From the appetizing aroma of sizzling food to the mesmerizing sight of your meal being prepared, every moment at Benihana is a delight. Although you can’t visit the restaurant every day, you can recreate the exquisite flavors of their Ginger Salad dressing any time you want a unique, refreshing garnish for your salad dishes.
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Benihana Japanese hibachi dining
Who doesn’t look forward to an evening at a Benihana restaurant? Those talented chefs amaze us when they flip their knives or toss a boiled egg and slice it in two, in mid-air!
When you head out to a Benihana restaurant, you know to expect a fun and exciting evening with good food prepared right in front of you. But one thing they prepare in the back kitchen is their super salad dressing.
Benihana’s house dressing
Benihana Ginger Salad Dressing is their signature, house dressing that they pour over all their salads. Its delicate balance of sweet, tangy, and salt makes it the perfect accompaniment to any dish on the menu.
Now you don’t have to head out to enjoy the popular Benihana ginger salad dressing. You can make my copycat version of Benihana’s house dressing using authentic ingredients.
What makes Benihana Ginger Salad Dressing so good?
Benihana’s famous dressing is delicious for several reasons, one of the primary reasons being that it is made with fresh ingredients. You won’t find onion powder or dried ginger in this dressing, but fresh onions and ginger root that supply the dressing with a robust fresh ginger taste.
This is definitely the recipe to make when you want to give your food a tangy accompaniment. The natural ginger taste awakens your taste buds with its earthy and spicy qualities, and hints of sugar help balance the zestiness of the lemon and vinegar.
With this recipe, your salads will be taken to the next level! And if you have extra, you can use it for other foods, too, since it doubles as a dipping sauce or marinade.
Why you’ll love this recipe
This recipe is versatile, easy to make, and inclusive for people on various diets! You only need a blender to make it; there isn’t much hands-on time required because you can quickly chop the vegetables before blending them.
This recipe is perfect for those who follow a plant-based diet or are lactose intolerant, as it doesn’t contain any dairy or animal products.
It is also safe for people who are sensitive to gluten, provided that they use gluten-free soy sauce. With that being said, this dressing is ideal for gatherings due to its simple ingredients and easy preparation methods!
Ginger dressing ingredients
Here’s a list of what you need:
- Onion
- Vegetable oil
- Rice wine vinegar
- Water
- Fresh ginger root
- Celery
- Soy sauce
- Tomato paste
- Sugar
- Lemon juice
- Salt
About rice wine vinegar
This recipe calls for rice wine vinegar. If you are concerned about a vinegar taste, know that Chinese rice vinegars are stronger than Japanese ones so choose wisely. Make sure you buy clear or almost clear rice wine vinegar as some shops may carry red and brown versions, which will change the taste of the salad dressing.
Western vinegars are more acidic than their Asian counterparts, and would not make an ideal substitute. If you have to substitute, then use a mixture of white wine vinegar and water. However, I urge you to buy an Asian rice wine vinegar because you’ll be making this salad dressing often!
How to make Benihana Ginger Salad Dressing at home
The easy way to make ginger dressing is to use a blender. Just put all the ingredients in the blender and blend on high speed until almost smooth.
For best results, make the dressing at least an hour or the day before you plan to use it. This allows the flavors to combine nicely.
Keep the dressing stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
How to chop vegetables for ginger dressing
The best way to chop the onion, ginger, and celery for this dressing is to use a mezzaluna, a curved knife with two handles. Chefs use this tool to quickly and easily mince herbs and spices like ginger root or turmeric as they rock it left and right over the foods.
Another way to achieve this effect is to use a manual, hand chopper. There are many on the market at a variety of prices to fit your budget. Of course, you can use a regular knife too, just make sure it is sharpened.
What to serve Benihana’s Ginger Dressing with
The most obvious use for this dressing is with a fresh salad. You can enjoy the salad with Homemade Hibachi Steak with Mushrooms.
However, there are so many other ways to use it! For instance, use it as a dipping sauce for meat or veggies coated with crispy tempura batter. You can even use it as a meat marinade.
