I have a confession to make. I am even guilty of telling myself that “ignorance is bliss” sometimes…
I’ve been afraid to ask what the ingredients are in my favorite local Japanese restaurant’s carrot ginger dressing because it tastes so damn good. Sorry, there is just no other way to put it. When I go, I always ask for the dressing on the side, dipping my fork in the dressing between each bite. But seriously, I could drink the entire little bowl of dressing they send out on the side, but I don’t because the knowledge I have gained about the ingredients used in most restaurants (not just Japanese restaurants) have led to me to believe there is almost a 100% certainty of GMO soy oil or other GMO ingredients being used in this particular dressing. So needless to say, I haven’t gone and had Japanese in a while but that doesn’t mean I don’t get my carrot ginger dressing fix!
I’ve been trying to perfect this dressing for a LONG time, but it wasn’t until Gwyneth Paltrow included a recipe similar to this in her latest cook book called It’s All Good for me to finally master the flavor. Miso is the key ingredient here and the one ingredient I’ve never included before in my recipe. Yes, it’s from soy, but it’s organic and fermented, which I think (and many others think also) is the healthiest way to enjoy soy products.
Without fermentation (think edamame, soy flour, soy protein, soy milk, soy oil, etc.), soy contains phytochemicals (phytates, enzyme inhibitors and goitrogens) which are hormone disruptors and anti-nutrients that can affect the body negatively. Unfermented soy products have been linked to digestive distress, immune system breakdown, PMS, endometriosis, thyroid issues, reproductive problems for men and women, allergies, ADD and ADHD, higher risk of heart disease and cancer, malnutrition, and loss of libido. Not cool.
And before I get into the recipe – I just want to say, getting even more ginger in my life is SO exciting for me. I already consume it almost everyday but hearing this latest study about how ginger is just as effective as anti-inflammatory drugs (like Advil) makes me want to fill my bathroom tub up with ginger, jump in and start eating it by the spoonful. Yes I’m a bit crazy. I don’t like my body to be inflamed, I mean, who does?
- 4 carrots
- ½ white onion
- ¼ cup chopped ginger or a little more if you really like ginger like me
- 2 tablespoons white miso paste
- ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons raw honey or coconut palm sugar
- 3 tablespoons dark toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup water
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- Throw everything in a high speed blender and blend until smooth
In case you were wondering – It’s All Good is a great overall cookbook, featuring Gwyneth’s elimination diet (no coffee, no dairy, no gluten, no sugar) and how eating the right foods healed herself and her family’s ailments. I can’t wait to make her candy bar recipe. Yes candy bars without refined sugar! 🙂
This Japanese restaurant style carrot ginger salad dressing is the easiest recipe ever. Throw everything in a blender and hit go!
FYI – I used Miso Master’s Organic Mellow White Miso from the refrigerator section of my local health food store – Healthy Home Market. I store my dressing in a Bodum glass jar (as well as a bunch of other things like smoothies, soups, etc.)
I can’t wait for your feedback. This recipe is out of this world. If you know someone who loves Japanese restaurant style dressing, please share this with them and prove to them that homemade can be just a delicious (and GMO free).
XOXO,
Food Babe
Vani Babe,
Lovely work. I am grateful for the inspiration and zest this site provides, and not to forget to all those supporting beings you make this web site such a fantastic and lively source of critical and enjoyable information. Keep up the great work. BTW check this out and please consider putting a link to this important information on your site and ask people to spread the information. Please review this link before considering my suggestion of broad casting the information.
Uprooting the Leading Causes of Death
http://nutritionfacts.org/video/uprooting-the-leading-causes-of-death/
Lots of love and deep respect,
mark.
Grammar nit – “… her and her family’s” not “… she and her family’s”. Remove “and her” to see which is the correct pronoun, “she family’s” is obviously not right.
signed,
you can take the teacher of the classroom, but you can’t take the classroom out of the teacher
🙂 Ha! If only I had a full time copy editor.
haha another grammar nitpick: although you edited, it’s still not correct. Previous poster gave you the correct wording 🙂 You inserted “herself” instead of “her”; it still does not make sense if you read it back. Sorry! I cannot help myself either.
On the other hand, you have a wonderful awesome site and I’m glad to have found it 🙂
God give it a rest…write your own grammar blog then would you. Now that would be inspirational…not! We live in an age of Twitter so should you.
