5-Minute Creamy Miso Vinaigrette

This creamy miso vinaigrette mixes up in one bowl in just 5 minutes. It’s a tangy, sweet dressing that will add pizzazz to almost any salad.

Be sure to check out more of my vinaigrette recipes including my ever-popular creamy mango vinaigrette and Thai inspired vinaigrette.

Is Miso Gluten Free?

Traditional miso is a paste made by fermenting soybeans. Rice is often one of the other ingredients but sometimes barley is used instead. Barley is not gluten-free so be sure to look for a miso that is labeled gluten-free if needed. Miso Master Organic Mellow White Miso is my go-to.

There are a few types of miso. You’ll mostly see red and white. White miso is fermented for a shorter time so it is milder in flavor than red. But all miso, including white, packs a punch of tangy umami.

Ingredients

There’s a general rule of thumb for the oil to vinegar ratio in a vinaigrette but the addition of the miso changes that. Since miso has a very strong flavor, it’s important to balance it with other ingredients. It’s super salty so the recipes brings in other flavors in that will balance it.

Rice vinegar and fresh lime juice will help to balance the saltiness and bring a little tang to the vinaigrette.

A sweet element is super important to balancing something very salty. My go-to sweetener for dressing is agave because it incorporates easily. If you prefer a different sweetener, feel free to substitute that in. Brown sugar, maple syrup, white sugar and coconut sugar are all good alternatives.

Miso is a super thick paste and is and is kept refrigerated. So it needs a little help breaking down to incorporate into the liquids. Some warm water will speed the process and also help to tame the strong flavors.

Finally, two oils will be added to this vinaigrette. Toasted sesame oil has a wonderful scent and flavor with a little bit of sweetness. It is an excellent partner to miso. Be sure to use the toasted version. Non-toasted sesame oil has very little flavor. You’ll know it’s toasted when you see the dark amber color.

Then to bring the dressing to a nice texture a little bit of a neutral flavored oil is added as well. Use avocado, sunflower, canola or any neutral flavored vegetable oil.

The Best Way to Mix a Vinaigrette

Since the recipe includes a super thick paste like miso, a blender or immersion blender makes quick work of turning the dressing smooth and creamy. I have even used my smoothie blender with excellent results.

If you don’t have any of these, it can absolutely be done with a wire whisk and a little bit of patience. I tested the recipe both ways and was able to get the dressing equally smooth and creamy.