Try my simple and refreshing Japanese-style vinaigrette called Wafu Dressing. It’s a versatile and delicious homemade Japanese salad dressing that pairs well with any type of salad combo. You can make it at home in just 10 minutes!

Japanese salad dressing (Wafu Dressing) over the iceberg salad.

Today, I’m sharing a reader recipe request for my Japanese salad dressing called Wafu Dressing. Wafu (和風) means Japanese-style. You might have heard another Japanese food term that starts with “wa” and that is wagyu (和牛), which means Japanese beef. Washoku (和食) means a Japanese meal and wagashi (和菓子) means a Japanese confectionery.

Generally, wafu dressing (和風ドレッシング) is a Japanese-style salad dressing made with vegetable oil, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. Japanese home cooks each have their own recipe for it. I add grated onion to my version to make it extra flavorful.

I drizzle this vinaigrette on a simple wafu salad of hand-torn iceberg lettuce topped with tomatoes, boiled egg, wakame (seaweed), cucumbers, and red radishes. You also could try it on any cooked or raw salad, a noodle salad with soba noodles, or your favorite mix of lettuces.

There are so many kinds of wafu dressing choices available in Japanese supermarkets. In my opinion, dressing made from scratch is superior because it has no MSG or preservatives. Also, I love that you can adjust the taste as you wish. The ingredients and condiments are very typical for a Japanese kitchen, so I hope you will give this recipe a try!

This Japanese dressing comes together in just 10 minutes. Simply combine the ingredients in a bowl or mason jar and whisk:

grated onion — my special ingredient for extra flavor!
neutral oil — for a variation, you can replace with olive oil or your favorite type; replace some of it with sesame oil to make Chinese-style dressing called chuka dressing (中華ドレッシング)
Japanese soy sauce
Japanese rice vinegar (unseasoned)
sugar — I use granulated sugar; feel free to experiment with other sweeteners like brown sugar
freshly ground black pepper
toasted white sesame seeds

This versatile salad dressing keeps for 7–10 days in the refrigerator. Make a big batch in a blender and use it in your menu throughout the week!

4 Japanese salad dressings in mason jars.

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Update: The post was originally published on October 14, 2011. The photos are updated in November 2013.