Food Babe,
You have a million things going on. People that have time to pick apart your grammar have all the time in the world.
Don’t sweat the small stuff. Keep doing your important work!
PLEASE! Enough with the grammar Nazis!
Love it!! Grammar patrol!! One must speak and write correctly! My girlfriend does the same thing all the time. Can’t take the teaching out of the teacher!
AMEN!!
Oops wrong one. People have self control. Please use it! Stop with the grammar patrol!!
Wrong one.
Oh, can you take the teacher of the classroom?
THIS is so fab! Sure, your recipe-find, but for me – the clarification about why soy is touted as both “healthy” and “unhealthy”! It has been so confusing. Now I can say that I finally understand/ it makes sense; Organic of course, and fermentation is key. Can you tell me, is tofu considered fermented soy? Thanks so much for all of your valuable research & information!!
Hi Denise – so glad you like the post. Tofu, in general is not considered a fermented food.
Hi Food Babe! I have an uncommon allergy. I’m allergic to sulfa, sulfates, sulfities, any sulfur derivative.No vino for me. Basically, I’m allergic to soap, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, laundry soap,(anything that lathers) wine, vinegars, frozen pizza dough, frozen pie crusts etc. in food it is a parts per million kind of thing… so a salad drowned in balsamic vinegar… would strongly effect me, but a splash… not a big deal. I was advised not to eat anything that doesn’t expire in three days. Through some research I found that coconuts contain sulfites. http://foodallergysupport.olicentral.com/index.php?action=page;sa=SulfiteFoodsPPM1 even though it is low in ppm (parts per million) if I use coconut oil, coconut palm sugar and multiple other coconut products, I would guess, I’m increasing levels which would cause a risk of reaction for me. But I’m unsure of this. And from what I understand if sulfites occur naturally, it isn’t required for them to be labeled. Do you know anything about sulfites in coconuts? Are products like coconut oil without sulfites? Do you have a good source I could use to do research about sulfites/sulfates? It kind of makes me laugh when I read the list of things for me to stay away from… most people should stay away from these products! I just can’t get enough info about this and thought I’d ask.. Thanks for your time. Hope you have a great evening!
Hi Rachael, I’m intrigued with your allergy…I have to ask, how do you bath yourself and keep your clothes/dishes clean if your allergic to soaps? Do you use oils? I am hoping not to offend you, but I am very curious.
That is exactly me. I was eating, drinking, and using alot of coconut and developed a reaction to it. Now I know why. I, too, am sensitive to sulf stuff. Thanks for posting.
Wow! I need to do research! I am allergic to Sulfa…found out as a child when I was taking a regular medication and developed an allergy to it…and I had already suspected that I should stay away from things with sulfites, ie. wine, meats like bacon and deli, but I had no idea that I might have a reaction to things like coconut! I recently went Paleo and now consume a lot of coconut and I was told by my brother-in-law that for my blood type I shouldn’t and now it looks like there is another reason! I have developed a bumpy rash that stays on my chest and did not know why I had developed it. Sounds like I need to go get allergy tested again! Sometimes knowledge is so overwhelming! I don’t know where to go from here! Thanks for the info!
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I’m hoping to eat more greens in my diet once my CSA stuff rolls in. I definitely don’t want to be using store bought salad dressing, so I’ll be trying this one! (And sharing on social media, of course).
Cheers,
Tracy
Thanks for the recipe and can’t wait to try it. Found your site a couple months ago when searching for info on dangers of carrageenan – bad stuff! Just because something is listed as “natural” or “organic” doesn’t mean it’s healthy to eat. Whole foods are the way to go – yes, it takes time to prepare healthy foods, but the body is worth it.
For those sensitive to MSG and other foods that cause same effects, here is an interesting video from Dr. Blaylock on excitoxins:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7arAcj-ZP6U
Thanks, Mark, for posting link to Dr. Greger’s video – it’s a good one.
Rachael – have you been to Tropical Traditions website?
Hi Food Babe!
I really love all of the great information you provide.
I am confused about soy though, therefore I tend to avoid it. I just recently bought the Ezekial sprouted grain tortillas. One of the ingredients is “organic sprouted soybeans” Are these ok? Thanks!!!
