There is nothing better than a great salad dressing and this oriental dressing for a salad is near perfection! Applebee’s Oriental Salad Dressing is so creamy with a flavor that is indescribable.
Make your own creamy oriental salad dressing at home
I love making homemade salad dressings. But making this Applebee’s Oriental Salad Dressing had me stumped and stumped for a long time. It’s perfectly sweet with an almost smoky flavor but coming up with the recipe for this oriental dressing for the salad wasn’t easy so I started experimenting. I started with a vinaigrette then added some oil. I used regular sesame oil plus a touch of toasted sesame oil. And this recipe was born.
Difference between Vinaigrettes & Dressings
Most salad dressings are made with similar ingredients but this is a slight difference between a vinaigrette and a dressing. Vinaigrettes are made with a mixture of oil, like olive oil, and something acidic like citrus juice, vinegar, balsamic, apple cider, rice vinegar, white or red wine vinegar, etc. Add some seasonings and dijon mustard and you have created a delicious vinaigrette.
Dressings, on the other hand, are thicker in consistency and usually start with a creamy base like mayonnaise, buttermilk, yogurt, etc. Oil & vinegar are still including in a dressing along with seasonings but it’s much thicker than a vinaigrette.
This salad dressing is a variation on a vinaigrette and dressing. It starts with vinaigrette ingredients but mayonnaise was added for the creaminess.
Stock Your Pantry with these Ingredients
Most salad dressings or vinaigrette recipes use the same ingredients. Here’s a list of ingredients you will need for most dressings/vinaigrettes including this recipe. Most of these ingredients you will already have.
- Olive Oil
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- White Wine Vinegar
- Red Wine Vinegar
- Rice Vinegar
- Sesame Oil (refined and toasted)
- Dijon Mustard
- Mayonnaise
- Buttermilk
- Yogurt
- Sour Cream
- Sugar
- Salt & Pepper
Notes
- Refrigerate the salad dressing in a covered container for up to 1 week.
- Rice vinegar is carried in most grocery stores, be careful not to purchase the seasoned rice wine vinegar, as it is sweetened and makes the dressing way too sweet.
- The refined sesame oil can be found in the regular section of the oils in a grocery store. For the toasted sesame oil, look in the Asian section of your grocery store.
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Applebee’s Oriental Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons refined sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine sugar and rice vinegar and mix until sugar is completely dissolved. Add the mayonnaise, both sesame oils, and the mustard and stir until well blended.
Video
Recipe Tips for the Cook
- Refrigerate the salad dressing in a covered container for up to 1 week.
- Rice vinegar is carried in most grocery stores, be careful not to purchase the seasoned rice wine vinegar, as it is sweetened and makes the dressing way too sweet.
- The refined sesame oil can be found in the regular section of the oils in a grocery store. For the toasted sesame oil, look in the Asian section of your grocery store.
Sandy Larson says
Very good dressing! I also did not have refined sesame oil, so used peanut oil as substitute. Flavor super but dressing doesn’t seem to blend real well. Oil staying around the outer area. I did use light mayo. So maybe that’s my problem. Didn’t want to dirty a blender so will give it some shakes and see. Thanks for sharing!
Laurie Ennis says
This dressing is very good and I admit that I had to lick my plate! Since we are on lockdown in Michigan, I used canola oil for the refined sesame oil since I didn’t have any but did have the toasted and used just a tad more of that. It was delicious. It was thinner than the Applebees dressing so I think maybe just add a tablespoon of honey for one TBSP of the sugar? Excellent recipe just the same.
Amy says
Can you buy this exact dressing in the stores??
Stephanie says
I don’t think you can buy Applebee’s Oriental Salad dressing in the stores.
Rae says
This recipe is spot on! So good! I didn’t have any toasted sesame oil on hand, so tried it without it. It’s amazing. Sorry Applebees.
Karen Davis says
Where do you find the refined sesame seed oil. I can not find it in the grocery stores I have been to?
Stephanie says
I have purchased this oil at Walmart and Kroger, so it is fairly common.
Laurie O Sullivan says
Hi! I LOVE this dressing, its the best EVER.
I wanted to know how much you consider one serving so i can estimate calories. Please let me know what this is considered as I’m trying to keep track of how much I’m consuming, and that sauce makes this salad!
Thank you very much,
Laurie