Sesame + ginger in a salad dressing promises the kind of Asian deliciousness that is literally craveable. It’s salty, sweet, nutty and just spicy enough to satisfy.
Homemade can be delicious, but when you don’t have the energy to get the flavors just right, it’s good to know that there is an exhaustive array of options on store shelves. Differences between sesame-ginger dressings are vast. They range from pasty thick to watery thin and from bold and spicy to syrupy sweet. Some include egg yolk and soy, others incorporate nutritional yeast, fruit concentrates, alternative sweeteners or miso.
For this tasting, we picked up 14 brands and gave them a taste, hoping to find dressings up to the task of bringing sesame-ginger notes to everything from shredded cabbage to noodles. Finding the dressings, we learned, wasn’t difficult. But finding them at a price we wanted to pay was tricky. Paying nearly $9 for a small bottle of salad dressing is painful, even more so when it costs $3.99 at a different store.
Great sesame-ginger dressings start with fresh ingredients in just the right proportions. Those elements are blended into a rich, savory pour that’s so flavor-dense that it turns plain food into something far more luscious and memorable. The best sesame dressings have intense toasted sesame flavor, lots of zesty ginger, a hint of sugar and an ample dash of salt.
Bad sesame-ginger dressings are watery, wimpy, oily or syrupy. The worst have so many additives that the flavors of ginger and sesame are all but lost.
Here are details on the most mouth-watering drizzles of Asian sesame dressing, and the sad pours that are sure to wreck even the most expertly made food. Nutrition info refers to 2 tablespoons.
Trader Joe’s Organic Toasted Sesame Dressing
Creamy and rich, this mouthwatering dressing is so popular that it’s hard to find in stock. The balance of flavors are so perfect that it’s tempting to just take a swig straight from the bottle. 130 calories, 13 grams fat, 200 milligrams sodium, 3 grams sugar, 1 gram protein. $3.99 for 12 ounces. (4 stars)
SideDish Creamy Sesame Dressing + Sauce
Fruity, spicy and rich, this thick paste made with pineapple concentrate needs a long, hard shake to get it to pour out of the bottle, but it’s worth the effort. This would transform anything from plain cabbage to noodles. 100 calories, 7 grams fat, 330 milligrams sodium, 6 grams sugar, 2 grams protein. $7.99 for 8 ounces at Whole Foods. (4 stars)
Kewpie Deep-Roasted Sesame Dressing & Marinade
Toasted sesame and a pinch of earthy shiitake mushroom powder make this creamy dressing outstanding not just for salad, but also for any plate of vegetables, rice, noodles and more. 110 calories, 11 grams fat, 330 milligrams sodium, 4 grams sugar, 1 grams protein. $5.49 for 12 ounces at Safeway. (4 stars)
NaGo Ginger Sesame Miso Dressing
This fresh, light pour is pricier than most, but the flavor profile is unique. It bursts with bright citrus, followed by a warm hit of fresh ginger. The sesame element is understated but present. 35 calories, 1.5 grams fat, 350 milligrams sodium, 3 grams sugar, 1 gram protein. $8.39 for 11 ounces at Raley’s. (3 1/2 stars)
Girard’s Toasted Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette
A bit too much sugar and not enough ginger detract from this otherwise fresh, light vinaigrette. It won’t pass for homemade, but it’s enjoyable enough to stock in the fridge. 120 calories, 11 grams fat, 340 milligrams sodium, 6 grams sugar, no protein. $4.99 for 12 ounces at Safeway. (3 stars)
Annie’s Asian Sesame Dressing
The fresh flavor profile of this balanced dressing is pleasant, but it’s a bit wimpy. More flavor and less oil would be an improvement. 130 calories, 12 grams fat, 180 milligrams sodium, 3 grams sugar, no protein. $4.49 for 8 ounces at Sprouts. (3 stars)
Open Nature Asian Style Ginger Sesame Dressing
While this is admittedly gloppy and lacks freshness, the flavors of sesame and ginger shine through. It won’t make for a stellar salad, but it will do. 40 calories, 2 grams fat, 260 milligrams sodium, 4 grams sugar, no protein. $3.99 for 11 ounces at Safeway. (2 1/2 stars)
Primal Kitchen Sesame Ginger Dressing & Marinade With Avocado Oil
Cut the acid in this fresh, flavorful mix, and it would score higher. As-is, it’s more of an Asian-flavored vinegar than a dressing. 100 calories, 10 grams fat, 130 milligrams sodium, 1 gram sugar, no protein. $8.69 for 8 ounces at Whole Foods. (2 stars)
Ken’s Steak House Asian Sesame With Ginger & Soy Dressing & Marinade
Those who are not put off by the flavor of bottled dressing may enjoy this benign vinaigrette. It’s far too sweet, but it does deliver hints of sesame and ginger. 80 calories, 4.5 grams fat, 450 milligrams sodium, 8 grams sugar, 1 gram protein. $5.99 for 16 ounces at Safeway. (2 stars)
Newman’s Own Sesame Ginger
Acid is a necessary ingredient in any good salad dressing, but balance is key. Excessive vinegar in this mix all but kills the key flavor ingredients. 35 calories, 1.5 grams fat, 290 milligrams sodium, 4 grams sugar, no protein. $4.13 for 16 ounces at Walmart. (1 1/2 stars)
Litehouse Sesame Ginger Dressing & Marinade
This dressing is so sweet that it’s difficult to taste either the sesame or ginger. 40 calories, no fat, 270 milligrams sodium, 8 grams sugar, 1 gram protein. $4.99 for 12 ounces at Safeway. (1 star)
Pietro Dressing Sesame & Miso Dressing
The contents at the bottom of this flip-top bottle are loaded with sesame flavor, but no matter how long you shake it, it pours as oil, followed by sauce. It’s in desperate need of an emulsifier. 150 calories, 11 grams fat, 394 milligrams sodium, 4 grams sugar, 1 gram protein. $5.99 for 9.3 ounces at Safeway. (1 star)
Panera Asian Sesame Vinaigrette & Marinade
No complaints about the delicate hits of sesame and ginger, but the huge kick of stevia is a no-go, even for those who are not averse to the sweetener. 60 calories, 6 grams fat, 180 milligrams sodium, 2 grams sugar, no protein. $4.99 for 12 ounces at Safeway. (1/2 star)
Yeshi Sesame Ginger Nutritional Yeast Dressing & Dip
Super creamy consistency and a lovely hit of heat are a great start, but the nutritional yeast element in this is way overdone, making for a slightly strange-flavored, mayo-like sauce. This would need serious help to become a worthwhile salad dressing. 130 calories, 13 grams fat, 250 milligrams sodium, 1 gram sugar, 2 grams protein. $8.39 for 8 ounces at Raley’s. (1/2 star)
Reviews are based on product samples purchased by this newspaper or provided by manufacturers. Contact Jolene Thym at timespickyeater@gmail.com. Read more Taste-Off columns at www.mercurynews.com/tag/taste-off.
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