I love that bread and the english muffins. Haven’t see the tortillas yet. And I understand that since it is made from sprouts of the grains, your body treats it as a vegetable. Don’t know anything about the organic sprouted soybeans though and look forward to Foodbabe’s answer.
Hello Vani,
Thanks for an awesome recipe!! I am very surprised to read this para :
***************************************
Without fermentation (think edamame, soy flour, soy protein, soy milk, soy oil, etc.), soy contains phytochemicals (phytates, enzyme inhibitors and goitrogens) which are hormone disruptors and anti-nutrients that can affect the body negatively. Unfermented soy products have been linked to digestive distress, immune system breakdown, PMS, endometriosis, thyroid issues, reproductive problems for men and women, allergies, ADD and ADHD, higher risk of heart disease and cancer, malnutrition, and loss of libido. Not cool.
*******************************************
I am from Malaysia but am now living in the USA. People in my country eat alot of soy products (unfermented) but I have not heard of any negative effects of soy products nor the diseases you mentioned above. Sometimes we eat soy products a few times a day (eg. soy pudding in the morning, soy milk in the afternoon and tofu in our meals). Even now I eat alot of soy products and have my own soy milk maker. I am very healthy with no health problems. Therefore I am very surprised to read what you wrote about the negative effects of soy products. I know some people in USA associate soy product (phytoestrogen) with breast cancer. I lived in Malaysia till the age of 27 but have not heard of anyone with breast cancer. I am sure there are breast cancer cases but the point I am trying to make here is that people in my country eat alot of soy products (esp vegetarians) but the incidence of breast cancer is low.
I don’t believe everything published by scientists nor reported by research. I always take it with a grain of salt. This applies to everything I read.
Anyway, I love your site and thank you for all that you do!!
I’ve seen a number of meta-studies that debunk the negatives associated with soy. Meta studies from very reputable sources.
It is a very controversial subject – you really have to make your own decision. Food Babe just want people to know what she has decided.
Hi Kim,
I understand your point of view. Although I grew up in the US, my husband is Jspanesse. His cultures eat various soy products from nato, tofu, soy sauce, edamame and soy flour on a daily basis. I don’t have any studies or research on health outcomes with consumption of soy on Asian ethnicities. Perhaps aside from the fermentation process, there are other factors/variables involved? Specific metabolism/enzyme in the Asian population? Farming/soil of soybeans? Addition of foodstuff as ginger/wasabi? Or a combination of both?
I still encourage him to continue eating his soy products but we now look out for more on the organic version (:
E-
Kim, Rachel, Krista, Elyna,
This is a very interesting conversation. Indeed there are many factors involved. One predominant factor is the fact that much of US soy is genetically modified. Another factor is that the US puts soy in so many products, giving many American consumers an overabundance of GMO soy.
Thank you for sharing, and thank you Food Babe for creating a venue for such valuable discussions.
Hmm… That book sounds good except I’m not afraid of gluten, because I just don’t eat much bread and I prefer wine over beer. Also, after reading Cooked it seems likely that gluten isn’t the issue, but the way in which bread is made now a days, it doesn’t do all the work on gluten that should be done which is probably causing most of the issues.
And no coffee? I love espresso (straight, no sugar [sometimes almond milk]). I’m pretty sure coffee in small amounts is good for you. It’s just all the cow milk and sugar and crap that make it so unhealthy.
I’m with you on that one!
I love that dressing too! It’s been years since I’ve had this so I’m excited to make this recipe!
Vani,
Thank you for being honest with your weakness! I follow a few other health and fitness figures and everyone seems flawless when it comes to always sticking to their diet. I used to do well with my eating habits but lately I’ve been going through a downward spiral. It’s just really good to know that even though you seem as though you are 100% against GMOs, you sometimes consume food with them!
Thank you!
Yum, making this today!
How was it??
Loved it!!
Thanks for posting this! I was wondering about GP new book. Maybe you can host a giveaway =)
So glad I discoverd you. Thank you for all that you do to help inform us.
I cannot wait to try this! I’ve been search for one like it since they discontinued one I LOVED from Costco (yep, Costco, could never find it anywhere else or since). Thanks for sharing!!!
