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Sesame Miso Vinaigrette

Like the best dressings, this is good on so much more than greens: Drizzle it on roasted sweet potatoes, brush it onto broiled eggplant, or toss it with cold soba or udon noodles. Use it to marinate mushrooms before grilling them to makeJuicy Bella. Look for miso paste in the refrigerated section of natural food stores and Asian markets. If you can find South River brand, made in Massachusetts, snap it up; it's the best I've tasted outside Japan.

Ingredients

Makes about 1 cup

1 tablespoon sesame seeds
2 tablespoons white miso
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
1/2 cup rice vinegar, preferably unseasoned
6 tablespoons neutral vegetable oil, such as canola
2 to 3 teaspoons honey
Sea salt
  1. Step 1

    撒上芝麻小锅有限r medium heat. Cook, shaking the pan frequently, until the sesame seeds have darkened and become fragrant, just a few minutes. Immediately transfer them to a plate to cool; if you leave them to cool in the pan, they can burn.

    Step 2

    Use a fork to whisk the miso and sesame oil in a small jar fitted with a lid until smooth. Add the vinegar, vegetable oil, sesame seeds, and honey, close the lid tightly, and vigorously shake to emulsify the dressing. Taste and add more honey if desired, plus salt, and shake again. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Tip

Tip To measure the honey with less mess, first dip the teaspoon into sesame oil, and let the excess drip off. The honey will then slide out easily.

Reprinted with permission fromEat Your Vegetables: Bold Recipes for the Single Cookby Joe Yonan, © 2013 Ten Speed PressJOE YONANis the food and travel editor forThe Washington Post, where he writes regular features, including the "Weeknight Vegetarian" column. He is the author ofEat Your VegetablesandServe Yourself, which Serious Eats called "truly thoughtful, useful, and incredibly delicious." Yonan has won awards for writing and editing from the James Beard Foundation, the Association of Food Journalists, and the Society of American Travel Writers, and his work has been featured three times in theBest Food Writing anthology.
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  • This dressing is delicious! I ran out of rice vinegar, so I supplemented what I had with some champagne vinegar. Went ahead and used high-end olive oil, even though it's the opposite of a "neutral oil" - it just makes everything better! And finally, I didn't add salt, as I felt the miso paste would suffice. Served atop a grain bowl with rice, roasted brussels sprouts, beets, lettuce, and radishes. Sprinkled the toasted sesame seeds over the whole thing - delicious, and definitely making this dressing again!

    • lkaaha

    • San Jose, CA

    • 5/13/2020

  • Great recipe as is. I also vary it by adding a tablespoon of tahini when I want it a bit creamier and nuttier.

    • Anonymous

    • Los Angeles, CA

    • 3/23/2018

  • I added an extra tablespoon of miso since the 1/2 cup rice vinegar made the dressing way to acidic. Also used soy sauce instead of salt and toasted sesame seeds for more flavor.

    • Anonymous

    • Los Angeles, CA

    • 3/14/2016

  • Delicious on salad with snow peas, avocado, lime zest and lime juice. Can't wait to try this on chicken.

    • pwinterton

    • Chandler,AZ

    • 4/11/2014

  • Good dressing, but 2 tbsp of toasted sesame oil is too much. 1 tbsp or even less is all that’s needed.

    • callieak28

    • Sioux Falls SD

    • 11/20/2022

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