using a non-stick coated pot or pan. Sesame seeds are so small that heating them in such a pan is almost like heating an empty pot (or pan), which could potentially release harmful chemicals.

Recipe card