Japanese Sesame Sauce, or Goma Dare (胡麻だれ), is one of the dipping sauces typically served with the Japanese hot pot, Shabu Shabu. However, there’s so much more to this flavorful and creamy condiment. It is as wonderful as a dressing for salads and noodle dishes, or as a sauce to pair with grilled or steamed veggies and tofu! Let me show you how make Goma Dare from scratch, with just a few simple ingredients.
What is Goma Dare?
Goma (胡麻, ごま) refers to sesame seeds, while Dare or Tare (たれ) translates to sauce in Japanese. Pronounced as [Goh-mah Dah-Leh], this delectable sauce is made from Japanese sesame paste, sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and dashi (Japanese soup stock). Its consistency is smooth and creamy, offering a harmonious blend of nutty, sweet, salty, and umami flavors. It enhances the taste of whatever you’re dipping or dressing without overshadowing the inherent flavors of the food. Whenever I prepare Goma Dare for Shabu Shabu, I make extra to refrigerate for later use in various dishes.
Ingredients for Goma Dare
You can find the ingredients’ measurements in the recipe card below.
Japanese sesame paste (nerigoma) – More about it below. Sugar Soy sauce Rice vinegar – Try to use rice vinegar as it’s a lot milder than other kinds. Dashi (Japanese soup stock) – You can make it from scratch (Kombu + Bonito Dashi or Vegan Dashi) or use a quick and easy Dashi Packet (I used this method for this recipe). You can also make dashi using water and Dashi Powder. Salt
How to Make the Best Sesame Sauce
What is Nerigoma (Japanese Sesame Paste)?
Nerigoma (ねりごま) is a Japanese sesame paste made by grinding whole toasted white sesame seeds into a paste. There are both white sesame and black sesame pastes, so make sure to choose the white sesame paste for this recipe.
Where to Find Nerigoma
I assume everyone will be using a different type of sesame paste for this recipe, so please adjust the amount as needed.
How to Make Sesame Paste on Your Own
Another option is to make your sesame paste from scratch using roasted sesame seeds and a food processor. With just one ingredient (sesame seeds!), you can make a beautiful paste, and here’s the tutorial on how to make sesame paste.
Cooking Tips
Mix the sesame paste REALLY well. Do this before measuring as the paste separates from the oil while stored in the jar. Reduce the amount of the same paste if you’re using a homemade version. Your homemade sesame paste is very rich, flavorful, and thick, so you don’t need as much as the store-bought one. Some high-end sesame paste brands also offer a thick paste, so adjust accordingly. You need enough liquid to make a smooth sesame sauce. While you’re gradually adding liquid to the sesame paste, you will see the paste start to solidify, like when chocolate seizes (read this article). Don’t panic. If you add more liquid, it will become smooth again. To make a really good sauce, use high-quality sesame paste (or make a homemade version!), make a strong, concentrated dashi, and use just the right amount of salt to bring out the flavors. But go easy with the soy sauce as it will only make the sauce darker by adding more.
Delicious Ways to Use Goma Dare
Goma Dare is amazing for dipping the ingredients when you enjoy shabu shabu, but don’t stop there! You can certainly use it for many more dishes. Below are some of my favorite ways to enjoy the sauce. If the sauce is too thick for a dish, you can dilute it with dashi. Add more rice vinegar to make it a refreshing salad dressing!
Shabu Shabu Steamed Vegetables or Grilled Vegetables – asparagus, potatoes, cabbage, carrot, and more! Cold Tofu or Hot Tofu Homemade Udon Noodles Somen Noodles
Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram. Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on December 2, 2011. It’s been updated with new images and content and the revised recipe in March 2023 and republished on February 21, 2024.