Thanks for sharing this recipe!! Would love your opinion of kefir!
thank you so much for all your investigating and helpful reporting! i look forward to reading your blog every day! I just had one concern when i saw your product placement link for bodum glass jars. i was excited to see you used glass as well but was wondering if you had any concerns using bodum since it has silicon around it and for the lid?
i was treated at mayo clinic a few years ago and was told how i should stay away from using any nonstick, aluminium, cast iron, painted ceramic, plastic, latex, pvc or silicon cooking/baking/storing items. my doctors told me how sensitive i was to the chemicals in these products and they believed they were a leading cause in the conditions i was having. since i stopped using these products i have so much felt better! it leaves me to only glass, certain stone ware, certain stainless, and some ceramics.
Silicone is thought to be safe so for most people it shouldn’t be a concern. Sorry you have to stay away from so many things but great that you found out and now you feel better!
That paired with a seared tuna steak sounds like the perfect combo!
I’m afraid my cheap blender won’t pulverize carrots. How about food processor?
That should work!
Thanks, Krista. I ask because certain things really need a blender. For instance (and actually the only example I have) is DIY almond milk. I bought a cheap blender just for that because I’m pretty sure the food processor won’t do, that it’s just too liquidy and would leak out. Haven’t tried it I will admit. But this ginger dressing is different, I can see, so just wanted to check. Thanks for your reply!
I know what you mean but I think it will be ok for the dressing. Let us know!
Dear FoodBabe,
Would you please do a post about best choices when eating out in a town that does not have restaurants that serve organic foods? What can you order from a chain resturant? Also, when you eat at family dinners…what are some recipes one could take when you know you don’t want to eat what is being served because what’s served is usually fried or drowned in butter?
Thanks!
Leslie
In both of these posts, Food Babe tells what she would choose if she ate there…
http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/06/12/food-babe-investigates-is-subway-real-food/
https://foodbabe.com/2013/04/23/jasons-deli-whats-healthy-whats-not/
As far as family dinners, just take a healthy dish that you love and eat lots of it and a little of the other stuff. Check out great recipes here https://foodbabe.com/recipe-rendezvous/
Check out all my eating outside of your home tips here: https://foodbabe.com/travel Good Luck!
Thank you!!! I LOVE your site!
I LOVE ginger dressing. I just made this to go over grilled salmon… Amazing! One thing to point out – we didnt have any of the recommended sweetener so I left it out completely. It was still very, very good.
So happy you liked it and thanks for the sweetener tip!
I had the carrot ginger dressing all weekend and loved it! My hubby said it needed more of a kick so I threw in a little cayenne and he was happy with that. Thanks
After seeing an e-mail from Change.org I had to look you up and see what your up to… All good things! Love the recipes that you share as well as your commitment to exposure! The manufacturers of ingredients and the manufacturers/distributors of foods need to make some serious changes! It is a crime that a grocery store that carries 65,000 UPC’s in the isles upon isles… and 97% of it is poison in a cart/poison on a plate and not fit for human consumption in my opinion… yet is sold and with profit to be made… at the expense of tax payers with this Mandatory health care tax… ugh… There is an app that I’d like to share with you… NxtNutrio… maybe you’ve already seen it. ;D
Endometriosis is typically seen during the reproductive years; it has been estimated that endometriosis occurs in roughly 6–10% of women.Symptoms may depend on the site of active endometriosis. Its main but not universal symptom is pelvic pain in various manifestations. Endometriosis is a common finding in women with infertility:*’*
My very own web page
http://livinghealthybulletin.com
The major difference between soymilk and “regular” milk (predominantly cow’s milk in the United States; goat and sheep’s milk are other options) is that one is derived from a plant and the other from an animal. Although ethical, hypothetical, or debatable issues frequently arise when discussing this subject, this answer is going to deal strictly with the nutritional differences between these two kinds of milk.,;..,
Go look at our new blog site as well
<http://healthmedicine101.com/index.php
Look forward to trying your dressing. I don’t eat much fat, only about 8-10% but I look forward to tasting this on one of my “fat” days 🙂
Peace and Raw Health,
Elizabeth
Hope you will try it…soooo good.
Yes!! This is awesome. We are quite excited to try this out. Thank you, Food Babe!
This dressing is great! It’s exactly as I remember it from various Japanese restaurants. Added more like 1 tsp salt and tossed in a small clove of garlic. I only have red miso on hand, which seemed to work just fine. After it chills in the fridge, I’m looking forward to serving this dressing over greens, cukes, and sprouts for dinner. Thanks for posting.
