Craving that restaurant-worthy Asian Sesame Dressing but dreading the store-bought ingredients? Prepare to be amazed – you're about to discover how incredibly simple it is to whip up this flavorful dressing from scratch, using ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.
Ingredients
Alright, let's gather everything we need to make this awesome salad! I'm thinking about vermicelli noodles – 100g or 4 oz of dried ones should do the trick. And hey, these are the thin rice noodles, right?
Next, grab 2 cups of shredded cabbage – white or green, I don't mind! We'll also need 1 1/2 cups of shredded carrot (that's about one medium carrot). Don't forget 1 1/2 cups of bean sprouts; they add a nice crunch. You can also explore options like bell peppers or cucumbers to customize the vegetables.
For the fresh stuff, slice up 2 green onions – finely, okay? A half-cup of coriander/cilantro leaves will add tons of flavor. Now, for the dressing, I'm going to list the ingredients later. Finally, fried Asian shallots and red chilies are optional but worth considering!
Instructions
Now that we've gathered all the ingredients, let's get down to business and make this mouth-watering Asian Sesame Dressing! It's easier than you think.
First, grab a jar – it doesn't need to be fancy – and combine 2 tablespoons of light soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar, 1 1/2 teaspoons of sugar, 1 1/2 tablespoons of grapeseed oil, 1 minced garlic clove, and 1 finely minced bird's eye chili. This versatile dressing can also be used on salads, vegetables, or as a dipping sauce. Shake it all up like you mean it! Let it sit for 5 minutes so the flavors can get to know each other.
Now, for the noodles… prepare 100g of vermicelli noodles according to the packet. I'm not kidding – soggy noodles are the enemy! Toss it together. This is where the magic happens!
Finally, right before serving, pour that amazing dressing over your beautiful noodle concoction!
- Shred the cabbage!
- Shred the carrot!
- Add bean sprouts!
- Slice those green onions!
- Cilantro!
Recipe Notes
Since noodles are the star of this salad, let's discuss some things to keep in mind, so you nail this Asian Sesame Dressing recipe!
First, vermicelli noodles are key — they're super thin rice noodles. I like Wei Wei brand, but any thin noodle works, honestly.
Now, dressing substitutes! Light soy sauce adds the perfect flavor; if using dark soy sauce, the salad will look browner—still yummy though! And rice wine vinegar? You can swap lime juice for a Thai twist. Other light vinegars are cool, too!
Want to get creative? Sub vegetables like iceberg lettuce, snow peas—whatever you've got on hand! Add mint or Thai basil for a flavor explosion. Don't be scared to spice it up with extra chili slices for a kick!
Nutrition Information
Let's break down what's inside this Asian Sesame Dressing—calorie-wise and all that good stuff! Per serving (around 147g), you're looking at 170 calories. Don't worry; it's not too scary!
Now, let's peek at the macros and vitamins. I find it handy when I'm trying to balance my meals. Thinking I am being healthy!
- Carbohydrates: 29g (that's about 10% of your daily intake).
- Protein: 4.3g (almost 9%).
- Fat: 4g (only 6%—not bad, right?).
- Sodium: 29mg (a tiny 1%).
- Vitamins: A whopping 94% of Vitamin A and 55% of Vitamin C!
Also, you'll find some fiber (1.6g) and sugar (4g). Potassium is about 242mg, calcium is a small 30mg, and iron's just 0.7mg. Not bad at all if you consider the flavor punch it delivers!
Short Recipe Version
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 0 mins
Servings: Varies
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup sesame oil
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp honey or sugar
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- 1/2 tsp ginger, grated
- 1/4 tsp garlic, minced
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
- Whisk until well combined.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
Nutrition (per 2 tbsp serving, estimated):
- Calories: 70
- Fat: 6g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Sugar: 3g