Tahini Gochujang Salad Dressing (Your New Secret Sauce)

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If you’re in need of a creamy, rich, slightly spicy salad dressing that can jazz up just about anything, this Tahini Gochujang Salad Dressing is the ticket. It tastes great on salads (of course) but it’s also great over rice, potatoes, chicken, fish, crispy tofu... the list goes on. Consider it your new secret sauce for transforming boring basics into absolute bangers. 💥

Why is tahini dressing so popular?

Tahini is perfect for dressings and sauces because of its thickening power and creamy flavor. Nobody likes a watery dressing, right? Well if you start your salad dressing with tahini, you can add a fair bit of watery ingredients (citrus, vinegar, soy sauce, water, whatever), and still get a really nice thick dressing that sticks to your salad.

This means you can use much less oil too! (If that’s something you care about).

For a fun experiment, try adding a splash of water to a bit of tahini and see what happens. It becomes so thick, reminiscent of grout 😂. The same thing happens to peanut butter too. Don’t worry though, we’ll be adding enough liquid to make this dressing the perfect consistency.

What you’ll need to make this tahini gochujang salad dressing

For equipment, you’ll need:

A measuring jug and a blending implement of some sort. I usually use a stick/immersion blender, but you can easily make this in a food processor or a regular blender too. You could also whisk it by hand, just make sure the garlic etc. is minced very finely before throwing it in.

Ingredients-wise, you’ll need:

Tahini: For creaminess and thickness
Gochujang: For spicy richness
Soy sauce: For salty umami flavor
Rice vinegar: For gentle acidity
Toasted sesame oil: For a hint of sesame flavor
Avocado oil: Or any neutral-flavored oil of your choice
Honey: Or agave syrup, to balance out the acidity of the vinegar and the bitterness of the tahini
Garlic: For a little kick
Water: To thin it out to the perfect consistency

How to make this dressing

Not much to say here, just throw everything into a measuring jug or a jar, and blend with an immersion blender until smooth.

If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can use a regular blender, or mix by hand with a bowl and a whisk. Just make sure you mince or grate the garlic quite finely so you don’t bite into chunks of garlic!

What goes well with this dressing?

This super creamy, slightly spicy dressing/sauce is so good on so many things. Salad is a great start, but I am always happy to drizzle it over steamed white or brown rice, boiled new potatoes, roasted veggies, grilled chicken, crispy tofu, or drizzled over lettuce wraps. It also makes a great dipping sauce for rice paper rolls or fresh veggies.

a bowl of green salad with gochujang tahini dressing with cherry tomatoes and drizzled on top.

Storage tips

Store this Tahini Gochujang Salad Dressing in a jar or a squeeze bottle in the fridge for up to a week. Make sure to give it a good shake or stir before using it, as some separation may occur over time.

Frequently asked questions

What is gochujang?

Gochujang is an incredibly rich and spicy Korean red chili paste used commonly in dishes like bibimbap and ttoekboekki. It is an absolute workforce, delivering tons of flavor and a delightful kick!

Is there a substitute for gochujang?

If you cannot find gochujang, you can substitute it with another spicy chili paste, such as sriracha or sambal oelek. However, keep in mind that the flavor profile will be slightly different. If you're going this route, I would mix everything else together first, then add a little bit of chili paste at a time until you reach the desired spice level.

Can I make this dressing without oil?

While the oil in this recipe adds flavor and helps with the consistency, you can reduce or omit it if you prefer an oil-free dressing. You may need to add a bit more tahini and a bit more water to adjust the consistency.

Is this dressing suitable for vegans?

Yes, this dressing is vegan friendly, as long as you use agave or brown rice syrup instead of honey.

Can I freeze this dressing?

Not recommended! The texture will likely go a bit weird after freezing.

Whether you're looking to spice up your salads, add a flavorful kick to your meals, or just try something new, this Tahini Gochujang Salad Dressing is your new secret sauce! It's so versatile, super delicious, and ridiculously easy to make. Drizzle it over anything and everything. You won't be disappointed!