Wafu Dressing is a popular and beloved dressing in Japan. Its blend of soy sauce and sesame seeds is flavorful, and stands out with a lighter texture compared to dressings commonly found in the West.
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What is Wafu Dressing?
Wafu Dressing is a Japanese salad dressing primarily made from soy sauce, along with ingredients like vinegar and oil. Wafu means Japanese-style. While it can be called "Wafu Dressing" if it includes Japanese ingredients such as umeboshi (salt pickled plums), shiso (a Japanese herb), wasabi, yuzu, or sudachi (a Japanese citrus fruit that resembles a lime), it is generally most commonly associated with toasted sesame seeds.
This recipe also calls for toasted sesame seeds. If you have them on hand, you can easily make it in a short amount of time. Even if you only have fresh sesame seeds, it won't require much extra effort; you'll just need to toast the fresh sesame seeds.
Type of vinegar to use
The vinegar typically used in wafu dressing is rice vinegar. By using rice vinegar, you'll achieve a milder and smoother acidity in the dressing. While you can substitute it with other vinegar like grain vinegar, it will result in a stronger acidity, so it's recommended to use rice vinegar if possible.
Suitable oil
The best choice of oil to use is one that doesn't have a strong flavor. Using a neutral oil allows you to enhance the flavors of soy sauce and sesame.
By the way, if you use flavored sesame oil in wafu dressing, it becomes a Chuka Dressing (Chinese-style dressing). Despite its name, it's actually a flavor invented by a Japanese manufacturer (as there is no tradition of consuming raw vegetables in China).
Varieties of wafu dressing
In addition to a dressing like this recipe, goma dressing (made mainly from ground sesame seeds), shiso dressing, and wasabi dressing can also be broadly referred to as wafu dressings. All of these dressings are popular in Japan, but because they each have strong distinctive flavors, they are known by the names mentioned above and are recognized as distinct from wafu dressing in Japan.
Ingredients
- ½ Tbsp (toasted) sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp neutral oil
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
Step-by-step instructions
🕒 Total 8 mins
If you have toasted sesame seeds, you can start from step 2.
Step 1
Put the sesame seeds in a pot or pan and toast them over very low heat. Shake the pot (or pan) constantly to prevent burning until a few sesame seeds start to pop. If you are toasting raw sesame seeds, it should take about 5 minutes. If you are re-toasting sesame seeds that have been previously toasted, it should take about 2 minutes.
Step 2
Combine all ingredients (toasted sesame seeds, neutral oil, sugar, rice vinegar, and soy sauce) well in a bowl.
To Store
You can store it in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Tips on how to make
- When toasting sesame seeds, it's best to avoid using a non-stick pan or pot. Sesame seeds are so small that it is almost like heating them in an empty pan or pot, which could potentially lead to the production of harmful substances.
- When toasting sesame seeds, keep the pan over low heat and shake it constantly. This will prevent the sesame seeds from burning.
Recipe Card
Wafu Dressing (Japanese Salad Dressing)
Ingredients
- ½ Tbsp (toasted) sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp neutral oil
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
Instructions
- Put the sesame seeds in a pot or pan and toast them over very low heat. Shake the pot (or pan) constantly to prevent burning until a few sesame seeds start to pop. If you are toasting raw sesame seeds, it should take about 5 minutes. If you are re-toasting sesame seeds that have been previously toasted, it should take about 2 minutes.
- Combine all ingredients (toasted sesame seeds, neutral oil, sugar, rice vinegar, and soy sauce) well in a bowl.
Notes
- If you have toasted sesame seeds, you can start from step 2.
- You can store it in the refrigerator for up to a week.
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