Hello foodbabe, thank you for the carrot ginger recipe. I’m going to attempt it today. I’m not sure if my local market would have white miso, is it a must?
Made this tonight and it was AWESOME!!! Thank you for sharing another GREAT recipe!!! I am going to be making this A LOT! I LOVE it! (Didn’t have miso and used a cheap Black and Decker blender that worked great) 5 stars!
This Japanese salad dressing is so interesting – I’m Japanese and never tasted it or heard of it until I had it in the US! Nevertheless, it is an incredible dressing, where you almost want to “eat” the dressing instead of eat the salad itself lol. I followed this easy recipe and to my surprise, it tasted exactly the same and even better because it was made in my kitchen!
I poured in on top of thinly sliced cabbage and made it into a slaw… incredible. A bit hit in our home! This was the first recipe I tried so I’m continuing to experiment with more (and so far the quinoa veggie burger has been amazing!) Thanks for sharing the recipes and also for informing us how we should watch out for getting the right almond milk! You’re motivating us to eat healthy again and I can’t wait to make the almond brownies and chick-fil-a next!
That sounds great!! Can’t wait to try it.
I made this recipe the other day and I have to say it is really delicious. I found the ingredients at my local health food store and served it over romaine, red onion & sliced tomatoes. I would like to serve it with an Asian-style meal soon, just haven’t planned out that meal yet! I have been a vegetarian since I was 18 (I am now 41) and always thought I was a healthy eater. In the last 6 months I have been adopting many health habits from this website and I can say that I am just NOW understanding what healthy means. Thank you for all of the great information – information is power! This site has really helped me to make better choices every day because I feel more aware and educated. Thanks Food Babe!
hermes 新作 財布
Hi Foodbabe, How long does the dressing last in the fridge?
This is good. I suggest using a food processor – unless you have one of those super fancy blenders. I had to put mine in the food processor half way through because it was too much for my mere-mortal blender. It’s still a bit chunky though. Hummm…
It is good! I had to use a food processor and mine turned out chunky as well. I added more water but still couldn’t get the consistency I was expecting…..Definitely have to experiment a bit more with this one!
I made it again today because I’m addicted. It was smoother this time. I used the shredder attachment on my food processor to first slice the carrots, ginger and onion. Then I transferred the mix to a bowl and put in the regular blending attachment on the processor. I let it go on the carrot mix for about 7 minutes before adding the liquids and other stuff. It seems smoother. I also omitted the evoo to save on some calories. The taste seems unaffected. 🙂 Thanks!
Is there any substitute you could use for the miso?
Great recipe! I am SO excited to have a healthy version of this dressing as I hate to admit it but I could drink the dressing when we eat out! Now I get the same taste at home for less $ and way better for me! Yay!
Weak plant estrogens link to receptors BLOCK other strong estrogens. I choose plants!! 50X less potent. We have receptors YOU CHOOSE
Thank you so much for this recipe!!!!!! This is my favorite type of dressing of all time and now I know how to make it with quality ingredients! I worked at Benihana in college and ate bowls of this with lettuce and carrots for garnish! Lol
Hello,
I can’t wait to try this. How long will it keep in the fridge?
Thank you! This was my inaugural blend for my new ninja! I am enjoying it right this minute over chopped cabbages & rice noodles. Delish! {made without olive oil for less fat and it’s perfectly perfect!} Cheers!
This dressing sounds delicious… Trying to stay away from soy… Do u know of any substitute instead of miso?
I love this type of dressing, too. I wonder how coconut aminos would work in replacing the white miso paste. I use it instead of soy sauce so maybe it would give the desired tangyness to the dressing.
I made this afternoon, and it is DELICIOUS!! My health food store only had red miso (same brand you used), and it tastes fine. Also, I only had about 1.5 tablespoons of sesame oil. We’ll be having it on a grilled salad, along with tuna poke tonight. Thank you for an awesome recipe!
Awesome! This dressing tastes exactly like the Japanese restaurant salad dressing. We’ve been searching for a clone for years, but just couldn’t get it right. Making it for the second time this afternoon. Thank you for sharing!
Added some fresh squeezed lemon juice and this recipe is epic! Thanks 🙂
Do you know the calories for this dressing?
Thanks for the receipe how long should the dressing last?
Oh my god. This is it! This salad dressing is exactly what I’ve been looking for. It tastes sooooo good. Thank you!!