This easy Ginger Orange Dressing recipe uses only five main ingredients that you probably have on hand. It's a little sweet and a little spicy! Here's a basic recipe for an orange and ginger vinaigrette to perk up a simple green salad, your favourite coleslaw, or an Asian-inspired salad.
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- This ginger-orange dressing will liven up any green salad! It's a light dressing that's a little sweet and a little spicy with lots of fresh citrus flavour.
- It's easy to transform a simple bowl of coleslaw into an Asian-inspired salad with this bright ginger dressing!
- This vinaigrette needs only five ingredients plus a pinch of salt. It takes only minutes to make. No blender or food processor is needed! Simply shake the ingredients together in a small jar.
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🛒 Only 5 main ingredients!
You'll find a complete list of ingredients with amounts in the recipe card below. But before we get to the full recipe, here are a few notes about some of the key ingredients and possible substitutions.
- orange: you'll need some of the zest and all of the juice from a large orange. You can use any variety of oranges: navel, tangerine, Cara Cara, etc. Make a ginger mandarin dressing when mandarin oranges are in season!
- oil: I like a light salad oil for this Asian-inspired dressing, like grapeseed or avocado oil.
- rice vinegar: rice vinegar is the perfect complement to the citrus flavours in this vinaigrette.
- ginger: fresh ginger root makes this dressing so delicious! Start with a little (½ to ¾ teaspoon) of freshly grated ginger. You can always add more if you need to.
- sweetener: I like to use a mild-flavoured honey in this ginger-orange vinaigrette, but you can use maple syrup, sugar, or Monkfruit sweetener to keep it vegan.
- sea salt: just a pinch!
🔪 Easy instructions
Use a microplane to remove 1 teaspoon of zest from an orange. Scrape the peel from a small piece of fresh ginger root using the back of a spoon, then grate ½ to ¾ teaspoon.
Combine all the dressing ingredients in a small jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake it until well combined.
🔁 Possible Variations
Now that you have the easy basic recipe, you can vary it by adding one of these aromatics:
- garlic: just one clove, finely minced
- shallots: 1 teaspoon, finely minced
- sesame seeds: Make an orange sesame ginger dressing by adding a teaspoon of sesame oil and a teaspoon of sesame seeds. This option is particularly good with Japanese dishes.
👍🏼 Helpful tips to make the best ginger orange vinaigrette
Remember to zest the orange before you squeeze it. When zesting oranges, you'll want to remove only the outer orange layer. The white part, the pith, can be very bitter-tasting so it's best to avoid it.
Start with a small amount (½ to ¾ teaspoon) of freshly grated ginger first. You can always add more if you need to. The ginger flavour should be a subtle hint, not a smack in the face!
Taste and adjust the seasoning. The sweetness of this orange and ginger dressing will naturally depend on the sweetness of the orange you're using. Add a little more honey if you think it needs it.
❓You may be wondering . . .
It's up to you! I like to peel older ginger root that often has tougher skin. Young ginger doesn't have to be peeled. However, it's a good idea to wash and dry it, for hygienic reasons.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
Ginger-orange dressing is a favourite for Asian-influenced salads and coleslaws. Try it on any of the following salads:
Cabbage Coleslaw: replace the sesame miso dressing in this recipe with this ginger-orange dressing. So good!
Add it to store-bought coleslaw! I like to spruce up bagged coleslaw by adding extra julienne-cut or grated carrots, slivers of red pepper, a handful or two of edamame beans, a little chopped cilantro and a sprinkle of black sesame seeds. Toss it all with this ginger-orange dressing for a healthy bowl of crunchy yum!
⏰ Storage Instructions
To store: Store any leftover dressing in a covered container in the fridge. It will last for up to a week. Give it a stir or a shake if it has separated.
Enjoy!
When you make this recipe for ginger-orange vinaigrette, please leave a comment and a rating below. I love hearing from you! Thanks in advance. Subscribe to my newsletter and receive new recipes delivered straight to your inbox once a week.
🗒 More homemade salad dressing recipes
📖 Recipe
Easy Ginger-Orange Dressing
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- ¼ cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
- ½ - ¾ teaspoon ginger, freshly grated
- 2 teaspoons sweetener, use honey, or maple syrup, sugar, or Monkfruit sweetener for vegan diet.
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- ¼ cup light-tasting oil, like avocado oil or grapeseed oil
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake until well combined.
- Refrigerate leftover dressing in a sealed container.
Kris
So delicious! Can't wait to make again. 🙂
Elaine
Thanks Kris! Happy to hear you liked it, too!
Anita
The dressing is so delicious. I love the orange and ginger combination, so refreshing and light.
Elaine
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Anita!
Beth
This is great! Only 5 minutes to throw together this tasty dressing that will go on all my salads this summer!
Elaine
Thanks Beth! Agreed--so easy and it really is a versatile dressing. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Claudia Lamascolo
Ive had something similiar to this in Japanese steakhouses but this was so much better tasting I just love this recipe
Elaine
Thanks Claudia! I appreciate the 5 stars!
Mirlene
Loving this ginger dressing with orange! This gives my salad a burst of flavor. I'm such a ginger fan!
Elaine
Thanks Mirlene! I'm a fan of fresh ginger, too. Glad to hear you liked it.
Deanna
Loved this dressing! Easy to make as I usually have fresh ginger on hand! Definitely one I'll make on repeat.
Elaine
Thanks Deanna! I appreciate the 5 stars!