How to store this dressing
Keep the dressing in an airtight container, such as a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid, and store it in the refrigerator.
How long does it last?
For best quality, consume this recipe within a week or so of preparation since it contains fresh vegetables. I suggest discarding any remaining portions after ten days.
Love Japanese Steakhouses? Check out these copycat recipes
- Chicken Katsura
- Hibachi Grill Steak
- Japanese Restaurant Fried Rice
- Japanese Salad Dressing
- Recipe for Yum Yum Sauce
- Shrimp Tempura Recipe
Best Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes
- Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing
- Blue Cheese Salad Dressing Recipe
- French Dressing Recipe
- Hot Bacon Dressing
- Olive Garden Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
- Santa Fe Vinaigrette
- Southwest Salad Dressing
Be sure to check out more of the most favorite copycat recipes and easy salad dressing recipes.
Benihana Ginger Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon chopped ginger root
- 1 tablespoon chopped celery
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons tomato paste
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender. Process until almost smooth.
- Any unused portions may be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator.
Sandy
Do you use white or yellow onions for this recipe?
Stephanie Manley
I use white onions.
KE
This is amazing and tastes like the same dressings you get at your favorite Japanese restaurants! I also made a version with no oil. I used a tablespoon of natural peanut butter and added water until it reached the desired consistency. It still tasted wonderful. Thank you very much for sharing this recipe.
John Fuller
This is an excellent dressing. I make it very smooth with a little longer time in the blender and follow up with an immersion blender. Also a mezzaluna knife is not needed if you have an Ulu knife used by the Inuit and less money to buy.
Cindy
I love this dressing. It definitely tastes like Benihana’s dressing.
Angela
I’m looking for a copycat recipe of the Makoto japanese steakhouse brand salad dressing which you can buy in the refrigerated area of the produce department at the grocery store or walmart. It seems to have much more soy sauce in it than the lighter colored, creamier ginger dressing that is served at most japanese steakhouses like Benihana. If you’ve never had it before, you should buy it and try it. It is sooooooo good ! It has so much flavor that you can literally use just one tablespoon of dressing (40 calories) and your salad is still loaded with flavor.
The ingredients in order on the label are …. Onions, Soybean Oil, Soy Sauce (water, wheat, soybeans, salt, sodium benzoate), Flavored Vinegar (white distilled vinegar, filtered water, natural flavoring), Celery, Carrots, Ginger, Sugar, Tomato Paste, Cultured Dextrose, White Pepper, Hot Sauce (red jalapeño pepper, water, sugar, salt, garlic, distilled vinegar, xanthan gum, pepper sauce [distilled vinegar, red pepper, salt]).
Since soy sauce is the 3rd ingredient, before vinegar, I think that means it should have more soy than vinegar, or at least an equal amount ?
Please please please Copykat this recipe ! I have tried several times and cannot seem to get it right.
dom
Did you ever find a good copycat for the Makoto?
Christine A Altman
Could we also use this as a marinade?
Stephanie
I would think this could work. It would go well with chicken!
AndrewI
How long will the dressing last in a bottle?
Stephanie
I would enjoy this for about a week to 10 days after you prepare the dressing.
Cathy Pollak
I cannot believe I get to make this at home!
Lori
Ohhh, I love this one!
Toni | Boulder Locavore
I love how easy this is to make!!
Brenda
I love that we can now enjoy a little Benihana flavor at home!
Barbara Schieving
So great to be able to make this recipe at home.
Aysegul D Sanford
Such a great dressing for any salad. So happy to have it for future.
Melissa
This recipe is my “go to” now, thanks!
Liz
This was perfect on my cabbage salad! And made with all ingredients I had in the house!!!
JoyDee McCorkle
Where is the salad ingredients recipe???
Stephanie
I am sorry I didn’t add those to this recipe, I think their salad is just regular iceberg lettuce.
Liz Nelson
I enjoyed this salad dressing the ginger and soy gave it the best flavor!