Benihana Ginger Salad dressing is one of the best-known recipes from Benihana. Going to Benihana is a special treat. You literally watch your dinner being prepared in front of you. While you can’t go there every night, you can recreate their salad dressing with our copycat recipe.
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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 their unique salad dressing. You can make my copycat version of Benihana’s Salad Dressing using authentic ingredients.
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. Though, 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 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 as Nigella Lawson does. A mezzaluna is 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.
Love Japanese Steakhouses? Check out these copycat recipes
- Chicken Katsura
- Hibachi Grill Steak
- Japanese Restaurant Fried Rice
- Recipe for Yum Yum Sauce
- Shrimp Tempura Recipe
- Teppanyaki Salad Dressing
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.
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!