Mr. JOC (aka my husband) calls this dressing “Million-Dollar Dressing” because he thinks it’s the best homemade dressing I’ve ever made (I have a lot of homemade dressing recipes). And our kids wholeheartedly agree with him. The truth is, none of them are particularly fond of onions. But, this dressing changed everything. It will make you want to eat a salad, as long as I pour this dressing over it. Built on a base of finely grated and chopped sweet onion and soy sauce, you could hardly believe that it takes only 5 ingredients to make. The flavor is bright, savory, sweet, and layered with a deep flavor. You can’t go wrong with this Japanese Onion Dressing (玉ねぎドレッシング). I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Brightly flavored, rich in umami, and textured – not your typical dressing. It’s super easy to make! It will take any salad to the next level, making it perfect for your holiday salad! More than just a salad dressing, you can even pour it over to a simple baked fish and chicken.
3 Secrets to Making This Dressing
I truly think these little things make a difference in the final result.
How to Make Japanese Onion Dressing
The Ingredients You’ll Need
Sweet onion Extra virgin olive oil (or you can use neutral oil) Japanese black vinegar (kurozu 黒酢) – This is the star ingredient, so I’ll talk more below. You can substitute it with rice vinegar Soy sauce Sugar
The Cooking Steps
Japanese Black Vinegar (Kurozu)
This Japanese black vinegar is called Rinkosan Kurozu Black Vinegar by Uchibori Brewery. Even though it’s made with just water and rice, kurozu (黒酢) or black vinegar brings a lovely depth and aroma to your dishes. It’s highly versatile and easy to use. Try it on your stir-fries like this Sweet and Sour Chicken, grilled or baked fish, or as a dipping sauce for gyoza. You can purchase this black vinegar at Japanese grocery stores (I get mine at Nijiya Market) and some online stores sell it.
What’s in This Colorful Salad?
Here, I made a simple salad with frisée, radicchio, thinly sliced watermelon radish, and heirloom tomatoes.
How to Use This Japanese Onion Dressing
Salad. This dressing goes well with simple shredded cabbage and leafy green salad. Meat and seafood. Drizzle this dressing on grilled chicken, roasted pork or pork shabu shabu, grilled steak, pan-fried salmon, and sautéed shrimp! We use it for so many kinds of food and it’s very delicious!
How can I substitute if I can’t find this Japanese black vinegar? You can use other brands of Japanese black vinegar, or simply use rice vinegar (do not use other types of vinegar, please!). Do not use Chinese black vinegar as it has a different taste. Substitution information is in the recipe card below. Can I omit sugar? What is a good substitute for sugar? Japanese black vinegar (or rice vinegar) is mild in taste compared to other types of vinegar, but it’s good to add a little bit of sweetness to counterbalance the vinegary taste and remove the sharpness for a rounded flavor. You can use honey or other sugar substitute if you want to omit the granulated sugar. Is this vegetarian or vegan? Yes! The dressing is naturally vegan. Make a salad with vegan-friendly ingredients. What’s the best Japanese onion dressing brand? I tried both brands below and I like the one on the right in the picture below.
What to Serve with This Salad
Salmon Potato Gratin Japanese Stewed Hamburger Steak (Nikomi Hambagu) Japanese Cream Stew (White Stew) Honey Soy Glazed Spatchcock Chicken Honey Garlic Pork Chops Japanese-style Pasta with Shrimp and Broccolini
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